Tata Tigor Review
Car Tested: Tata Tigor; Road Test No. 806; Test Location: Gurugram
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5.10 – 8.15 lakhs (est)
The Tata Tigor does look appealing with the unique Styleback design and offers a well rounded package
Tata Motors were the first to come up with a sub-4 metre compact sedan concept in India with the Indigo CS. The tax saving three box design became the new trend soon after. Now, the Indian automaker has decided to break the mundane with a new Styleback design. Their latest offering Tigor is a booted version of the Tiago that comes with drastic changes over the hatch. We explore the new changes on the outskirts of Delhi NCR.
Motor Quest: Tata Motors were the first to offer a sub-4 metre sedan. They have a total of three sub-4 metre sedans including the Zest and the upcoming Tigor. All these three compact sedans are aimed towards different set of audience.
The side profile of the Tigor doesn’t look abrupt near the boot
Exteriors – The front profile of the Tata Tigor looks very similar to the Tiago apart from the new smoked out headlights with projector units and slightly revised grille up front. From the side you would notice new chrome highlights on the window line and shiny new 15-inch alloy wheels that look very appealing. Sadly the 15-inch alloys will be only offered with the petrol version while the diesel version will get 14-inch alloys with different pattern. The silhouette of the Tigor when viewed from the side is very coupe-esque that looks very well done.
The Tigor look attractive from the rear with the Styleback design
The biggest USP of the Tigor is the rear profile that stands out of the crowd
Tata has mastered the integration and the styling of the boot for a sub-4 metre sedan. The steeply raked rear windscreen merges seamlessly with the boot and doesn’t look abrupt from any angle. There is a high mounted LED stop lamp with roof integrated spoiler. The LED tail light units look very cool in the dark while the chrome strip on the boot and sporty rear bumper adds to the visual appeal. The styling of the Tigor attracts quite a lot of eye balls out on the road.
The interior styling looks similar to the Tiago
Interiors – Step inside and you won’t notice and major changes over the Tiago. The dashboard design is exactly the same including the 3-spoke steering wheel and the instrument cluster. However, you get some more goodies in the Tigor compared to its hatchback sibling. The centre console comes with a Harman Connectnext touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. It is being offered with Tata App Suite that lets you control the system via several apps for Navigation, Music, Emergency, Car Settings, etc. The display also doubles up as a reverse parking camera display. The touch quality isn’t great but the interface is user friendly. You also get steering mounted audio controls along with voice command system. The Tigor comes with 8 speakers and it sounds quite impressive with clear acoustics.
The space at the back is ample and the seats are very comfortable
The interior of the Tigor is loaded with features and the cabin is very practical
Another additional feature over the Tiago is the automatic climate control system which works quite well and cools the cabin effectively. The quality, fit and finish is similar to the hatch, which is quite impressive as Tata has improved their quality leaps and bounds compared to the older products. There are quite a few storage spaces to keep the cabin neat and tidy. The seats are very comfortable, specially the rear seats that have been improved in terms of padding and support. The legroom is ample at the back and you also get centre arm rest with cup holders. The boot is very accommodating with 419-litre of capacity. The best part about the boot is that you don’t get those conventional hinges that hinder the capacity and instead Tata has put hydraulic struts for optimum space in the boot.
Both the petrol and diesel engines offer good city performance
Performance – Powering the Tigor are the same petrol and diesel engine options offered with the Tiago. There are no changes in the power and torque figures as well. Considering the Tigor is heavier by about 50 kgs over the Tiago, we expected slight increase in the performance figures. However, both the engines are tuned well to offer the right balance of performance and fuel efficiency for the target audience. They come with City and Eco driving modes, where ECO is tuned towards offering better efficiency.
The engines offer good NVH levels and return high fuel efficiency
The Tigor comes with both petrol and diesel engines offering the right balance of performance and efficiency
The 1.2-litre Revotron petrol is a 3-cylinder unit that feels quite peppy to drive in city conditions offering quick response down the revv band and linear acceleration post the mid-range. However, you need to give it the beans out on the highway to feel the progress at high speeds. The 1.05-litre three pot oil burner on the other hand offers good grunt in the mid-range with minimal lag. The NVH for both the engines is quite impressive. The 5-speed gearbox feels easy to use having positive feedback along with a light clutch. You can expect a real world mileage of 14-16 km/l for the petrol and 18-21 km/l for the diesel engine.
The high speed stability of the Tigor is quite impressive
Driving Dynamics – The ride and handling balance of the Tiago was well calibrated and same is the case for the Tigor. It absorbs sharp bumps and potholes quite well and doesn’t unsettle the passengers. Even the high speed stability is impressive. Handling is predictable too with minimal body roll if you would like to push it around the curves. The steering feels light and nimble in city driving conditions and while gaining speed, it weighs up accurately for confidence inspiring driving. The brakes are quite effective offering strong stopping power with positive pedal feedback.
The Tigor is expected to be another hit if priced well
Safety and After Sales Service – Tata Motors is offering the new Tigor with dual front airbags, ABS, EBD with cornering stability control. The Tigor hasn’t been crash tested yet but the body panels and the sheet metal feels quite solid and well built, specially when you open/close the doors. Tata has a wide network across the country and with the success of the Tiago, their after sales have become much better. The Tigor is expected to offer low maintenance with reasonably priced servicing and spare parts.
The Tigor is a mix of a large hatch and a compact sedan
Verdict – After spending some time with the Tigor, we believe Tata Motors have got another winner in their hands after the Tiago, if they price it well. The Styleback design of the Tigor is unique and looks quite appealing, the interiors are loaded with features, the cabin is spacious and practical while the engines are also fuel efficient. If accepted well in the market, the Tigor can give some serious threat to the compact sedan segment.
Tata will be offering AMT if there is demand in the market
What’s Cool
* The Styleback design of the Tigor looks stylish indeed
* The interiors come with a long list of features on offer
* Cabin and boot space is impressive offering lots of practicality
* Ride and handling is well balanced giving a mature driving feel
What’s Not So Cool
* No seat-back pockets offered
* No AMT option being considered at the time of launch
* Slightly increased power and torque figures were expected
Alternatives: Maruti DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Ford Figo Aspire
The Tigor is a desirable package for compact sedan buyers