As things stand, Tata has a lot riding on the Bolt. The beleaguered carmaker has not had a big success in the hatchback segment since the Indica, and it needs one bad if it wants to continue its phoenix-like rise from the ashes that started with the launch of the Zest compact sedan last year. First impressions are positive and it’s evident Tata has put its heart and soul into getting the Bolt right. The Bolt’s attractive looks are only half the story.
But let’s not jump the gun here. For the Bolt to turn things around for Tata, it has to better its competition. In the diesel hatchback domain, that’s competition from the likes of the Hyundai Grand i10 and the Toyota Etios Liva. The Grand i10 is the biggest seller in the segment, while the Etios Liva recently got a mild update to keep it in the reckoning. Both competitors have their share of strengths and will provide the benchmarks against which the Tata Bolt will be judged today. So, without further ado, here’s the Bolt in its very first comparison.
An eye on style
Good design and desirability have a rather close relation, especially when talking cars. So you would have probably guessed that this was the first order of business for Tata when it set about on Project Bolt. This is the best-looking Tata hatchback yet, and stylish enough to hold your attention. The spread-out headlights, the blacked-out C-pillar and those neat tail-lamps give it a distinct look. It carries off the bright red paint rather well, but we wish Tata had used paint for the C-pillar as well, instead of a cheap vinyl sticker. Also, the Bolt’s Vista roots are very evident in its glasshouse and the general ‘jacked up’ stance. The last bit is something to note because the Bolt’s door sills are relatively high, so getting into and out of the cabin isn’t as easy as in the other cars.
Ingress and egress are best in the Liva, but the car’s overall design isn’t all that successful. Well-proportioned, yes, but too conservative for its own good, Toyota has tried to jazz up styling with a new grille (that oddly looks plucked from a Nissan) — a more comprehensive makeover is long overdue. The Grand i10 does well for itself here. Its styling is neither overtly adventurous as on some other Hyundais, nor does it err towards the boring. That said, the short bonnet area does make it appear smaller than the other two from certain angles.
In reality, the Grand i10 and Liva are about the same length and height, while the Bolt is the longest and tallest car here by a fair margin. There’s little to separate the Bolt and Liva in terms of wheelbase though.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
