Top-spec Tata Zest diesel automatic launched

The Tata Zest was launched last year amidst a lot of expectations. It became the first diesel sedan to be launched with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), and thereby became the most affordable diesel automatic in the country. Tata introduced the AMT on the mid-level diesel trim, and though market response was fairly okay, customers looking for the automatic Zest, had to miss out on a number of features available higher up in the range.

Tata seems to have taken market feedback into consideration, and has now introduced a new XTA trim. Like the name suggests, the XTA is the XT trim with the automatic gearbox. It is the top trim, and comes with all the features and equipment available in the XT trim. This means that customers looking for the automatic variant can now choose to have the Harman infotainment system, dual airbags, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, height adjustable driver’s seat, rear defogger and daytime-running lights.

The Tata Zest XTA (diesel only) is priced at Rs 8.07 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Although this move comes across as an attractive offering, the Rs 8.07 lakh price tag means, you have to shell out more than Rs 70,000 over the Rs 7.31 lakh XT diesel trim; and this seems quite pricey only for the AMT gearbox addition.

Tata hasn’t officially announced the new trim, but a number of dealers have started accepting bookings for the new model. Some dealers have confirmed a waiting of 2-4 weeks for the Zest XTA.