Tata SFC 407 EX Pick Up

February 21, 2017: Tata Motors offer SFC 407 Ex Pickup with a GVW of 4,450 kg and ex-showroom price of INR 6.0 lakh. SFC 407 Ex Pickup is the option to choose for transporting lighter goods. It is only available in one wheelbase option of 2,750 mm with cab body type only. The truck offers a maximum payload capacity ranging between 2,250 and 2,500 Kg and a moderate gradeability of 28%. SFC 407 Ex Pickup is powered by Tata 497 TCIC 3.0 Litre diesel motor engine which churns out 74 bhp power and 245 Nm torque. Manual steering helps in maneuvering the truck on rough terrains. It is one of the best trucks for carrying general goods within the city including grocery, agri goods, food, beverages and more.

Overview

The Tata 407 is one of the best light commercial vehicles in India, which was launched back in 1986. The year 2011 had been the highest-grossing year for the vehicle as around 500,000 units had been sold.

The SFC 407 EX Pick up is one of its variants and is present in the country since the launch of the standard version. It is capable of transporting all sorts of goodies on any roads in any season. It is the first LCV of the country and still does not lose its charm in the market. Plus, it is still one of the highest-selling LCV.

Specs

• Engine - 3.0-litre, 497 SP turbo Inter-cooled four-cylinder
  
  
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - 4,450 kg
  
  
• Wheelbase - 2,750 mm
  
  
• Power steering - No

Engine and Performance

The TATA SFC 407 EX Pick up comes with a four-cylinder, BS-III compliant, 3-litre 497 SP engine. It is capable of returning a maximum of 74 bhp power and the peak torque is 245 Nm. Both the maximum power and torque come at 3,050 rpm and a range between 1,400 and 1,600 rpm respectively.

The vehicle sends down the power via a 5-speed manual gearbox, which is further aided by a 280 mm single-plate dry friction type clutch.

The pickup is capable of hitting a maximum speed of 110 kmph, which is quite good for such vehicles for doing heavy transportation duties. Moreover, the vehicle is quite good at delivering a decent enough power and torque.

Vehicle Built and Load Capacity

The Tata SFC 407 EX Pick up comes with a customized body and has enough amount of space to carry heavy goods on the loading deck. On the chassis, a day cabin is built in which, two seats have been accommodated for the driver and the co-driver.

It has an overall length of around 4,700 mm, the width and height are 1,980 mm and 1,990 mm respectively. The vehicle comes with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 4,450 Kg, out of which, the kerb weight is 2,200 kgs, while the payload capacity of 2,250 Kg. The vehicle carries a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres.

It has an good ground clearance 170 mm, which is pretty decent with this setup. The driver will not face any issue of harming the bottom of the vehicle while driving on bad roads.

Handling and Suspension

Instead of having power steering, the Tata SFC 407 EX Pick up comes with mechanical steering, which is a minor flaw in the convenience feature. As the truck is capable of carrying heavy loads and can run basically on the highways, the turning radius of 5.95 meters is pretty good. It comes with an impressive off-road gradability of 28%, which is ranked to be decent for driving the cars in a bit bad road.

Speaking of its suspension, semi-elliptical leaf spring and hydraulic double acting telescopic type are present at the front and rear. Both the ends have similar setups, which means the suspension quality is similar.

Braking and Safety

The Tata SFC 407 EX Pick up has vacuum-assisted dual circuit hydraulic brakes with the tandem master cylinder as the main brake. It provides good stopping power which is pretty decent to stop the vehicle while running at a high speed. The brakes are also effective at high speeds.

Speaking of the safety features, the vehicle also comes with cable operated mechanical parking brakes. It also comes with fog lights and seat belts for the driver as well as the co-driver. However, there is no ABS, which is a major disappointment for this heavy duty truck.

Design and Comfort

The pickup comes with a familiar design, just like other models of the manufacturer. It has a customizable body, which has the largest loading capacity in the segment of 8.48 square-metre. It also gets the moulded roof lining and clear lens headlamp. It is built on a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.

Inside the cabin, there is a host of convenience features which will make the drive comfortable for the driver and the co-driver. These include battery charged indication lamp, reclining and sliding driver seat, vinyl fabric upholstery, door handle or armrest, engine oil low indicator light, bottle holder, etc. Moreover, it comes with a low loading platform height of 1,055 mm.