Summary
Highlights
The review of the Tata Sierra 2025 focuses on both positive and negative aspects for potential buyers. The car's design is its biggest magnet, with a road presence that attracts a lot of attention. Its substantial wheelbase of 2737mm, longest in its segment, contributes to its impressive stance. While it maintains elements of the original Sierra, it's now a monocoque, front-wheel-drive car, unlike its body-on-frame predecessor. The car's design, even in lower variants, is expected to be similar, with tyre sizes varying from 17-inch to 19-inch based on the trim.
The Tata Sierra 2025 offers exceptional seating comfort and flexibility. Both front and rear seats provide ample space and support, with features like thigh support extension and electric adjustment for the driver's seat. Ventilated seats are also available. The car's boxy shape ensures good headroom, and the flat floor in the rear allows comfortable seating for three. A 'BOSS mode' feature enables passengers to recline their seats significantly for enhanced comfort.
The Sierra boasts a superior audio experience with a 12-speaker JBL system and Dolby Atmos, offering cinematic sound quality. The turbocharged gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine is highlighted as Tata's best turbo engine, providing smooth performance and good low-end torque management. This 1.5-litre diesel engine, paired with a 6-speed Aisin-sourced gearbox, delivers 158 BHP and 260 Nm of torque, making it a reliable and enjoyable powertrain for both city and highway driving.
The car's long wheelbase and 205mm ground clearance contribute significantly to its straight-road stability. The stiffened suspension and 19-inch wheels ensure rock-solid stability at high speeds, making it appealing for enthusiastic drivers. The Tata Sierra comes packed with standard features across all variants including 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic parking brake, hill assist, all four power windows, rear sunshade, and tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, making it a feature-rich offering.
Despite improvements, the fit and finish levels in the Tata Sierra still have room for improvement, with inconsistent gaps and some rough edges, especially on the exterior. The touch panels and the placement of controls are also criticised for potential accidental activation, such as closing the ORVMs while driving. A significant negative point is the car's fuel efficiency, particularly with the turbo petrol engine and automatic transmission, which delivers around 8-9 kmpl in cities and about 15 kmpl on highways. The paddle shifters also exhibited inconsistent functionality in the turbo petrol variant.
The braking system is described as overly progressive, lacking the sharp bite needed for quick manoeuvres. While the stopping distance is acceptable, the absence of an immediate response is noted. The ride quality is another area for concern; while it handles undulations well at extremely slow speeds, the stiff suspension, possibly due to the 19-inch wheels, makes the ride a bit harsh on gravel roads or continuous bad patches. The diesel variant is noted to feel even stiffer.
The Tata Sierra 2025 is considered one of Tata's finest products, offering a great look, feel, and X-factor that attracts attention. It is a good option for buyers looking for a distinctive car that stands out from competitors like the Creta. However, it needs a 10% extra push in terms of finesse and addressing glitches to achieve perfection. The reviewer hopes that future production lots will show improvements, similar to what has been observed in other Tata models like the Harrier EV.