Tata Sierra : Now, this is an SUV a lot of you have been waiting for. This is an SUV a lot of us have been waiting for, and it is finally here. This is the new Tata Sierra, and it’s just been launched with an introductory price tag of 11.49 lakh rupees x showroom. Now, in the past, we’ve brought you our preview. We’ve brought you our first walk around. But today, a lot more new information has been revealed about the new Sierra. So watch this video with a lot of care for a whole lot more new information.
New Platform Highlights
Now among the big announcements at the Tata Sierra launch is its platform. Now Tata says the Sierra is built on a new platform that it calls our Goss. Now the cool thing about this platform is that it is frontwheel drive but it also supports all-wheel drive which has come as a very pleasant surprise to everyone who thought that the Sierra would just be a front-wheel drive variant. Tata has in fact said that an all-wheel drive Sierra is in the pipeline, but for now it’s going to be a front-wheel drive model only.
Now, other important things is that this platform supports uh petrol, diesel, CNG as well as hybrid powertrains, which is something we hope to see in the future. Other stats of note is its 205 mm of ground clearance. It’s got a best-in-class wheelbase as per Tata Motors and vading ability is rated at 450 mm.
Powertrain Options
Overview of Engines
Now, the other big thing that Tata has revealed today is the Sierra’s powertrain options. They’re going to be three engines, two petrols, and a diesel. Here’s the quick run through of the specs and power.
1.5L Naturally Aspirated Petrol
So you have the base 1.5 L petrol is 106 horsepower and 145 Newton meter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder unit. It’ll be available with a six-speed manual gearbox as well as a seven-speed dualclutch transmission.
1.5L Turbo Petrol
The other petrol option is a 1.5 L direct injection turbo petrol unit. Now, that engine puts out 160 horsepower and 255 Newton meters and will solely be available with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
1.5L Diesel
There’s also something for diesel lovers. There’s going to be a 1.5 L diesel engine with 118 horsepower and up to 280 Newton m available with a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Exterior Design and Styling
Now, in terms of styling, it’s got this big, bold, and butch look about it. Very squared out. And up front it is identifiable by this full width LED light bar. Now the interesting thing is this is a single piece light bar. There are no splits in it which is an interesting tidbit of information.
You get a lot of gloss black up front. A lot of gloss black lower down on the bumper as well. Silver cladding lower down. Your main headlights are actually over here. Now these are LED units. Um they are the slimmest apparently of any India made car.
Side Profile
Now coming to the side, this is where things get really interesting. Topsp spec versions of the Sierra run on 19in rims. 17 in are standard fit across the range. You also get gloss black finish for the cladding at the sides. Again, this whole squared out look.
But what really helps identify the Sierra as a Sierra is the treatment for the B-pillar and the rear section of the glass house. This chunky band is a clear take on the past. And although this might look like a wraparound uh rear window, it isn’t. This panel is actually gloss black. Your window is standard and it’s here.
Now Tata designers have also used flush fitting door handles that pop out to give it the look of a threeo SUV. Although this is a five door SUV with doors at the back.
Rear Design
Now further back large glass upright shape. Again uh you see this angular look and what again is a visual link to the original Sierra is that broad shouldered look which you get from these wide hips. Now, lighting at the back is again a full width LED light bar. Looks really cool and very distinctive uh from the other midsize SUVs.
Again, this whole upright stance is what makes the Sierra really, really stand out. Other details of note at the back, lots of gloss finish here.
Boot Space
Now, this is a power tailgate. Uh Tata Motor says boot space from the base of the floor till the roof is 622 L. So it is a sizable space and even uh if you look at it just till the top of the seat there is quite a lot of luggage you can fit inside. The spare wheel sits under the body and access to it is from here with a little twist and turn action. A cool detail is you have auxiliary lights over here to warn other uh vehicles and road users when the Sierra’s boot is open.
Interior Experience
Now, this is my first time in the Tata Sierra, and the very first impression is that this is Tata’s best interior. Yet, quality levels are a significant improvement over all the models we’ve seen so far. There is a generous use of uh soft touch materials like over here, lovely uh textures and the like. So this is going to be a very upmarket feeling interior.
Seat comfort also very good. What’s unique is that they have added an adjustable thigh support. Driving position, you get a very nice commanding view of the road. You sit quite high up. Uh these upright pillars put you in that mood of being in an SUV, which is a very important feeling.
Tech Features
Now tech-wise, Tata Motors has really packed in lots and lots into the Sierra. So you get 10.25 25 in digital dials, a 12.3 in touchscreen uh and top versions also get a dedicated 12.3 in screen for the front passenger and this three screen layout really uplifts the whole look and feel of the Sierra’s cabin.
Do note lower versions of the Sierra will get the digital dials and the center touchscreen but no passenger screen and that is a layout many people will actually prefer.
Now, in terms of uh the limited time I’ve had with the Sierra, the screen is really slick. Uh all functions in terms of smoothness, uh the vibrancy of the screens, it’s all really good. There’s a 360° camera as well, and it works really slickly.
HUD & Audio System
Now, other tech features include an augmented reality enabled headup display, so it will overlay direction arrows from the navigation system onto the head-up display, which is a very handy feature. And Tata says that up to 19 data points can be shown uh on the head-up screen.
Then there is a 12 speakeraker JBL sound system which also includes a sound bar on the dashboard. I can’t wait to hear it. Uh it’s a bit uh crowded in here so I I’ll reserve judgment on that. But what’s really nice to know is that it also packs in Dolby Atmos.
Rear Seat Comfort & Space
Now space at the back is really really generous. Now I’m just under 6 ft tall. The front seat is set to my driving position and just check out the knee room I have. It is really, really impressive.
Even in terms of cabin with a third adult will be reasonably comfortable and that’s not what you can say about a lot of the Sierra’s competitors. Seat cushioning is good, though I do find it a bit on the firmer side. But what you will like is that there is plenty of thigh support and because the seat is flat, the middle seat passenger will not feel like an unwanted guest. There’s also a dedicated uh headrest for the middle seat passenger.
Should you need even more space, there is a boss mode function. So using this lever, you can push the front passenger seat all the way forward. And just check out the leg room it frees at the back of a Sierra.
Sunroof
Now headlining the feature set. literally so is this panoramic sunroof which Tata claims is the largest in the segment. First impressions are that it lets in a lot of light. Really makes the cabin feel roomy. And just see how far back it extends.
Safety Features
Now, Tata Motors says the Sierra will go above and beyond regulatory safety requirements. There’s no bat end cap or global endcap rating just as yet, but you can expect a five-star rating when those results do come out. Now standard safety features uh include six airbags, there’s uh ESC and higher up the range, it keeps on becoming longer and longer. Level two ADAS is also part of the package.
Pricing & Future Variants
Now for the allimp important matter of pricing. The bad news is Tata has only revealed prices for the base petrol model for now which is 11.49 lakh rupees. You can expect Tata to drip feed further information over the coming hours and days.
Now things to look forward to. Tata has said that there will be an all-wheel drive version, but there’s no launch date of when that model will arrive. However, a Sierra EV is in the works, and it is coming soon, and it will definitely have an all-wheel drive variant.
So, that’s your first quick introduction of the Tata Sierra that has finally launched in India. Let us know in the comments what do you think about the Sierra, what do you think about the pricing, the engines, and of course, do stay tuned to the Autokai India channel. We’ll be driving the Sierra very soon and our review goes up shortly.