From the Indica to the Tiago and even the Altroz now, Tata Motors has come a long way in developing the best hatches for India, by India and have successfully caught the fancy of the Indian buyers.
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In this journey from the Indica to the Tiago, there were two major milestones as far as Tata’s history for hatchbacks is concerned. These milestones were the Indica Vista and the successor of the Vista, the Tata Bolt. These two cars have definitely helped Tata to learn from their experiences and evolve into what we can see embodied in the form of cars like the Tiago.
Specifically today, we decided to turn a few pages back and remember the Tata Bolt as their coming of age hatchback.
How did the Tata Bolt come into being?
Revealed at the 2014 Auto Expo, the Bolt was the successor to the Tata Indica Vista. Like its compact sedan counterpart Tata Zest, The Bolt was also based on the Tata’s existing X1 platform. However, both of these cars were meant to be an evolution of Tata’s design language and this new design formula was known as ‘DESIGNEXT’.
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Powertrain Specs
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| Engine | Revotron 1.2-litre | 1.3L Quadrajet 75 |
| Type | Petrol turbocharged MPFI | Turbocharged Diesel |
| Power (PS) | 90@5,000rpm | 75@4,000rpm |
| Torque (Nm) | 140@1,750-3,500rpm | 190@1,750-3,500rpm |
| Transmission | Manual, 5-speed | 5-speed Manual |
| Compliance | BS4 | |
The Bolt came with a 1.2-Litre Turbocharged petrol engine. A turbocharged petrol engine is something still unheard of in the segment. This engine made 5HP and 26Nm more than the segment leader, the Maruti Swift.
The diesel, on the other hand, had the tried and tested Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine christened the Quadrajet for the Bolt and Zest. The Swift also came with a similar diesel powertrain during that time.
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Comparing the Bolt’s power figures to the modern-day Tata hatches, The Bolt’s petrol motor made more power than what you get from the Tiago and the Altroz today.
Tata Bolt | Dimensions
| Dimensions | |
| Length (mm) | 3825 |
| Width (mm) | 1695 |
| Height (mm) | 1562 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2470 |
| Kerb Weight (Kg) | 1095-1125 |
| Boot Space (Litres) | 210 |
As far as the Dimensions go, the Bolt was somewhere between the Tiago and the Altroz. It was bigger than the Tiago but smaller than the Altroz we have today. However, comparing it to its arch-rival from the day, the Maruti Swift, the proportions of the Bolt right up there with the segment benchmark.
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Was the Tata Bolt a safe hatchback?
Tata Bolt just like its sibling the Zest received a 4-star safety rating from the Global NCAP. It came equipped with the fundamental safety features. With the four “safety stars” on its shoulders, the Bolt had an edge over its rival the Swift, which didn’t have such a sturdy built.
Cars like the Tiago and the Altroz have carried the baton of “Safety First” thereon from the Bolt.
Safety Features on the Tata Bolt:
- ABS with EBD
- Fog Lamps
- Immobilizer
- Speed Sensing Auto Door Lock
- Driver and Passenger Airbags
- Vehicle Stability Control System
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Feature list of the Tata Bolt
Again like its sedan sibling, the Bolt also came loaded with features some of which were first-in-class. The Bolt came with ‘Multidrive’ which meant drivers had driving modes like ‘Eco mode’’ and ‘Sports mode’ at their disposal. This particular feature was definitely first-in-class. Other than that the Bolt came with a host of features as mentioned below.
- Driving Modes
- LED projector lamps
- Touchscreen Infotainment System with Voice control
- Navigation System
- Automatic Climate Control
- Multi-Information Display
- Steering mounted controls
- Key-less entry
- 8 speaker music system by Harman
Why did the Tata Bolt Fail?
The Bolt was one hell of a package. So it’s hard to fathom the cause of its failure in the Indian market. Both Zest and Bolt came at a time when Tata Motors was not doing so hot in the Indian market and car buyers didn’t wanna put their money in a brand which was yet to prove itself. Also making things worse was the sheer dominance of cars it was up against in the segment. Both the Maruti Swift and the Hyundai Grand i10 were people’s favourite in the segment.
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The Bolt stayed in Tata’s lineup for more than four years before it was discontinued in 2019 due to poor sales and also to make way for the Altroz as the next premium hatchback for Tata Motors in India.
Great Analysis.. about a Good car.. most undereat car ed BOLT IS A REALLY A BOLD And solid car , good looking.. but people can’t understand
this car was great …i20 was also a baby to this car petrol sports mode power…7.26 seconds 100 kmhr acceleration.
I am the proud owner of a Tata Bolt Revotron XM since 2015. Sturdy built, spacious interiors, awesome music system and low on maintenance. This whole “Kitna Deti Hai” mentality of us Indians is the reason why we do not get quality cars compared to other parts of the world. We have to make do with unsafe cars like Swift, i10, and other such vehicles.
Anyway, I am happy for my bolt. It will be with me for at least another five years.
Stay Safe Everyone. Wear a mask and practice physical social distancing.
We had Tata bolt for like 5 years. I mostly ignored it and used other cars we had. This car was kept for rough use and often rugged. I recently took this car for a long trip due to rising petrol prices. To my surprise, this car was performing better than ecosport and fortuner inspite of being of lesser power then them. This car felt stable in corners and have great pickup. I realized true potential of this car and got it cleaned and interior revamped. Now i love this car.
Congratulations to you and your superb Tata Bolt 🙂