6 things we would have liked To See In The Tata Hexa

Tata Hexa

The Hexa is quite the rage at the moment. Tata Motors has pretty much hit the nail on the head when it comes to design and providing a comfortable cabin decked with features. But there are a few bits and bobs missing, which we think would've gone a long way in making the Hexa a better-rounded product. Here's a quick list:

1. Dead pedal for manual variant
The footwell of the manual Hexa feels slightly cramped if you happen to wear shoes that are bigger than Size 10. The stubby centre console is placed a bit too close to the clutch pedal too, leaving virtually no space for a dead pedal. The result? I found the side of my shin brushing against the centre console when I reached for the clutch.

2. Electrically adjustable driver's seat
The seats are draped in Benecke-Kaliko leather-feel upholstery that feels posh. The seats are supportive and the driver's perch can be adjusted for reach, height, tilt and lumbar. Sadly, there's no electric adjustment mechanism to let you do that at the touch of a few buttons. The omission seems even more glaring considering that the Mahindra XUV500 gets an eight-way electrically adjustable seat.

3. Telescopic adjust for the steering
The chunky, leather-wrapped unit gets only tilt adjust. The steering is set at a neutral distance from the dash, and most drivers shouldn't have a problem getting used to the position. However, taller occupants might find the steering a tad farther than they would've liked. The only upside here is that the seats have healthy range in terms of travel, which can be used to get into a comfortable driving position.

4. Keyless entry and go
You have to unlock the Hexa the old-fashioned way - by pressing a button on the remote. Starting it up also involves twisting a key, and not pressing a button. These aren't huge omissions as such, but are definitely good to have, and add to the experience.

5. Sunroof
Who doesn't like sunroofs? Unlike the XUV500, the Hexa skimps on one, even in the top-spec XT variant. A sunroof not only has practical applications like letting in light inside the cabin, but also adds a touch of premiumness to the product which we think should've been done with the Hexa.

6. Automatic-AWD combo
The Hexa isn't your everyday crossover and eggs you on to take off the beaten path. With a large 200mm of ground clearance and a torque on demand 4x4 system, the big Tata knows how to carve its way off-road. Sadly, the automatic variants are 4x2 only, which means that they not only miss out on the off-road credentials, but also miss out on the 'Super Drive' modes. Now, a little birdie from Tata tells us that this very combo is in the works already, but might not be made available at launch. Reckon Tata wants to play it safe with the pricing.

Like we've said in our review, the Hexa is clearly a lot more than a repackaged Aria. There's a lot going for it, and these omissions aren't necessarily deal breakers. But most of the features are 'good to have', considering the price range the Hexa will be slotted into. That said, if Tata pulls a rabbit out of the hat yet again in terms of pricing, we're sure most would overlook these omissions too. Your move, Tata.

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