Tata Sierra India’s SUV icon reborn for a new era, the Tata Sierra SUV keep its legendary heritage. Now enjoy our review of it’s design evolution, interiors, features, performance, safety and our expert verdict.
Intro :Tata Sierra India’s SUV
When Tata first introduce the Sierra 1991, it was unlike anything India had seen in the market a bold and big design, tough presence, and modern features that made it so iconic Tata Sierra SUV.
But it was discontinued roughly 25 years ago, now it’s make a comeback in a modern, redesigned version. The midsize SUV segment is best-selling cars in India.
Cars like the Creta, Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Hyryder and even Elevate have been most successful sellers in this segment. And every brand has a midsize SUV in their lineup.
But Tata Sierra SUV clearly missing out the cake until now therefore, the company has revived an iconic name in the segment. After a gap of more than three decades,the “Sierra”, and it instantly became a talking point because many Indian used own and ride the old car.
The new car comes with 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, 6-speed torque converter. Its body is monocoque construction. Front wheel drive comes with different engine options.
A 1.5 litre naturally aspirated Revotron petrol, 1.5 litre turbocharged TGDi Hyperion petrol or a 1.5-litre turbocharged Kryojet diesel paired. Older car had a body-on-frame construction. Tata Sierra SUV came with only a 2.0-litre diesel engine and rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual transmission.
Design and Exterior of Tata Sierra SUV:
Tata has taken inspiration from the old Sierra and retained some design language, new Sierra also features a classic boxy look at the outside like 1990s and 2000s model and just like the old car, it stands out.
At the front it gets a glossy black grille with Light Saber LED DRL, runs across the front width and match the look it get a pair of slim Night Saber Bi-LED booster headlamps lower on the grille a tata signature. On the bumper placed a thick silver skid plate and vertical set foglamps.
Door comes with flush-fitting handles. Black cladding for the wheel arches housing 19-inch alloy wheels. The wheelbase is long and the B-pillars are thick with huge single-pane curved rear window, and finished the sides of the roof in glossy black.
On top it gets a voice-assisted electric panoramic sunroof, roof rails. A sharkfin antenna the rubber beading of the windows fit inside the door frames, giving it a clean look that found in high-end vehicles. At the rear, you get a flat tailgate with a big spoiler at the top the wiper is hidden. A slim connected Light Saber LED light bar and the bumper are in gloss black and has a thick silver skid plate.
Designers did a good job, as the Tata Sierra SUV is a bold and futuristic looking SUV. While retaining its old DNA. The boxy silhouette, big front grille, high-set bonnet. Thick B-pillar with blacked-out rear glass are all inspired by the original from 1991.
Sierra uses Tata’s ARGOS platform, which is all-terrain ready and can be used for different vehicle and powertrains and for all-wheel drive and future safety tech, with multiple body styles.
Interior :
The cabin feels premium and modern. Tata’s best interior yet, it got a dual-tone theme light-coloured, upholstery and the ambience with fabric, silver and piano black inserts.
The biggest change is the triple screen Horizon View infotainment system. Which is a combination of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and two 12.3-inch touchscreens covered the full dashboard unlike anything in a Tat.
The four-spoke steering is is same as Harrier and Safari with the illuminated logo in the centre. Touch-sensitive buttons and toggle switches for the AC controls on the lower part of the dash. The dashboard is wide and horizontal and gives the cabin a roomy feel. And the sound bar in a long fabric-grille full width of dash and features JBL Black audio.
It also features new control for the indicators and lights also for wipers and power window buttons, and the class leading panoramic roof.
The four-spoke, leather-wrapped steering is big and soft to hold, while the controls is easily reachable, the steering is height and reach adjustable.
The frontal view is good and all-round visibility is generally good. The central touchscreen gets navigation, media and all car settings.
The third screen for the front passenger and can run independently. Tata gives two-screen variants that include a HUD, screens are crisp and easy to use and bright and the HVAC control is in centre is a touch-sensitive panel.
The interior is spacious and the seats are supportive and comfortable offer a good travel. The driver’s seat has ventilation and 6-way electric adjustable and with memory function with adjustable seatbelts. The centre armrests is big and solid they also feature extendable under-thigh support.
The wide opening doors, high roof make, in and out form the car is effortless.
Tata Sierra SUV has a sufficient storage spaces in every place. The glovebox is of good size and with illumination light and a cooling unit.
The centre console now have two section the lower section. At the front for cup holders and charging ports, and the upper section at the back has the gear selector, a wireless phone charger and an armrest also two Type-C USB ports are located here.
All 4 doors can hold a 1-litre bottle and space for other items as well. Another slot for a smartphone is located below the rear A/C vents, and the rear centre armrest also get two cupholders , the wireless pad can hold the phone securely in place.
Doors open wide in the rear, and getting in and out of the rear seat is easy and there is enough. Space between the B-pillar and the rear seat. The rear seats has generous width and the cars’s long wheelbase is obvious give ample knee room and good shoulder room for three adults.
It comes with 3 adjustable headrests and 3-point seatbelts. The floor is almost flat, 3 adults can be fit in the rear seat comfortably. Centre armrest comes with two cupholders.
Rear windows get sunblinds.
A/C vents, and two Type-C USB ports.
and also pockets with two smartphone holders each for the rear passengers to use.
The boot space volume is 622 litres. The roof and the wide opening and can also fold the rear seats to expand capacity to 1,257 litres.
Safety and features of Tata Sierra SUV :
Tata makes some of the safest mass-market cars in India and Sierra comes with a load of safety features. To start with 6 airbags, electronic stability control, a tyre pressure monitoring system and parking sensors front and rear.
360-degree camera with 14 views, ESP with 20 features, auto hold, hill ascent & descent control, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Then there is the new electronic parking brake it even stay engages until driver wear the seatbelt. Additionally, Sierra equipped with Level 2 ADAS with 22 features. Like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot detection.
Tata’s approach to ADAS is calculated and it works on the predictability rather than overly aggressive manner. The 360° camera also makes the driving easier in crowded areas.
The ABS with EBD and corner stability control, all-disc 4 brakes and a collapsible steering wheel for added safety. The segment-first feature without the seat belt, the car simply wouldn’t move.
Feature’s list is long and Tata packed Sierra with all modern tech, like the new triple screen infotainment system, voice control electric panoramic sunroof, TPMS.
Tata Sierra SUV has a 360-degree camera, head-up display with multicolour guides, ventilated. Electric electrically adjustable driver seat with memory function.
The 12.3-inch central touchscreen and another 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger side of the dashboard are connected seamlessly with the digital driving cockpit. Wireless Android Auto, Apple Car Play is standard with 5G connectivity. Amazon Alexa with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay connectivity and dual-zone climate control.
It also get boss mode for the front passenger seat and reclining rear seat, sliding centre armrest, electronic parking brake, ambient lighting, wireless charging, air purifier. You also get rain-sensing wipers, drive and terrain modes, hands-free electric tailgate, and an auto-dimming IRVM.
It also get navigation and option to connect wireless headphones to the passenger display. The system is smooth and easy in operation, the Samsung OLED UI is simple and crisp & clear.
You get 12-speaker JBL Black sound system with a soundbar. On the dashboard also comes with Dolby Atmos sound and Logic 7 surround sound with 13 preset sound modes. The system’s three-dimensional staging and clarity and audio quality are impressive.
Performance: Tata Sierra SUV
Tata Sierra SUV comes with three engine options. Starts with a new 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle making 106 hp and 145 Nm of torque and can be paired with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Another is 1.5 direct-injection turbo unit, making near 160hp and 255Nm of torque, comes only with a 6-speed torque converter automatic. And a diesel 1.5-litre unit makes 118 hp and 260 Nm with a 6-speed manual or higher 280nm when put with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. New ARGOS platform, which has been designed to support for wide range of powertrains. And future AWD applications and it also gives the Sierra a wider track, longer wheelbase and a stiffer structure.
Tata’s new Hyperion. Start with the new 1,498cc, 4-cylinder TGDi Hyperion turbo-petrol engine which is most fun to drive. It put out 158 BHP at 5,000 rpm and 255 Nm of torque at peak 1,750-4,000 rpm, and comes with a variable geometry turbocharger. Direct fuel injection with dual variable cam timing and this engine impresses with its refinement. Both at idle and on the move.
But it only comes with a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission from Aisin. The low end & mid driveability are good. Turbo lag is minimal, and it builds power in a linear way and goes well with the transmission. Without any high accelerator push. The Sierra can crawls in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and also the throttle response is good, and it can overtake with light accelerator input.
Tata Sierra SUVPerformance is good a 0-100kph time of 10.09 seconds in Sport mode from standstill. And rolling acceleration takes 5.64 seconds for the 20-80kph run and 7.23 seconds to go from 40 to 100 km/h, overall response time is pretty quick. It may not be as very fast but it’s more smooth and refined and not make any jerk. Tata also provided paddle shifters for manual shifts. Response time is good and shifts are seamless and the calibration is good.
The diesel is a 1,497cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged Kryojet engine it makes 116 BHP at 4,000 rpm. The diesel’s weak point is its refinement, you can feel the vibrations at all times, and this unit doesn’t have the midrange punch of diesels and it builds power linearly.
This engine comes with a 6-speed Aisin-sourced torque converter , and also available with a 6-speed MT as well. In the automatic, the engine makes 280 Nm at 1,500-2,750 rpm. The manual it only 260 Nm. The engine is very tractable unit, and the power is enough to keep up with highway traffic and the 6-speed AT shifts are smooth and keep fuel consumption low. On highway the turbo-petrol and diesel are quick and gives good performance. The available torque makes it easy to over take any highways.
It comes with driving modes, City and Sport, along with a terrain response system, in which you choose normal, rough and wet road drive conditions. The “City” mode is good enough to be used in the city and on the highway.
In Sport there is more power available, and the throttle response is sharpened for fun and fast driving. Like the petrol engine, the diesel also gets a Sport driving mode which makes the car more responsive to throttle inputs.
Ride Comfort and Handling: Tata Sierra SUV
The Tata Sierra SUV excels in the ride and handling and comes with an independent McPherson strut suspension at the front and a semi-independent twist beam at the rear. And top variants get Frequency Dependent Damping and in this the suspension and dampers adjust it stiffness according to the road conditions and speed of the car and they worked well.
The suspension soaks up potholes, undulations, cracks, expansion joints and speed breakers at ease. At low speeds, the ride is firm and absorbent and feels comfortable even on bad roads only. Some minor jolts but not too much and it get better when you gain speed. With class leading 19-inch wheels, car manages to ride smoothly at any speeds without feeling floaty, the wider track and the longer wheelbase give it composure and stability at highway speeds. It instils confidence that makes long-distance progress effortless.
This is not a sports car so the chassis is not designed to be sporty, and in fast direction changes will give some body roll but it’s well controlled and minimal. Stability at straight line is very good at 100 km/h and you do not feel any suspension struggle at high speeds.
On twist and long curved road it holds good grip and you can change direction smoothly so you can push it more hard. The electric power steering itself is light and wholesome to feel in the city, which helps steer the car in tight spaces, and very convenient to used. It weighs up enough when is incresed.
The steering is precise EPS, gives razor-sharp feedback at higher speeds. Tata gives disc brakes at the front and rear and with ABS + EBD. The brakes have good stopping power and enough bite to stop the car straight line at higher speed without any problem. Brake-by-wire system is used in the car, which makes the brake feel soft and linear and is easy to press the pedal all the way in, which results is good stopping performance.
Pricing and Rivels: Tata Sierra SUV
The Tata Sierra SUV’s base petrol starts at Rs 11.49 lakh and goes up to Rs 17.99 lakh for top version and Diesel variants start at Rs 12.99 lakh and go up to Rs 18.49 lakh for top model.
Tata Sierra starting price at Rs 11.49 lakh and it comes in 7-variants all over the market. Sierra will face tough competition in the market.
Pros and Cons:
Pros–
A known name and bold design unlike anything in the market.
The suspension is exemplary well and strong ride and handling.
The premium cabin and quality of interior are very good with new 3 screen layout and combined with the JBL Black Dolby Atmos audio.
Both engines are smooth and refined with good power and torque curve.
Load with safety tech and all modern ADAS as well.
Long wheelbase makes the rear cabin spacious with good NVH control.
Cons–
The steering works well, but it lacks feedback.
Light interior is hard to maintain.
Diesel makes some noise and vibration at some speed.
Some noise filters in and some off bit fit and finish and gaps.
Final Verdict of India’s SUV Tata Sierra:
Tata Sierra SUVbrought back the iconic Sierra nameplate with a new body a practical and well-engineered SUV and design draws from it’s old heritage. Both the exterior and interior leave a strong and well designed, with modern safety and security. And the new cabin equipment clearly tells Tata’s focused.
With Level 2 ADAS and some finer details like lights below the taillights and on the doors add more convenince. The 360-degree helps to navigate crowded areas, you also get an air purifier in the cabin. If you want a compact SUV with genuine family and boot space, very comfortable and cabin that feels modern with load of safety functions.
The Tata Sierra SUV is a good choice. Though it has some minor misfits and problems but overall they are manageable and minor in daily basis. And the price range at which the Sierra has been launched makes it also an attractive option.
