Tata Tiago NRG vs Rivals: Price Comparison

Tata Motors has finally come out with its first crossover, or rather a crossover-like hatchback in India, with the launch of the new Tata Tiago NRG. Based on the carmaker's top-selling hatchback Tiago, Tata Motors claims that with the new Tiago NRG, the company is extending the Tiago brand and increasing its presence by entering into newer segments and tapping new sets of buyers. However, Tata is not the first one to enter this segment in India. In fact, it might very well be among the last few to do so, seeing the vast variety of crossover hatchbacks available in the country. At this price point, however, two of the closest rivals of the Tata Tiago NRG are the Maruti Suzuki Celerio X and the Ford Freestyle.

Unlike its rivals, the Tata Tiago NRG is offered in only one top-end XZ manual variant, in both petrol and diesel options. While the petrol variant is priced at Rs. 5.49 lakh, the diesel trim is priced around Rs. 6.32 lakh. The Ford Freestyle, on the other hand, is offered in four variants - Ambiente, Trend, Titanium, and Titanium+. This too is offered in both petrol and diesel versions and in only manual transmission option. The price range here starts from Rs. 5.09 lakh, going up to 7.89 lakh for the top-end diesel trim. As for the Maruti Suzuki Celerio X, it only comes with a petrol engine on offer, and it's also the only one to offer an AMT unit in this space. The Celerio X is primarily offered in two variants VXI and ZXI, each segmented into four iterations depending on transmission and safety features, and are priced in the range of Rs. 4.63 lakh to Rs. 5.48 lakh. (All Prices ex-showroom, Delhi)

Tata Tiago NRG vs Rivals Price Comparison - (ex-showroom, Delhi)

While the base trim of the Maruti Suzuki Celerio X and Ford Freestyle might be much lesser than the new Tiago NRG, we have to consider that fact the latter is only offered in a single top-end variant. So, if we compare the top-end variants of each model, and only take the petrol units into consideration, than the Celerio X is the cheapest at Rs. 5.48 lakh, marginally ahead of the Tiago NRG which is priced at Rs. 5.49 lakh, while the Ford Freestyle petrol is the most expensive at 7.06 lakh, with a difference of almost Rs. 1.5 lakh. However, if you are looking out for a diesel option, the Celerio X is automatically out of the game, and the choices that you are left with are the Tiago NRG diesel at Rs. 6.37 lakh, and the Ford Freestyle diesel at Rs. 7.89 lakh, with a similar difference of Rs. 1.57 lakh.

Maruti Suzuk Celerio X is the least powerful and the most affordable option

Powertrain wise, the Ford Freestyle is hands down the most powerful option, both in petrol and as well as the diesel option. The car is powered by a 94 bhp 1.2-litre petrol and a 99 bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine, both mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard. Next in line is the Tiago NRG with an 84 bhp 1.2-litre petrol motor and a 69 bhp 1.05-litre diesel engine, which come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox standard. As for the Celerio X, the car comes with a 998cc, petrol engine which makes 67 bhp, and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT unit.

The Ford Freestyle is the most powerful among all three

On paper, it's the Tata Tiago NRG that makes sense, because the car is just marginally more expensive than the Celerio X and it also comes with the option of a diesel engine, if you are looking for one. Having said that, the Ford Freestyle is more powerful, and possibly a better choice in all regards, compared to the other two. But it's the most expensive as well. So, purely based on pricing and variants, get the Tiago NRG if you are on a budget, or go for the Ford Freestyle if you can add that extra premium. In fact, Freestyle lower variants Trend variant is also a suitable option, as it's priced much closer to the Tiago NRG and is almost at par with the latter in terms of feature offerings. However, if fixed on getting an automatic cross-hatch, then the Celerio X is the only option here.