Tata Tigor

Tata Tigor Review

While people are opting for SUVs in almost all price brackets over similarly priced sedans, it is the subcompact sedan segment that seems to have taken the smallest hit. And there are a multitude of reasons for it. These sedans are considerably larger than micro SUVs, offer better rear seat comfort, larger boot spaces, and also more premium interiors and features. The Tata Tigor is the most affordable model in this segment, and while being low on price, there are seemingly few compromises. Does it pack enough to be the segment king? Let’s take a look.

Tata Tigor Pros and Cons 

Tata Tigor Exterior Design

Being the Tiago’s sibling, the front 3/4th of the Tata Tigor looks almost identical to the Tiago, which is a good thing. The roofline changes shape and flows into the C-pillar, which is where the Tigor distinguishes itself from the Tiago. And while the rear of the Tiago is rather natural and appealing, the silver coloured tail lights and the chrome strip that separates them on the Tigor aren’t as eye-pleasing. Needing to comply with the four metre length limit in order to fit in the tax bracket has taken a toll on the overall proportions, and where the Tiago has a definitive hatchback silhouette, the Tigor silhouette looks confused. Placement of the number plate on the boot lid instead of the bumper also makes the rear look busy and overdesigned, and it is one of the least attractive rear ends of any Tata car on sale presently.

Tata Tigor Interiors 

The Tigor borrows its interior design language from other Tata Motors’ cars. The dashboard gets an island-like area at the centre which houses the centre air-con vents, infotainment screen, and a few other quick access buttons. The dual-tone finish looks premium, and while some surfaces are finished in hard plastic, they don't feel low quality. Top spec trims also get leatherette seats which add to the luxury quotient, and the overall design is very natural and premium.

The cabin is also good on the practicality front. There’s plenty of storage spaces all around, including a cooled glovebox. However, the bottle holders in the door pockets aren’t large enough to hold one-litre bottles. The boot — at 419 litres — is generous too, and even the iCNG variants get a large boot space, thanks to Tata’s twin-cylinder technology. 

Tata Tigor Comfort

The Tata Tigor has a compact footprint, and that is very evident on the inside. The cabin is fairly narrow, and consecutively, front passengers are seated pretty close to each other. Front seats are wide and offer a good amount of comfort, and the rear seats are also decent when it comes to support. But the cabin is not wide enough to accommodate three passengers at the back comfortably, and passengers will have to squeeze in to make space. Knee room and legroom is sufficient though, and headroom is good as well. 

Where the Tigor excels is ride comfort. As seen on most other Tata cars, the Tigor offers great ride quality for the segment, and it rounds off bumps and potholes pretty well. What takes away from the experience though is poor NVH insulation levels, which is something Tata could’ve improved on.

Tata Tigor Performance and handling

The Tata Tigor is powered by a 3-cylinder engine that can be had in either petrol or petrol + CNG configurations. The engine is fairly tractable, and driving at low revs at city speeds is easy. Even when running on CNG, the engine doesn't feel out of breath, and the drop in power is not noticeable. However, while the engine is sufficient, it is nowhere close to being exciting. It doesn’t enjoy being pushed hard, and the vibrations creep into the cabin at higher revs. In fact, the overall NVH insulation levels are quite low, and it leaves room for improvement. On the handling front, the Tigor does in fact do a good job. The steering is light at low speeds, and it weighs up nicely at higher speeds. It also does a fairly good job while cornering.

Tata Tigor Key specifications 

Tata Tigor Safety Features

As is the forte of Tata, the Tigor has a great score on the safety front. The Tata Tigor scored a 4-star GNCAP crash test rating for adult occupant protection and 3-star rating for child occupant protection, making it one of the safest subcompact sedans in our country. It is equipped with all the safety features that you’d come to expect from a car from its segment, like dual airbags, ABS, EBD, corner stability control, rear parking camera with sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Tata Tigor Technology and Infotainment

The Tata Tigor is fairly equipped when it comes to features. It gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the system is paired with an immersive 8-speaker Harman sound system that delivers segment-leading audio quality. Behind the steering wheel is a small digital instrument cluster, which displays most of the basic information, including the TPMS readout, trip computers, speed readout, and more. The Tigor is also equipped with a cooled glovebox, and a USB charging port.

Is the Tata Tigor for you?

The Tata Tigor is one of the most affordable subcompact sedans in India, and for the savings over comparable models from other brands, it doesn’t make any deal-breaking compromises. It packs enough performance for urban environments, is loaded with features, has a comfortable suspension, and the iCNG variant gets a significantly larger boot than other CNG rivals. There are places where Tata can still improve, but overall, the Tigor offers a good value for money proposition, making it a safe bet in the subcompact sedan space.