Tata Tigor EV 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage
With the electric vehicle fever on a high pitch, every manufacturer has either launched or showcased its electric car bound for the Indian market. While some manufacturers are taking their first steps into this domain now, others like Tata Motors have been present in the EV market for quite some time now. One of the first EVs ever to be launched by this Indian manufacturer is the Tigor EV. It was initially introduced only for the Government and fleet owners as Tata Motors had won a tender to supply 10,000 units to the government’s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in 2017. But now Tata motors have finally opened the gates for private car owners as well.
The biggest constraint in selling an EV in the Indian market is certainly the infrastructure. Hence, Tata motors certainly deserve a pat on its back for bringing its electric range early to the Indian customers. The Tigor EV’s base model is priced at Rs. 9,54,175 (EX-Delhi) and goes up against its rival the e-Verito which is also a product of an Indian car manufacturer, Mahindra Electric. Like the eVerito, Tigor is EV is also based on its conventionally powered cousin, the Tigor. But now as the car is on sale for the general population as well, its time to see if you should actually be buying one.
What will impress you:
- Acceptable range
- Low running cost
- Spacious interiors
- Good ride quality
What Won’t:
- Small boot space
- Offers nothing extra
Variants and Pricing
Mahindra had launched the Tigor EV in 3 variants, but now it has done away with the middle variant and only offers 2 variants now. Both the variant comes with only one battery option. Hence, both variants get the same level of performance. This makes sense as the Tigor EV will not be enjoying the same demand as other ICE cars for now.
But Mahindra has added all features available in the top of the line model of the Verito. The entry-level variant is priced at Rs. 10,15,521 (Ex-Delhi) and is called the D2. It almost all the features that the top model has on offer. The top of the line variant is the D6 and comes at a price of Rs.10,49,302 (Ex-Delhi). We would recommend you to go for the top variant (D6) as it offers a fast charging option.
Variants | Tigor EV XE+ | Tigor EV XM+ | Tigor EV XT+ |
Price (Ex-Delhi) | Rs. 9,54,175 | Rs.9,70,868 | Rs.9,85,868 |
Features | Steel Wheel rims | All features of the XE+ Variant and: | All features of the XM+ Variant and: |
Front power outlet | Automatic door lock (while driving) | Alloy Wheels | |
Collapsible grab handles | 4 Door Power windows | Remote Entry Fob | |
Segmented DIS display 6.35 cm (2.5'') | Driver side up/down & all window control | Internally adjustable outside mirrors - Electric | |
Driver Airbag | Co-driver Airbag | ------ | |
ABS | Integrated Stereo with AM/FM, USB, AUX-IN, iPod, Bluetooth Connectivity by HARMANTM | ------ | |
Rear Parking Sensor | ------ | ------ | |
Seat belt reminder - Driver | ------ | ------ | |
Driver Seat Height Adjustable | ------ | ------ | |
2 Side view mirror + 1 Rearview mirror | ------ | ------ |
What's the source of power in 2020 Tigor EV?
The Tigor EV comes with a 21.5 kWh battery pack which is paired with a 72 V 3-Phase AC induction motor. It generates 40.2 BHP of power and 105 Nm of the torque and now comes with a claimed range of 213 km. Tata Motors has been able to double the range of the car from 142kms. The 50 percent improvement in the range comes from the bigger battery pack in place of the earlier 16.2kWh battery.
The car has a top speed of 80 kmph which can be quite slow for highway drives. As the car is electric the only way you can tell that the car is switched on is through the MID. Once the car is on, it is super silent on the inside while idle and once you get a move on you can hear a low whirring noise. Within the city, the performance is adequate and can easily handle the city traffic conditions. The powerhouse provided is not meant for the highway use and neither is claimed by Tata motors. Once you tap on to the throttle the car moves almost instantly but the progress is slow. Overall, the power under the tap is adequate for everyday city grinds and the car is not meant to be driven hard and fast.
Models | Tigor EV XT | Mahindra eVerito |
Price (Ex-Delhi) in INR | Rs. 9,26,424 | Rs.10,15,521 |
Battery | 72 V 3-Phase AC Induction | 72 V 3-Phase AC Induction |
Power (bhp) | 40.23 | 40.04 |
Torque(Nm) | 105 | 91 |
If you are looking for performance, the Tigor EV will keep you happier in comparison to the e-Verito. Although, none of the two cars stands for stellar performance in any way. The Tigor EV certainly feels quicker due to its lighter weight and more torque. It also comes with more range now and hence is the better car in terms of performance.
How quick is the Tigor EV from 0-100?
If you are looking for quick performance, the Tigor EV in simple words will be a disappointment. In fact, the car is slower than most ICE cars in the Indian market today. To reach the speed of 80 kmph, it takes a painstaking 18.84 seconds. As the numbers can tell, you would also require a long stretch of an open road to reach the top speed.
Hence, probably you will never even think of taking it to the max speed. The hard acceleration attempts also drain the battery quite a lot more than usual. Overall, it is a car meant for sedate driving rather than outright performance.
Models | Tigor EV | Mahindra e-Verito |
0-80 KMPH | 18.84sec | 19.02 Sec |
Engine | 72 V 3-Phase AC Induction | 72 V 3-Phase AC Induction |
While both the cars are quite slow in terms of outright acceleration, the Tigor EV is a slight bit better than the eVerito. It is faster due to its lighter curb weight which can be credited mostly to its compact sedan dimensions. Overall, these are not cars to be engaged in stoplight races.
How well have the brakes been tuned of the Tigor EV?
Tata Motors has given the Tigor EV the same braking setup as the conventionally powered sedan. It offers ABS as standard which is tuned quite well and is not of the intrusive nature. The brake pedal feels a bit wooden at times but the car stops as expected. As the car is not capable of going over 80kmph, it is safe to say that the braking setup is quite adequate to stop the car even while doing 80 kmph. The tires also provide adequate grip and the car drops an anchor without much fuss.
Model | Tata Tigor EV | Mahindra eVerito |
Front Brakes | Disc | Disc |
Rear Brakes | Drum | Drum |
Kerb Weight (kg) | 1126 | 1265 |
You also get brake energy regeneration which comes standard with all-electric cars these days. It ensures that the kinetic energy generated while the brakes are applied is used to recharge the battery. In comparison to the e-Verito, the braking performance of the Tigor EV feels better due to its lighter curb weight
What are the range and the charging time for Tigor EV?
Like every other electric car, the Tata Tigor EV can be charged in two ways. It supports fast charging as well as normal charging. Under the normal charging, the battery takes 11.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100 percent. But with the help of a 15kW fast charger, the battery can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in just 2 hours as claimed by Tata motors. The home charger can be installed which is not a fast charger as they are installed only at special points Tata motors. It is not clear yet how much Tata would be charging for the fast charging but be expect the fast charging point to grow in metro cities.
Model | Tigor EV | Mahindra eVerito |
Range | 213 km | 140 km |
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres) | 11.5 hours | 8-9 hours |
How eye-catchy is the Tigor EV?
The Tigor EV looks almost identical to its conventionally powered twin and there is not much to differentiate it even on the outside. Tata has added some new decals to set it apart. On the front two sides, it gets a blue decal which shows its an EV. From the rear, you get the “Tigor EV” badging on the left side.
The rest of the car largely remains the same. Hence, the best way to tell the Tigor EV apart will be its green number plate which only the EVs get. As the design is the same there is not much to talk about the way it looks but as it carries forward Tigor’s exterior design, the car looks quirky and modern.
Model | Tigor EV | Mahindra e-Verito |
Length(mm) | 3992 | 4784 |
Width(mm) | 1677 | 2080 |
Height(mm) | 1537 | 1391 |
Ground clearance (mm) | 176 | 137 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2450 | 2720 |
How cocooned will you feel in this Electric Car?
As the car is based on its conventionally powered sibling, the Tigor, you get the same cabin with some minor changes. Hence, Tata motors have played it safe when it comes to the interiors of the car. It gets exactly the same interior layout as the Tigor AMT. The car feels spacious and the front seats are comfortable and provide good back and lateral support.
It also gets a height-adjustable driver's seat which makes finding a comfortable driving position quite easy. The back seats also feel quite spacious and you get ample legroom as well as knee room. However, seating 3 at the rear can be tricky as the car is a bit narrow due to its compact design.
All the buttons and knobs feel built to last and the plastic quality feels durable. Overall visibility is acceptable but the call misses out on the rearview camera. Tata Motors could have done more to differentiate the car from its conventionally powered sibling, but most consumers would not find much to complain about the cabin.
How widespread and intuitive is the infotainment system in the Tigor EV?
There is not much to talk about the infotainment in the Tigor EV as it comes with a basic Single-din unit that offers CD, FM/AM and AUX. We would suggest you go for an aftermarket touchscreen unit as the current unit is quite rudimentary.
But the car gets Hardmon Kardon’s audio system which is clearly the best in terms of sound quality and output.
How many suitcases can go in the boot of the Tigor EV?
The boot size of the Tigor EV is quite small even by hatchback standards. This is due to the placement of the battery under the boot which has eaten up into the spare wheel storage space. Hence, the spare wheel has been placed on the side inside the boot.
At 255 litres, the Tigor EV’s boot is small but looking at the range and infrastructure, not many would think of taking it on long journeys. However, the loading lip is not very high and it is easy to load and unload luggage.
Model | Tigor EV | Mahindra eVerito |
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (Litres) | 255 | 510 |
In comparison, the Tata Tigor offers a boot which is almost half of what the Tigor EV has on offer. But the irony is that both the cars shall never be used for a long journey due to the 140 km range. Hence, a big boot shall never be used to its full potential.
What are the various safety features on offer in 2020 Tigor EV?
Tata Motors has given the Tigor EV quite a standard safety kit. It gets dual airbags with ABS and EBD. Even though the car is yet to be crash-tested, with the Tata motor’s history of making safe cars, it is safe to say that the Tigor EV should be able to score 4 stars if ever tested. The maximum speed of 80 kmph makes the equipment on the car quite capable of handling any safety concerns.
Safety Features:
- Airbag (Driver and Co-Passenger)
- Child Lock on Rear Door (for Personal)
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Auto Door Lock While Driving
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Side Intrusion Beams
- Collapsible Steering Column
How does the competition cope up with Tigor EV?
Tigor EV vs Mahindra e-Verito
The Mahindra eVerito is a potent contender which is priced quite closely to the Tigor EV. It is a better car when it comes to seating 5 people in comfort. The boot space offered with the eVerito is also much bigger and can easily fit in the luggage for your airport runs. But the Tigor EV now offers more range which is almost double the range of the e-Verito. The interiors of the Tata also feels more premium and better put together making it a better car overall.
Should you buy one?
The Tigor EV is certainly a step in the right direction for Tata Motors. It offers better range than before and is also one of the most affordable EVs in the Indian market right now. It has finally been put on sale for the personal car buyer but with the FAME II (the second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Electric Vehicles scheme) subsidies only available to commercial buyers, the final price for personal buyers wouldn’t be much different. Hence, the Tigor EV is quite a potent alternative to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), but it is still a long way away from being a perfect everyday car.
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