Tata Tigor First Drive Review — Bringing Style Back To The Masses

Tata Tigor Test Drive Review. The Tata Tigor promises to shake up the compact sedan with its eye-catching looks. Read on to find out if the new Tata Tigor Styleback is the car for you

Updated: Friday, April 28, 2017, 11:52 [IST]

The current compact sedan segment in India is a group of hatchbacks with boots strapped on the rear end.

The new Tata Tigor (pronounced Tee-gor) is the compact sedan version of the Tiago hatchback, and it looks to change the segment with a new focus on design.

So is the Tigor 'Styleback' from Tata Motors worth your hard-earned money?

Design

The front end of the new Tata Tigor will be familiar to anyone who has clapped eyes on the Tiago.

Tata's signature grille now sports a line of chrome and links the two smoked-out headlamps, which are projector units.

View the Tigor from the side, and the new coupe-like roof line immediately grabs your attention. The Tigor sits on a set of snazzy new 15-inch alloy wheels.

The rear end of the Tigor looks rather cool with the black LED strip above the rear window. Combined with the boot lip spoiler, it gives the rear a very distinct 'dual-spoiler' look.

Tata has also ditched the goose-neck hinge to maximise the amount of boot space available (419-litres). A new setup featuring dampers and multiple hinges allow for easier access and more space.

The interiors of the all-new Tata Tigor are inviting and spacious and complement the exterior styling.

The plastics used, knitted roof lining and the fabric inserts on the doors give the Tigor a premium feel.

The Tigor's interiors sport numerous cubby holes and storage spaces as well.

The seats on the Tigor are top notch offering oodles of comfort on long drives. The low-set dashboard combined with the chunky adjustable steering wheel provide excellent visibility up front, and rear visibility is also surprisingly good.

The scooped out rear seats offer a surprising amount of head and legroom even if you're taller than the average Indian.

Connectivity

The infotainment system with its 8-speaker (four tweeters, four speakers) setup is one of the best audio systems around.

The 5-inch touch screen is a bit slow to respond but can play back video, recognises voice commands and will even read out SMS messages out loud. It also acts as the display for the rear parking assist cameras.

Tata's host of apps allows for turn-by-turn navigation and Music sharing through the NAVI and Juke apps.

Safety

Tata has fitted the Tigor with a host of safety features including two airbags up front, rear parking sensors and cameras and an energy absorbing body structure. Other safety features include ABS with EBD along with cornering stability control (CSC).

Also, present on the Tata Tigor is the 'Tata Emergency Assist App' that shares the vehicle's exact location to emergency contacts in case of a collision.

Performance

The Tata Tigor is available with the same duo of engines that power the Tiago.

The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine kicks out 84bhp and 114Nm of torque. The 1.05-litre diesel engine produces 69bhp and 140Nm of torque. Both engines use a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The petrol engine is a pleasure to drive through the city streets and on the highway. The engine loves to race through the rev band and is a proper character.

The 1.05-litre diesel engine, is smooth. Yet, the narrow power band (1,800rpm - 3,000rpm) means going down a gear anytime you overtake another car.

The ride quality of the Tata Tigor is pleasant, and the car handles the rough Indian roads with ease. Body roll is minimal, but the tyres do squeal when pushed hard around a corner.