Tata Tiago: In a segment overflowing with small cars in a bid to be larger than their price tags, the Tata Tiago has stealthily made a name for itself. It’s not flashy, and doesn’t cry out for your attention.
But take it for a drive once and you’ll know what the fuss is about.
Stylish, well-built and with a surprisingly upmarket feel for its price, the Tiago has a lot going for it – and it won’t break the bank.
No matter whether you are a first-time vehicle buyer, or a city driver who just asks for the confidence of a smart choice, the Tiago is a driver’s delight — offering a fuel-efficient and peppy ride, solid road support and good mileage, alongside a dash of style and confidence in every turn.
Design: Small Yet Stylish
On the outside, the Tata Tiago looks sporty without going overboard. It has an energetic face, with a vast grille dotted with chrome, swept-back headlamps, and a muscular front bumper.
A compact profile that isn’t too tight looking on the side gives way to a clean design in back with taillamps that end with an LED flourish.
It’s not over the top, and that’s the thing — it reads free-spirited and urban and well-proportioned. It comes in funky colors such as Flame Red, Arizona Blue and Opal White, among others, giving the Tiago enough flair to make a statement without being too try-hard.
Cabin: Snug but Premium-Sounding
And step inside, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The Tiago gets a cool, functional cabin that feels a lot more upmarket than you’d imagine at this price point.
The dual-tone dash, textured treatment and chrome-alloy lines on the AC vents look good. Seats are well padded and ergonomics are good.
The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; and the 8-speaker Harman audio system is, quite honestly, one of the best in this classement.
There’s good storage all around, and the 242-litre boot is fine for weekend away or a trip to the shops.
Performance: Created to Be a City Car with Highway Comfort
Powering the Tiago is a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine making 86 PS and 113 Nm. It drives through a 5-speed manual, or an AMT (automated manual transmission).
In city traffic, the Tiago is agile and feels light-footed. The steering is manageable, the clutch is light and the gearshifts are reasonably smooth.
On the highway, it will certainly cruise comfortably at triple-digit speeds, although that’s probably not the primary use case for such a car. It’s a serene, sedate drive — which is exactly what you want every day.
Ride and Handling: The Good Stuff
One spot the Tiago’s design truly shines otherwise is ride quality. The suspension copes well with bumps and potholes without jarring the cabin.
Even on erratically paved roads it feels planted and there’s actually a lot of cornering confidence for a hatchback in the class.
Noise insulation is also quite good — the engine whirs serenely at low speeds, and noise is low on the highway so long as you’re not working it hard there.
Safety: Setting the Standard
Tata has clearly taken safety seriously, and it shows. The Tiago gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control and rear parking sensors as standard.
It even achieved a 4-star Global NCAP safety rating, making it one of the safest hatchbacks in India in its segment.
Pros
Cabin feels premium for the price
Excellent ride and handling
This one is heavy duty and has a 4-star safety rating
Some notables from an infotainment standpoint: Built in Audiologists?!!} Aussies love Ye!! Great infotainment system (Harman speakers)
Approachable size on city streets, capable on the freeway
Cons
Engine becomes noisy at high revs
AMT can feel jerky at times
No turbo variant available
There’s enough space for tall rear passengers
Boot space could have been larger
Tata Tiago: Final Verdict
It may not shout performance or luxuries, but it whispers where it makes a difference.”
(Engineering in Sangeetha) It has a sturdy build, polished looks, well-sorted dynamics and high safety standards, and is more than just a budget offering — that’s smart shopping for urban Indians who care for material value over superficial appeal.
Make no mistake, this feels like a very well-thought hatch that comes across as premium without pinching the pocket. It’s evidence that good things do come in small packages, after all.