It’s the clash of the coupe SUVs in the midsize segment. Both the Tata Curvv and the Citroen Basalt are expected to make their official launch soon. Going by the Citroen philosophy, the Basalt is expected to be aggressively priced while the Curvv will pack more features and have an air of premiumness. Both will enter one of the most competitive segments and we quickly take a look at the expected features list.
The biggest infotainment display in the segment
Ever since Tata Motors started upgrading its current portfolio, they have equipped its vehicles with state-of-the-art features. The Curvv will be sporting a 12.3-inch infotainment system, which will be the largest in the segment by quite some distance. This unit is borrowed from the Nexon EV, Harrier and the Safari. The Citroen Basalt, on the other hand, will borrow the C3 Aircross 10.2-inch touchscreen display. In terms of convenience, both the infotainment systems come with wireless connectivity like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Class-leading instrument console
Tata Motors is pushing the envelope when it comes to the driver’s instrument console. The Curvv is expected to take the Harrier and the Safari’s 10.25-inch all-digital instrument console with a navigation display. The Basalt will get a 7-inch digital cluster and both the SUVs are expected to feature a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Level 2 ADAS
The Curvv will be the third vehicle from Tata Motors to be equipped with Level 2 ADAS after the Harrier and the Safari. It will offer features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, front and rear collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot detection and much more. Tata Motors has not officially shared the Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP safety ratings, but a leaked report has revealed that the Curvv has scored 5 stars in both crash tests.
None of the Citroen vehicles in India currently offer ADAS safety features and it is unlikely that the Basalt will get it. The French carmaker will offer plenty of other safety like six airbags could be standard, ABS and EBD, rear parking sensors, hill start assist, and a reversing camera.
Panorama Sunroof
Tata Motors is leaving no stone unturned and will offer one of the most favourite features that Indian car buyers love, the sunroof. Love it or hate it, it is rage in the automobile market. The Curvv is expected to take a step further and offer a panoramic sunroof in the top variant.
Unfortunately, Citroën’s SUV, the C3 Aircross, lacks a sunroof option, and it appears this will also be the case for the chic Basalt model.
Front ventilated seats
The significance of front-ventilated seats cannot be overstated, especially as we experience long summers with hot and humid conditions. Tata Motors is offering ventilated seats in nearly all its updated SUVs, ranging from the Punch EV to the flagship Safari. The Curvv is also set to receive this convenient feature, although it will be exclusive to the higher-end trims. In contrast, no Citroen vehicle in India offers this feature. While it would be desirable to have this in the Basalt, it seems likely that the Coupe SUV will not include it.
