TATA Prima 4438 S

On the inside, the Tata Prima 4438S has a widely laid out dashboard, which looks unique with its curved design for the center console. Like the exterior design, the cabin too is a complete lift-off from the bigger Tata Prima 6038S.

The driver’s cockpit of the Tata Prima 4438S is made up of a large four-spoke steering wheel and a big instrument console, with the latter having a unique arrangement for the analog dials. The center console of the dashboard here comes with two large rectangular panels – while one accommodates the controls for AC and other switches, the other has a 2-DIN audio system and AC vents. Apart from the center console, the corners of the dashboard also get AC vents, but very slimmer ones.

In terms of design, the Tata Prima 4438S looks exactly the same as the 60-tonner Prima 6038S. Both the front as well as side profiles of the Prima 4438S have been shared with the larger flagship truck. While the truck doesn’t look extremely outstanding, it looks decent enough to not look boring and does have an identity of its own.

The front profile of the Tata Prima 4438S looks divided into two halves – the upper half comes with the windshield and main grille and the lower half has a large bumper that looks like a suspended unit appearance. The large curved windshield covers half of the upper half of the truck, which gets a thick blacked out garnish below it. This black garnish has curved edges on its outer corners and has broad Tata lettering in its center.

The front grille of the Tata Prima 4438S doesn’t look as huge and bold to look at as in other full-sized trucks. Instead, it looks quite slim with its trapezoidal design, which has curved edges at the bottom and a slim chrome garnish at its top. The side edges of the front apron are characterized by vertically designed air scoops, which enhance the bold appeal of the truck even more.

Coming down to the front bumper design, the corners of it gets fitted with inverted L-shaped big headlamps, which come integrated with a projector bulb for the headlight and turn indicators as well. Between the headlamps, in the middle of the front bumper, sits a sleek trapezoidal air vent.

The side profile of the Tata Prima 4438S has a few design characteristics, which go well with other traditional styling elements like tapered down window line and hinged rearview mirrors. These different design elements include an S-shaped character line, which flows from the edges of the vertical air scoops at the front to the back of the truck, as well as the large blacked-out panel behind the side windows.

The main suspension unit of the Tata Prima 4438S is a combination of parabolic leaf spring setup at the front and two spring balance beam bogie with semi-elliptical multi-leaf spring and rubber mounted torque rods and V-rods at the rear. For braking, the Tata Prima 4438S gets Full Air Dual Circuit S-Cam with ABS as the main service brake and Jake Brake with Auto Slack adjuster as its parking brake.

Powering the Tata Prima 4438S is the same 8.9-litre six-cylinder Cummins ISLe 375 series diesel engine which powers the bigger Prima 6038S. Here in the Tata Prima 4438S too, the engine makes maximum power and torque outputs of 375 PS and 1550 Nm respectively and is paired to a 9-speed manual gearbox.

The only safety features which are equipped in the Tata Prima 4438S are ABS and safety seat belts.

With its reliable engine and decent styling in and out, the Tata Prima 4438S is a good option to consider in the full-size heavy duty dumper truck category.