2004 TATA MOTORS Indigo 1.4L D 5MT FWD (60 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2002, Tata Motors introduced the Indigo on the market as a low-budget sedan for the Indian market, and it succeeded in attracting many people to buy it.

While many carmakers are trying to build vehicles with more and more features, Tata Motors tried to do the exact opposite. It tried to create a cheap vehicle good enough to carry four people inside and some luggage in the trunk. Moreover, since the sedans were considered more upscale than hatchbacks, the automaker made it that way.

The Indigo followed the new-edge design styling, which combined arches with sharp corners. Even though that trend started to fade away in other markets, Indian customers still appreciated it. Thus, the headlights were triangular-shaped but with slightly curved lines. Indigo’s front end was short and followed by a tall greenhouse related to the vehicle’s length. At the back, the trunk looked like it was added after the initial project was launched, and that is true since the car was based on the Indica model, which was a hatchback that was introduced in 1998.

Inside, the standard version featured cranked windows and a simple ventilation system. But customers could opt for power windows and even an AC unit, which was in high demand in India. Thanks to the tall greenhouse, the seats were mounted a tad higher than usual, and that allowed the carmaker to create more legroom for the passengers seated in the back on the bench.

Under the hood, Tata installed a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines, all with a 1.4-liter displacement. That solution led to a lower manufacturing cost and thus a lower selling price. That’s what India needed in those times. The car eventually was even exported to other countries, although with limited success.