Tata Sierra

Tata has walked a careful line with the new Sierra's design, borrowing just enough from the original to spark nostalgia without making the car feel dated. It's a tribute done with restraint rather than a straight throwback.

• The front gets a large black rectangular section that nods to the original Sierra's headlight and grille layout, though the internal design is all-new, with a DRL running across the top, slim headlights below that Tata claims are among the thinnest around, and fog lights lower down
  
• The Sierra badge up front is kept understated rather than oversized, which gives the face a classier look than a lot of rivals go for
• In terms of dimensions, the Sierra is the tallest and widest in its segment, with the longest wheelbase and the largest available rims at 19 inches
• The side profile is really where the tribute to the original shines through, with a wrap-over glass effect achieved by blacking out a section since an actual glass roof extension isn't possible anymore for structural and crash safety reasons
• The flared B-pillar is a deliberate nod to the old Sierra 2's wider pillar design, giving the car a sense of visual strength along the side
• Flush door handles keep things modern, though they're becoming common enough now that they don't feel like a standout feature anymore
• At the rear, Tata has moved away entirely from the vertical tail lamp concept it showed earlier, going instead for one continuous light bar with a spoiler that cleverly hides the wiper and washer setup for a cleaner look

Design and Ergonomics

Step inside and the cabin feels like a genuine departure from other Tata models, though a few familiar elements have been carried over, and not all of them feel like an improvement.

• The steering wheel, AC control panel, and gear selector knob are carried over from other Tata products, and while the steering gets a small thumb indent as a fresh touch, a fully new unit would have suited this cabin better
• The AC controls rely on touch zones rather than physical buttons, so you need to glance down to find the right spot rather than operating them by feel, which isn't the most intuitive setup
• The gear selector is a touch slow to respond, though this is a minor nitpick rather than a real drawback in an otherwise well-executed cabin
• Material quality genuinely stands out, with soft-touch surfaces on top that feel premium to the hand, a cloth-finish sound bar that looks rich, and damped grab handles and AC vents that add a sense of solidity to everything you touch
  
• Seats come in a light cream upholstery option that looks upscale but will need regular care to keep clean, and they're ventilated with an extendable thigh support lip for added comfort on long drives
• A thoughtful safety touch is the seatbelt alert that won't let the car move into drive until you're buckled in, though it would be nice to see this extended to every seat rather than just the driver's

Infotainment and Connectivity

The tech inside the Sierra genuinely impresses, and Tata seems to have paid real attention to how it's used day to day, not just how it looks on a spec sheet.

• Three Samsung-made screens come as standard on the range-topping trim, with excellent clarity, quick responsiveness, and even pinch-to-zoom support, which is rare to find at all
• A separate two-screen variant with a head-up display is also offered, though you have to choose between the third screen and the HUD rather than getting both
• The third screen faces the front passenger and can run content like videos, and it connects to its own Bluetooth headphones so playback doesn't disturb the driver, a genuinely clever touch
  
• One miss here is the lack of a privacy screen for that front passenger display, something manufacturers really ought to start taking seriously given how easily a moving image can distract other road users
• Sound comes from a JBL Black system that's tuned really well, with tight bass, clear vocals, and a treble that never turns harsh
  
• The wireless charging pad does the job but tends to shift the phone around under hard braking or acceleration, so a snugger fit would be welcome

Front seats are broad and genuinely comfortable over long stretches, with ventilation and adjustable thigh support that slimmer occupants might find a touch too wide, though most people will appreciate the extra room.

Door pockets are generously sized, and there's a dedicated storage tray along with a slot to keep your phone within easy reach, plus a center armrest with dual cup holders for rear passengers.

Tata has loaded the Sierra with genuinely useful equipment rather than just box-ticking features, and most of it feels like it was chosen with real-world use in mind.

• The full ADAS suite has reportedly been calibrated specifically for Indian road conditions, and auto emergency braking behaved sensibly in city traffic during testing rather than triggering unnecessarily
• Lane-keeping intervention feels gentle and natural rather than an aggressive tug at the wheel when you drift slightly on the highway
• Terrain modes covering normal, wet, and rough conditions adjust throttle response and stability control settings to help with traction on loose or slippery surfaces
  
• A large panoramic sunroof, the three-screen Samsung setup, and the JBL Black sound system round out a feature list that feels genuinely premium for the segment.
  

Safety has clearly been a priority in how the Sierra has been engineered, and Tata is backing that up with both hardware and its own testing claims.

• Tata is targeting a five-star crash safety rating for the Sierra, supported by six airbags as standard and an after-impact braking system
• The ADAS suite adds another layer of protection, with auto emergency braking and gentle lane correction that felt well-tuned during testing, though a busier city like Mumbai will be the real test of how it copes with heavier traffic
• 205mm of unladen ground clearance gives it a reasonable safety margin over rough patches and light trails without needing to resort to four-wheel drive, which isn't offered yet on this platform.
  

Powertrain Options

The Sierra comes with a genuinely wide spread of engine and gearbox combinations, giving buyers real choice depending on what they prioritise.

• The range-topping option is a new 160 PS 1.5-litre turbo petrol paired with a six-speed automatic, alongside a lower-output 106 PS naturally aspirated version of the same engine offered with either a manual or a dual-clutch automatic
  
• Diesel buyers get a 118 PS 1.5-litre unit with a choice of manual or six-speed automatic gearboxes
• Official fuel efficiency figures haven't been released yet, and Tata itself has indicated they won't be segment-leading, so this is one area to watch once independent testing is done

City Driving

• The turbo petrol feels genuinely strong in everyday traffic, with the automatic gearbox doing a good job of keeping the engine in its power band without needing manual paddle input
• Power delivery is smooth and linear rather than punchy, so buyers expecting an aggressive turbo kick in the mid-range won't find it here, though there's more than enough performance to never feel wanting
• The diesel, in comparison, is noticeably less refined, with an audible engine drone that becomes more prominent as you pick up speed, so those sensitive to cabin noise should take a longer test drive before deciding

Highway Driving

• Overtaking on the highway is an easy affair in the turbo petrol, with the gearbox dropping a gear promptly and enough performance in reserve to get past traffic confidently
• The diesel keeps pace comfortably too, dropping a gear or two when you need a quick burst of acceleration, and doesn't leave you wanting on the open road despite the extra noise

Ride Quality

• At lower speeds there's a slight underlying firmness, and you can feel coarser road surfaces coming through the cabin, but the suspension does a genuinely good job of soaking up bumps, ruts, and potholes once you're moving

Handling

• Body roll is impressively well controlled for a car this tall, and the Sierra holds its line through tighter corners with a confidence that few SUVs in this class manage
• Mechanical grip is strong too, letting you carry more speed through corners than you'd expect going in
• Four-wheel drive isn't available at launch, though the underlying platform is built to support it for both electric and combustion versions further down the line