Tata Mine Protected Vehicle review, test drive

Under the 40-odd kilo hood sits a 6.7-litre Tata Cummins common-rail ◊

∆ diesel that pushes out a stump-pulling  94.32kgm of torque. And stump pulling it will have to be if it wants to get this block on the move.

Firing up the motor is pretty straightforward, the big six-cylinder diesel settles into smooth idle and it’s apparent very soon that refinement levels are pretty amazing. This is strange, but we soon realise it’s due to the solid safe-like box of steel and glass we’re sat inside, insulating us against the noise outside.   

Tata’s G750 six-speed gearbox, borrowed from one of its other trucks, helps transmits power and except for a difficult-to-find first gear, this double-H pattern ’box is pretty light and easy to use, better than many Indicas. I let out the clutch, heart in my mouth, give it a bit of gas . . . and stall it. “A bit more power is needed for sure,” insists the engineer sitting beside me, “remember all the armour you are carrying on your back.” More power, and a bit of a lurch later, we are on our way, the short wheelbase getting rocked gently by the massive transfer in weight. First is desperately short, and only takes the MPV from stationary to walking speed. Select second and you can put all the 245bhp to good use. The big diesel gets a bit noisy, you do notice the speedometer creeping up and, yes, finally some forward movement too. We’re soon doing around 40kph, but then panic quickly sets in . . . will this rolling mountain of metal stop?

I gingerly squeeze the brake pedal, to test where the brakes bite, and initially there’s nothing. Instant cold sweat . . . however, after the delay of about a second, the MPV drops its nose and begins to slow down. . . aaahhhh. Then, soon after, I make the dreadful mistake of entering a long corner too fast. It all starts out quite well, as the MPV changes direction easily. But then, halfway through, massive roll slowly sets in. And there’s nothing that seems to be able to stop it, as the mass of the hull continues to roll with the unstoppable momentum of a tumbling planet. I almost get out and kiss the thick anti-roll bar after we survive that one! 

However, only a few minutes later, I’m much more confident behind the wheel. You get used to the lag in the steering system, get used to the lag in the brakes, and the rolling mass behind you doesn’t trouble you any more, as you know the vehicle won’t tip over too easily.

What’s it like to drive? Well, imagine sitting on top of a bus, steering wheel in your hands,
looking down at traffic, as you pilot a block of solid metal on a raised and softened suspension. And despite the obvious strength of the MPV, the fear of hitting something is very real: only it’s the other cars, trees, Armco and buses that you are worried for. This thing, be in no doubt, will slice through anything.

How tough does it feel? Well, let’s just say if you were to broadside a double-decker, even at considerable speed, the only thing you’d need on the MPV would be some paint. One thing’s for sure — no one is ever going to tell you go over them if you start to honk impatiently at the lights.

For the record, we even figured the MPV. Our acceleration run captured by our VBOX timing gear — 0-70kph in 28.3sec, with a power-to-weight ratio of 17.5bhp per tonne. Not too bad. Tata has also installed an 80kph speed limiter but unlike BMW M Sport, it won’t remove the limiter
on request.