Tata Tiago 2020 Review: Prices, Offers, Specs, Mileage & Pics

What are the various trims on offer for 2020 Tiago?

Tata has discontinued its diesel line-up for most of the small cars in its portfolio and Tiago is one of them. The line-up is now backed up by Tata's note-worthy Revotron engines that have been developed from scratch inhouse. This decision is in synonym to the new BS6 norms that will be in effect from April. Many automakers are ditching their diesel line-up for small cars.

2020 Tiago is now available in a total of five variants which includes the flexibility to choose between a manual or automatic gearbox. The Automatic transmission is available for the top three trims which are XZA, XZA+ and XZA+ Dual tone.

As the only engine available is the 1.2L Revotron petrol, the performance characteristics are retained throughout the line-up. The variants come up on the inside in the creature comfort features and the addition of automatic transmission. Taking all of this into account, Tata has done a very good job of pricing it aggressively.

Which trim should you go for?

The XZ+ variant of Tiago is our pick of the lot. Packed with features like touchscreen infotainment, sporty alloy wheels, and projector headlamps it gives you the best of both worlds without costing a bomb.

Also Read,

Can the Tiago take on Maruti Suzuki's top seller in this segment?

Will the nostalgic drive from Hyundai be bothersome for Tata?

Can the new Renault Kwid stand a chance against the Tiago?

How energetic is the Revotron engine from Tata?

Powered by a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine, Tata Tiago packs a punch with a power figure of 83 bhp and 114 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT. Tata has put forth this portfolio keeping in mind people of both spectrum in mind.

This includes those who drive for the love of motoring and on the other hand, those who just want to travel from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. The AMT gearbox is catered for the second type of people as it is the least fun to drive of the two as well.

The Revotron engine despite being powerful is humble on the acceleration part. Once you build up revs, there is a traditional 3-cylinder vibration that can be felt inside the cabin. Taking Tiago to triple digits is not a hassle at all but keeping those revs high for long may bring some strain on the 3-cylinder unit. 

How driver-involving is the 2020 Tata Tiago?

Tata Tiago has a prominent advantage in cities due to their smaller size. Lightweight steering makes the manoeuvrability in congestion a breeze. There is a noticeable amount of body roll which can be felt mostly during sharp cornering or sudden lane changes at high speeds. The suspension setup is well-modulated and has a balanced nature to ply over varying roads with ease. However, speeding over bumps will send a slight modulation into the cabin.

Steering feedback is linear and the car responds in a very confident manner. Even under hard braking, there is not much body roll which inspires you to brake later and harder. Brake pedals feel a bit spongy but do their job well for which Tiago stops confidently on those handsome 14-inchers. Tata has provided an adequate amount of cabin insulation which keeps the NVH levels to a dime.

How efficient is the Revotron engine in Tata Tiago?

This segment is mostly adhered to, by customers who upgrade from either a two-wheeler or will be their first four-wheeler, fuel economy being a major factor for the choice. Tata Tiago does cater well in this department by providing an overall mileage of 22.8 kmpl. Rivals in the segment also offer similar figure but creature comfort and engine refinement along with dirt-cheap running costs make the Tiago unique.

Although these small hatchbacks are not meant for highway journeys but if you are the thrill-seeker, then fuel stops will be minimal. Maruti Alto K10 might be the most fuel-efficient of the lot but a dated design and questionable safety makes it a bummer.

How subtle is the new design language from Tata?

Moving away from the iconic design language of Tata Indica, Tiago is a more beautiful looking kid from the Tata stable. Design cues are fresh in the case of Tiago, unlike any other Tata. The front looks sharp with front grille merging into wraparound halogen headlights. Front bumper hosts a pair of fog lights and a huge air dam which allows for more cool air into the engine bay. Side profile of Tiago is minimal and a subtle shoulder line merging seamlessly into taillights.

The latest update gets a few aesthetic add-ons which include a bottom chrome lining for the front grille and reworked front and rear bumpers. The rear end is minimal and has a clean look to it. Tata has not gone too aggressive on the design front like its predecessors including that of Vista, which was a bit too sharp.

Rear bumper has black plastic cladding which imitates a diffuser and adds to the aesthetic character of the vehicle. That 14-inchers complement the new design language and looks perfect for the size form.

Tata Tiago has the best cabin in this class, or is there a catch?

Tata Tiago outshines its competition in terms of cabin space and comfort. The car uses high-quality plastics and fabrics that have been surprisingly well put together for a car of this price point. The cabin uses hexagon structure designs, majorly noticeable in steering and infotainment housing to give a vivid look to the cabin. The steering wheel is small and is the perfect shape for a comfortable driving experience. The dashboard is flat and houses all the necessary bits and bobs in place, within reach. The fit and finish are what impresses us, despite being the entry-level product there are no gory panel gaps.

Once you get seated, the seats will impress you with the support it provides. Those front seats are comfortable and give proper bolster support and lower back support. The front seats are manually adjusted with height adjustment only offered in the top XZA Plus variant. There is no leather upholstery on offer but Tata could have done well if it was at least given as an add-on for the top trims.

The second-row can comfortably seat three people with ease but due to limited leg-space, long journeys may become a tiring affair. Wider window openings and adequately sized windows make the cabin feel roomier and add up to cabin space.

What are the various infotainment features on offer?

Tata has bundled in an impressive list of features which includes segment-leading, Harmon powered audio system paired with 4-speaker and 4-tweeter combo that sounds superb. There is no touch screen option, however, the system does offer AUX-in, Bluetooth mobile connectivity for calling and music streaming.

To add more to the feature list, the system can be paired with 4-5 mobile devices at once along with navigation notification read-out sounds. JukeApp allows all the mobile devices to add songs to the playlist on the primary device connected to the infotainment, looks like no one is going to fight for music anymore.

Infotainment Features

• Bluetooth music streaming
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto
• AUX-in audio input
• 4-speakers with tweeters
• JukeApp support
• Steering mounted controls
• Harmon powered audio module

How much cargo can the entry hatchback from Tata take in?

Despite its small size Tata Tiago is capable of hauling around 240 litres of cargo space which is adequate for a weekend getaway. The advantage of the boot latch in Tiago is the low loading point which makes moving of cargo much easier. However, this is not an electromagnetic boot release with central locking system, which means you have to unlock the boot separately.

Extra points for practicality here, as Tata has provided with folding rear seats that can add up to cargo volume when needed and thus helping you with that long weekend trip. The spare tyre and emergency toolkit is neatly tucked away under the cargo floor which gives it a clean look.

Renault Kwid looks small in size but inside it offers a decent amount of cabin space with segment-leading boot space. The boot latch is connected with central locking which gives it an edge over Tiago in ease of usage. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 comes in with the least cargo space and that is because of its compact form factor and cargo space is not much of a bummer for a car destined for city roads.

What are the various safety features available in Tata Tiago?

Safety has been the most discussed topic in recent times related to how much focus is given, by automakers. Tata has proved to be the benchmark in passenger safety ratings and improved a lot over their past years. Tata has been producing the safety of Indian cars right now and Tiago is a by-product of this endeavour.

Loaded with basic safety features like ABS, EBD and both front airbags, Tiago sets a benchmark in the segment for safety ratings. The construction of the structure of Tiago is composed of lightweight alloys that offer a high level of safety and rigidity.

Safety Features:

• Dual Airbags
• Rear parking camera with virtual mapping
• ABS with EBD and CSC
• Added stress points on chassis for better shock absorption
• Speed sensitive auto door locks
• "Follow me home" headlamps
• Rear windshield de-fogger

How does Tata Tiago pitch up against its competitors?

Tata Tiago VS Maruti Alto K10

Both cars are the best sellers in its respective portfolio but Alto K10 came into the Indian market back in 2010 and has seen many facelifts since then and still does not fail to impress people. Tiago is a brilliant product for its price and with the sturdy build quality, it offers a much safer option for people with a tighter budget. Looking at the value for money propositions among the two, Tiago takes the podium for design, features and a well put together cabin.

Tata Tiago VS Hyundai Santro

Hyundai is back with the nostalgic Santro that started it all for the automaker in India. Hyundai is known to offer the best in the segment creature comfort and features which is also the case here. Hyundai Santro offers a 4-cylinder petrol engine which is a rare sight in this segment and can be a beneficial factor for many. We would rate Hyundai Santro as the clear winner of the two considering comfort and performance. Tata Tiago is no less and it all boils down to your personal preferences here.

Tata Tiago VS Renault Kwid

Renault Kwid stands out from the rest due to its SUV-ish outlook. It has plastic claddings all-round and a higher ground clearance which makes it the sole one of this lot that can take the roads less travelled. The recent update has given it a much sleeker look and thus refreshing the ageing car in India. But we hand it down to Tiago here for the immense value for money proposition it offers and the much more peppy engine to have fun with.

Will Tata be able to win over the Indian audience with the Tiago?

Tata Tiago is a fun little car to drive around the city with its peppy 1.2-litre Revotron engine. Tiago offers a good amount of creature comfort and equipments for the occupants. Tata has jumped leagues in terms of occupant safety which has been implemented into Tiago too. If you are looking for a safe compact hatchback which can grind day in and out, Tata Tiago is the way forward.