Chevrolet Tavera officially launched at Rs.7.51 lakh!

Chevrolet India has officially launched the BS-IV version of the Tavera Neo 3 MPV. The Tavera Neo 3 BS-IV is priced in the range of Rs. 7.51 lakh – 10.34 lakh.

The Tavera BS-IV version is powered by a 2-litre TCDi engine that puts out 105.3 bhp of power and 263.7 Nm of torque and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 12.2 kmpl. The company also offers the Tavera Neo 3 BS-III version.

The new Tavera which was showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, has a typically Chevrolet bow-tie grille with clear lens headlamp and integrated side-swept turn indicators. The front bumper has also been redesigned and now features round fog lamps along with a sporty mesh grille. At the rear, the new Tavera gets clear lens treatment for the tail lamp cluster.

On the inside, the Tavera Neo 3 gets a dual cockpit design like other Chevrolet cars, a 3-spoke steering wheel, new door trims and blue illumination for the refreshed instrument cluster. The rest of the interiors are the same as the outgoing model.

Variants and Prices

The Tavera BS-IV version is offered in four variants: Neo 3, Neo 3 Max, Neo 3 LS and Neo 3 LT in both BSIV and BSIII variants. The Neo 3 and Neo 3 Max variants come without power steering. The Neo3 also comes without an AC while the Neo3 Max gets an AC. The Neo 3 LS variant is available with power steering, captain seats while the top-end variant LT gets all that along with  middle & third row AC vents, dual tone exteriors, alloy wheels and leather upholstery as well.

However, none of the variants have safety features such as dual front airbags and ABS which are offered by Tavera rivals such as the Innova and XUV500.

The Tavera is offered with five different seating options: 7 seater (2+3+2), 7 seater arranged in 2+2+3 format including middle row captain seats, 8 seater arranged in 2+3+3 format, 9 seater with 2+3+4 format and 10 seater with 3+3+4 format. The Neo 3 and Neo 3 Max are available only in 10 seater and 7 seater option and don’t have AC.  The Neo 3 LS and Neo 3 LT are available in 7-seater option with middle row captain seats.

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Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 vs. Mahindra Xylo

The Tavera Neo 3 offers slightly more boot space than the Xylo and also comes in a 10 seater configuration while the new Xylo has a small boot space and comes with only an 8 seater configuration. Hence large family buyers looking for more seats will likely find the Tavera attractive. On the flip side, the Tavera Neo is less spacious when compared with the Xylo, especially in terms of legroom and headroom.

Looks wise, the Tavera Neo 3 despite the facelift changes still looks old school while the face lifted Xylo looks modern and also has a more road presence. For instance, the top-end E9 variant gets all standard Airbags, cruise control, voice command technology and audio control on steering wheel. These features are not offered on the Neo 3 LT variant.

With regard to pricing, the Xylo comes in four variants: D2, E4, E6 and E8 in the price range of Rs.7.47 lakh – 10.48 lakh while the Tavera Neo 3 BS-IV is priced in the range of Rs. 7.51 lakh – 10.34 lakh. Since, both the MPVs are priced in similar range, there is no outright winner. However, the Xylo has a slight edge over the Tavera in terms of safety features. Hence, buyers who are more concerned about safety will likely prefer the new Xylo.

Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 vs. Toyota Innova

The Innova is the MPV segment leader, thanks to its car-like drivability, good quality interiors, reliability and durability. The Innova also leads in terms of creature comforts and entertainment features which the Tavera lacks.

The Tavera Neo 3 also lacks the premium appeal that the Innova has. Like the Xylo, the Innova is offered only in 7 and 8 seat configurations while the Tavera Neo 3 comes in 7, 8, 9 and 10 seater configuration thus giving more choice to the customers.

Performance wise, the Tavera’s engine puts out slightly more power (6 bhp) and significantly more torque (67 Nm) than the Innova’s engine. However, only a proper road test will prove which MPV drives better than the other.

The base variant of Tavera Neo 3 priced at Rs. 7.15 lakh is nearly Rs 2 lakh cheaper than the base Innova E variant priced at Rs. 9.14 lakh. Similarly the Neo 3 LS priced at Rs. 9.15 lakh is Rs. 2.43 lakh cheaper than the Innova GX variant while the Neo 3 LT top-end variant priced at Rs. 10.34 lakh is Rs. 2.51 lakh cheaper than the Innova VX priced at Rs. 12.85 lakh. Therefore, price-wise, the Tavera Neo 3 is significantly cheaper than the Innova but lacks safety features such as Airbags and ABS offered in the Innova.

Summary

With competitive prices and four seating options the Tavera Neo 3 is a modest people mover for sure. But the Tavera has dated looks despite the minor facelift and lacks safety features making it less attractive for individual buyers.