Tata Tiago

Tata punches slightly above its weight class with the Tiago here, giving buyers a smart layout with acceptable material quality.

Cabin Layout and Quality

The dashboard is a clean, driver-centric layout of black and grey elements. There are chrome accents around the AC vents, and while we noticed hard plastics scattered across the cabin, they feel durable and well-put-together. The Tiago’s latest models also boast a fully digital instrument cluster and a new, illuminated two-spoke steering wheel.

Seating and Comfort
Front Row

The front seats have proper cushioning and offer good side support, elevating the driver and the front passenger’s comfort during long rides. The driver's seat, in particular, gets height adjustment in the Tiago’s higher variants.

Second Row

For two adults, the rear seat is comfortable enough, but we noticed it might get slightly difficult for three to fit in here. Legroom is decent, but the rear headrest is not adjustable, and an additional centre armrest could have elevated the passengers’ commuting experience.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• The Tata Tiago’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• There is an automatic climate-control feature, and also a chilled glovebox to keep beverages cool during the summer.
• The car has a keyless entry system with a push-button start setup.
• The eight-speaker Harman sound system offers segment-leading audio quality.

Pratik notes,

“The digital instrument cluster has been specifically tweaked for the Tata Tiago iCNG. On the left, a dedicated CNG gauge provides clear info on fuel levels, while the right side displays the remaining petrol range. The readability is excellent, even in direct sunlight, ensuring the driver is always aware of the fuel status.”

For first-time owners and young families, the Tata Tiago is a practical choice. It has been priced strategically across multiple powertrain formats, but no core necessities have been compromised, either. If someone’s looking to upgrade from their life’s first car, the Tiago wins here, too, thanks to its aggressive pricing. The entry-level XE variant has an inviting price point, but things go upwards of Rs. 3+ lakh from here, with the top-spec automatic CNG trim costing about Rs. 7.82 lakh. The table below explains the exact pricing for all models (final prices vary by city and state).
Our car&bike review states,
“Unlike the others, the Tiago CNG is the only one in the segment to offer four trims, including a fully decked out top-of-the-line variant. Hence, buyers won't compromise on features over the petrol sibling, which is not the case with others in the segment.”

Tata Tiago Ex-Showroom Price India

To keep fuel consumption low, the Tata Tiago offers different engine options. We can say that the hatchback delivers economy figures as expected from other alternatives in this segment. Owners navigating long daily commutes should no doubt choose the CNG models to minimise their monthly fuel bills.

Claimed Efficiency and Real-World Observations

The standard petrol engine’s manual models return an ARAI-certified 19.01 kmpl, and the automatic versions offer 19.00 kmpl. In actual city-driving hauls, the numbers are somewhere between 12 kmpl and 16 kmpl, while highway sprints return 17-21 kmpl.

However, the manual CNG variant offers much better ARAI mileage of 26.49 km/kg, while the AMT variant pushes this to 28.06 km/kg. But real-world driving conditions with the CNG models deliver around 20-22 km/kg (still higher than the petrol variants).

Pratik states,

“While these figures are slightly lower than the class-leading Maruti Suzuki Celerio, the Tiago offers a more stable highway ride and a heavier, safer feel, which many buyers find to be a fair trade-off.”
Take a look at the claimed and observed fuel economy numbers.

As a Tata Motors car, the Tata Tiago has no compromises on its safety. This is a solid vehicle in the hatchback segment, outperforming its competitors from Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

The car enjoys a four-star rating for adult occupant protection and a three-star rating for child occupant protection from the Global NCAP. It scored 12.52 out of 17 points for adults and 34.15 out of 49 points for children. The standard safety suite includes dual front airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and load limiters. As for the reinforced body shell, it can absorb impact forces efficiently during a collision, thereby acting as a rigid safety cage. In the higher trims, you get ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Active Safety and Stability Systems in the Tata Tiago

The car is also feature-loaded with active safety elements,  from an Anti-Lock Braking System paired with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution to Corner Stability Control for navigating tight city corners. Rear parking sensors are standard across all trims, along with a speed alert system and an impact-sensing auto door unlock mechanism for emergencies.

Safety Verdict

Undoubtedly, Tata’s hatchback is one of the safest options in this price bracket. The list of safety features included in this car is exhaustive, further solidified by its crash-test safety rating.

Our car&bike review mentions,

“Tata has also incorporated the engine to shut off and won't start up unless the fuel lid is closed. We tried this out, and it works like clockwork.”

In this area, the Tata Tiago offers a comprehensive suite to amplify the modern cabin experience. There is no visual flair here, though; all additions are practical.

Infotainment and Interface

The seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system sourced from Harman is the dashboard’s centrepiece. It supports wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring there are no issues with smartphone connectivity. The system also boasts an eight-speaker audio setup, comprising four speakers and four tweeters. We found the sound quality excellent for this price bracket, and additionally enjoyed the cockpit’s fully digital instrument cluster.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Tech

Tata has installed a fully automatic climate control system inside the Tiago. Drivers, meanwhile, get steering-mounted audio and phone controls, and other practical features include electrically adjustable and auto-folding outside rearview mirrors. There is also a cooled glovebox for storing beverages, a rear wiper with a washer, and a defogger.
Jaideep notes,
“It’s a similar tale for the cabin, where the basic design and layout have stayed unchanged since the Tiago first arrived on the scene way back in 2016. Updates over the years have added more tech to the cabin from the digital instrument cluster and the central touchscreen, but there is no getting away from the fact that this is an ageing design.”

When our team evaluated the Tata Tiago’s cargo-carrying capabilities, we found it sufficient for weekend getaways or airport runs. At 242 litres, the standard petrol variants can easily accommodate a couple of medium-sized trolley bags and a few soft duffel bags. The boot is deep and wide enough to load larger items without any difficulty, but the loading lip is slightly high.
The real problems in boot space arise when buyers want the factory-fitted CNG variants, a historical concern for this segment. Tata Motors sought to address this issue uniquely: the manufacturer freed up a significant amount of usable luggage space by placing two smaller CNG cylinders lower down in the boot floor instead of one. Finally, the rear seats feature a full-folding mechanism, allowing owners to expand the cargo area when fitting in bulky items

According to our road tests, the Tata Tiago’s ride and handling are its strongest attributes. It tackles broken tarmac, potholes, and sharp speed breakers with confidence, while its suspension absorbs impacts quietly, without disturbing the passengers inside the cabin.
Out on the open road, the hatchback is composed and stable. Even at triple-digit speeds, it feels planted. The electric power steering, meanwhile, is light at parking speeds, allowing the driver to cruise through tight city spots without any hindrance. We also noticed the steering wheel weighing up when the car’s speed increases, thereby providing the driver with sufficient feedback. Braking performance is top-notch, too, with the front disc, rear drum standard setup providing ample stopping power.

Pratik mentions,
“The steering is light for city use, though it does exhibit some understeer when pushed hard into corners. It is a setup designed for comfort and ease of parking rather than driving enthusiasts.”
We noticed the driving dynamics vary across the Tata Tiago’s powertrain and transmission setups. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

• Petrol Manual: This is the most engaging option to navigate narrow city lanes.
• Petrol AMT: The AMT variant handles heavy traffic best, but there is the typical head-nod effect during aggressive gearshifts.
• CNG Manual: This variant has a slightly stiffer ride quality inside the city, but excels on highways.
• CNG AMT: Built for absolute convenience, this one’s driving dynamics are the smoothest in dense urban traffic.

Note: But do note that the CNG trim might feel underpowered on highways. 
Jaideep has high praise for the iCNG variant,

“For that premium, you do get a hatchback that offers greater convenience thanks to its automated manual gearbox, and that is something you don’t get in any other factory-fitted CNG hatchback in the market. Then there is the fact that it's decently spacious inside, rides quite well and has a usable boot big enough for a medium-size suitcase.”

The Tata Tiago has multiple trims on retail, starting with the base XE and moving up to the XM, XT, XZ, and finally, the fully loaded XZ Plus. You can either opt for the standard 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine or the factory-fitted iCNG alternative for better running costs; your choice. The brand also lets you choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a highly convenient five-speed AMT. One thing we need to mention is that the AMT is also available with the CNG powertrain, which is a rare offering in this segment.

The following table breaks down the Tata Tiago’s variants and their key offerings:

We have broken down the perfect choice for each type of buyer and their respective needs.

For Budget Conscious Consumers: XE

If you have a strict budget, the base XE variant should suffice. It provides the core structural safety the Tiago is known for, without making you pay extra.

For City Commutation: XZA AMT

If you frequently navigate through dense urban traffic, the XZA AMT variant wins here. The automatic transmission means you don’t have to switch gears often. And if your daily usage is high, the XZA iCNG offers both automatic convenience and extremely low running costs.

For Highway Performance: XZ Plus

Finally, for frequent highway visits, there is none better than the XZ Plus, particularly the manual transmission option. This one lets you extract the best performance out of the Revotron engine, making overtaking manoeuvres much more fun.

Pratik’s choice is clear,
 “If you primarily drive in the city and value a high-quality audio system and a solid safety cage, the XZ Plus is the one to get.”

The Tata Tiago is in a segment where India offers the market’s highest-selling cars. Its primary rival is Maruti Suzuki, with incredibly fuel-efficient models like the Celerio and the Wagon R. But the Tiago still offers something Maruti’s options cannot: a four-star Global NCAP safety rating. The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is also considered another rival to the Tata Tiago. The former has a slightly more refined engine and a feature-rich interior, though it again falls short of the structural safety provided by the latter. Tata Motors also knows the Tiago’s drawbacks well; it frequently pushes mechanical updates and nifty features to keep it relevant.

Our car&bike mentions,

“The CNG-powered market is going to be one of the hotly contested segments in the coming future, mainly for two reasons- first, it will look to fill the void left by the lack of newer diesel products in the market, and secondly, because premium features will soon trickle down to these models, enhancing their premium quotient among prospective buyers.”

Here is a quick look comparing the car’s engines, mileage, and ex-showroom prices with its rivals: