Sumo No Mo' From Tata

MUMBAI, India — Tata Motors has relaunched its slow-selling Sumo Grande. In its new avatar, the Sumo tag is tucked aside and the new model will simply be known as the Grande Mark II. Priced at $13,850-$16,100, the Grande Mark II will have three trim levels.

On the outside, there's not too much to distinguish the improved car. You get a bit of chrome on the grille, indicators on the outside mirrors and a chrome-lined rub strip on the doors to give the slabby sides some relief and definition. There are also special steel wheels designed to look like alloys, a strategy that actually works quite well from a distance.

Most of the changes, however, are under the skin. Although the engine and gearbox are the same as before, the Grande gets a shorter final drive, which lowers the overall gearing to improve drivability. New body mounts have been softened to reduce floor vibration, and the suspension system and brakes have been significantly upgraded.

On the inside, the dashboard is instantly more pleasing to the eye. The plastics are more "soft touch" now, and the matte-black center console is a notch up as well. The inside door handles feel more solid, the seats have more padding and the newly designed gearlever is a particular quality touch.

The ride on the Grande Mark II has been improved thanks to the completely revamped suspension that comes with a combination of softer springs up front, retuned rear leaf springs, better damping and upgraded antiroll bars.

Inside Line says: The second-generation Grande, which is more a quasi MPV than an SUV, is still not in the league of the pricey Toyota Innova, but the fact that it's $650 cheaper than its predecessor speaks for itself. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent