Tata Tiago Diesel Long Term Review
Long Term Test No. 141
Car Tested: Tata Tiago Diesel
Kms Done: 24,925 kms
Test Started at: 4829 kms
Test Concluded at: 29,754 kms
Mileage: 18.1 km/l, 22.4 km/l (best), 13.8 km/l (worst)
Fuel Consumed: 1377-litres
Fuel Cost: Rs. 92,259/-
Rs. per km: Rs. 3.70/-
The Tata Tiago has left a very good impression; feels well worth the price
The Tata Tiago has been part of our long term fleet since a long time now. The car is almost touching 30,000 kms and everyone in the team has driven it extensively. The Tiago has left us impressed because this Tata hatchback comes at a good price and feels well built for the price, along with offering a complete package of features, comfort and efficiency. I drove the Tiago in its last stint with us and I feel Tata Motors has got it right this time, but the only annoyances are the inconsistent niggles that pop in their cars. For instance, our Tiago diesel had a variety of small issues.
Our long term Tiago developed some small niggles
All of us follow a rule of making sure every passenger in the car is belted up all the time without any exception but our test car’s seat belt reminder kept ringing all the time and what’s worse is that the alarm got even louder and annoying at high speeds after completing a few kms. The other issue was with the left ORVM and the glovebox. The ORVM started vibrating more than usual while the glovebox would pop itself open at every small pothole the car went over.
The Tiago isn’t too big, which is a boon if you drive in crowded areas
Keeping all these issues aside, our experience with the Tiago has been pleasant. It has a compact footprint which makes it very convenient for the city. The car fits in just about anywhere and it is also quite nimble to drive in traffic. Parking has never been an issue because outward visibility is very good and the parking sensors do their job well. The music system is another talking point of the hatchback and the speakers produce very nice quality sound but sometimes the Bluetooth connection felt buggy and it wouldn’t connect to my phone seamlessly. Also, when you put the car in reverse gear then back, the audio track via Bluetooth starts playing again.
The engine has decent punch for city driving
The Tata Tiago diesel gets a 1.05-litre unit which is refined for most part. It also offers good drivability in the city. Turbo lag is minimal and mid range feels responsive. The Tiago doesn’t feel out of breath in the city but on the highways if you have a tendency to push hard, you’ll feel that the engine starts losing steam. However, lower triple digit speeds aren’t a matter of concern for the Tiago. On the fuel efficiency front, the Tiago delivered around 16 km/l in city traffic while highway trips got me even more than 20 km/l at times which translated into low running costs.
The suspension is well setup and offers a comfy ride
The Tiago scores very high on the fuel efficiency front with a figure of 18.1 km/l
We all know the state of our roads during monsoons and this time the situation was no different. The potholes on Mumbai’s roads transformed into craters and I was actually worried about how the Tiago would handle these. The suspension handled everything thrown at it with ease and the ride never really felt discomforting. The steering is also well-weighted at high speeds and is equally light at low speeds. The brakes do a good job of bringing the car to a halt too.
The Tiago has very good build quality at most places
The cabin of the Tiago is well-appointed and build quality is indeed good. The equipment list is also strong and the vehicle comes with dual front airbags and ABS too. The front seats are a bit small in size but offer good comfort. Similar is the case with the rear seats. For segment standards, the Tiago offers very nice space and comfort. The boot is decent enough for a small car, don’t expect it to swallow large suitcases.
If you want a small car, the Tiago makes for a good bet
All of us have really liked the Tata Tiago as a package and it is very good to see Tata Motors taking huge strides in improving their products. Sure, our particular Tiago has had some niggles but I feel some of those issues could be specific to our car because media cars tend to be driven by a variety of journalists and are usually manufactured in the initial lots. All this aside, I have been whole heartedly recommending the Tata Tiago to a lot of people because it makes a lot of sense as a value-for-money offering. It is now time to say goodbye to our Tiago because it has been replaced by a Hexa AT as our new long termer.
The Tiago also comes with a petrol engine with an AMT option
What’s Cool
* Compact dimensions make it easy to drive
* Interior feels well equipped for the price
* Offers excellent fuel efficiency
* Ride and handling balance is good
What’s Not So Cool
* Engine feels strained on the highways
* Lots of small quality issues
The Tiago is definitely going to be missed
Testers’ Note:
Further Reading –
Tata Tiago Long Term Review – Second Report
Tata Tiago Long Term Review – First Report
Tata Tiago Long Term Video Review
Tata Tiago Review