Tata Sierra review, first drive - what's behind the hype?
In the years that I have been doing this, few cars seem to have caught people's imagination as much the new Tata Sierra. You know most of the details by now, but eventually over time, how the Sierra feels on the road is what will guarantee its continued success. We spent some time with the turbo petrol and diesel versions to find out more.
2025 Tata Sierra dimenions. boot space, stylingThe Sierra's most unique attribute is that it doesn't look like any other C segment SUV. The Sierra is 4,340mm long, 1,841mm wide and 1,715mm tall. This puts it right in the C segment, but diving deep into its heritage, the Sierra has a story that shows up convincingly on the road. The tall wide stance as well as the horizontal lines and flat surfaces draw a good deal of attention.
The details are intricate too, which add a good chunk of sophistication to round off this presence. The black fascia mimics the older Sierra's face where the company has gone to lengths to develop a 17mm tall headlamp to create this look. There is also the widest single piece LED light bar manufactured in India front and rear which properly stands out of the crowd. Even the bonnet has a complex hinge to keep the clamshell look and the flat rear tailgate has auxiliary lights added on the inside to keep that look.
The distinct Sierra side glass has been reimagined smartly for the present. The gloss black and flush window sills make for a clean effect and the large B pillar is quite smartly integrated too. You get the same flush door handles as seen on the Curvv and we wish these were easier to use in a hurry. That being said, the chunky 19 inch wheels and gloss black panels in the lower section add to the Sierra's proportions.
The boxy shape of the Sierra makes it quite practical. The boot opening is not the widest and it could have done with a flat ledge too. But the wheel wells don't intrude and the square floor lets you pack a good deal into the 622 litre volume. The neat holder for the parcel tray is a good touch as well. You can also fold down the second row for a sizable 1,257 litres. A powered tailgate helps but it has a built in delay for safety that can make you impatient at times.
2025 Tata Sierra interiors, features, space, practicalityThe Sierra is built at the new Sanand facility that Tata Motors acquired from Ford and with new tolerances being set on the assembly line, this SUV feels better and more consistently put together than previous Tata products. The external shut lines are consistent and on the inside too, everything feels tightly put together and consistent. The only bit that felt flimsy were the floating extensions for the door handles on the inside.
The Sierra may be looking to the past for inspiration, but on the inside, this is a bright and modern space that feels right on trend. The big three screen layout is front and centre but around this, there is a clean and minimal theme that makes for an airy place to spend time in. The large panoramic sunroof, low sills and wide windscreen help with this sense.
While the Germans and Koreans in this segment still have the edge in terms of absolute solidity and feel of plastics, the Sierra manages to create an uplifting experience with the various materials and finishes used. The cushioned soft surfaces on the mid pad, armrests and door trim feel comforting to touch. The plastics on the top have a soft texture to them and there is more of this scattered through the car. The topography easter eggs and the slight brushes of gloss black on the centre console and doors do their bit to brighten this space up. Finally, the ambient lighting has been thoughtfully used to enhance the space.
The Sierra uses the same interface as other Tata models but it is based on a new electronic architecture which Tata says should reduce glitches. So the instrumentation is now much closer to you and easier to read, although we still wish the fonts were larger. Also, not having the HUD with the top variant is a bit of a miss.
The central touchscreen is responsive, crisp and easily navigable. The smartphone like menus are easy to learn and wireless phone pairing is quick. The passenger screen now lets you play media from two different sources. So the driver can listen on the JBL system and the passenger can use headphones. Otherwise, you have quite a few streaming and music services available to play through the third screen.
The Sierra has a strong focus on practicality. The negative spaces on the doors and central tunnel are great for holding small odds and ends. The glove box and door cards are large and useful. The centre console too has a well placed wireless charger and useful compartments and cup holders. The Argos architecture has meant large footwells and a wide cabin so the sense of space is enhanced further.
There is good news if you spend more time in the back seat. The 2,730mm wheelbase is better than rivals which translates to great knee and leg room. The boss function helps free up a lot more space, which paired with the slight recline function of the seat lets you stretch out well. Despite the large sunroof, headroom should be good even if you are close to 6 feet tall.
The large sunroof and low sills also reduce the blind spot effect that the signature Sierra B pillar creates to an extent. That said, the shape doesn't let the sunshades be fully effective. The good attention to practicality is repeated at the rear. The negative spaces on the door and large doors will let you hold a lot of stuff. The compartments in the door pockets and the type C chargers are other useful touches. Although we wish ventilated rear seats were available.
2025 Tata Sierra driving impressions - turbo petrolThe Sierra may be a large car for its segment, but threading it through traffic is easy. You have a high seating position even at the seat's lowest setting and frontal visibility is great. You still have a big A pillar and large mirrors that create significant blind spots but the effect is reduced to an extent with the low sills and large glass area.
We spent time with the new 1.5 litre turbo petrol with its 160PS and 255 Nm and the new 1.5 litre diesel that puts out 118PS and 260 Nm. Both are paired with the 6 speed Aisin torque converter automatic.
As with most Tata engines, this motor seems more focused on usability than outright excitement. So you have a flat clean sweep of torque through the car's rev band. You can start briskly off the line and have enough go for a wide range of situations like keeping up with traffic, overtakes and highway cruising.
This turbo Sierra is a quick car and you can expect a sub 10 second 0 to 100 kmph time. This puts it right in the mix with its main rivals. But the engine doesn't rev as enthusiastically or have the high end shove of a Skoda VW turbo.
That being said, the engine pairs well with the 6 speed torque converter. You don't notice the shifts too much in slow speed situations. Only heavy throttle inputs can cause a delay but again not to the extent that we have seen in some other cars that use this gearbox. The soft rolling torque converter shifts go well with the engine's calmer nature.
At low speeds its NVH is acceptable but there is a drone that sets in around 2,000 rpm during a cruise and can get noticeable. At higher revs, it also has a degree of roughness that comes through. This effect is compounded by the quite high levels of wind and tyre noise you notice from the Sierra at highway speeds.
2025 Tata Sierra driving impressions - turbo dieselWe also spent time with the improved 1.5 litre turbo diesel which now makes 118PS and 280 Nm as paired here with the automatic. Just off the line, it may not have the punch of the petrol, but this diesel quickly comes across as a practical fit for the Sierra. You have the torque in easy reach in low speed situations and the engine usually stays in the powerband in most driving situations, so this is a great all rounder. Overtakes, catching up with traffic or threading through traffic feels natural and linear.
There is also a good step up in torque just over 3,000 rpm which many modern diesels in this segment have dialled out, so if you still like that sense from a diesel engine, that is there too.
The good torque output helps the gearbox work better as well. Like the petrol, it is not intrusive and even under heavier inputs, the diesel Sierra performs smoothly. This and the engine's character gives the diesel an energetic and tractable feel. It is also under less stress on a triple digit cruise, so if you are going to be doing a lot of miles, the diesel could be an easier than expected choice.
Again, NVH levels could be better, but are an improvement from what we have seen in the past in the Nexon and Curvv. It is acceptable on a cruise but can get loud when you rev the engine out.
2025 Tata Sierra ride and handlingDespite the top spec versions seen here running 19 inch wheels, it must be said that Tata Motors has done great work with the ride. We drove the Sierra on some pretty rough village roads which some may even call an easy off road trail. The large wheels and a fairly thick sidewall help, but the Sierra's frequency dependent dampers were impressive in the way they would iron out the stones and ditches we passed. Yes, there is a firm sense at these low speeds but that tough confident feel was evident enough for us to carry good speeds in these sections in a FWD car. The Sierra didn't feel out of place. Ground clearance too was not an issue. This bodes well for the AWD Sierra that is in the works.
At higher speeds on the highway, the Sierra has that confident steady roadholding which brings a good sense of control and safety. Some of the noises and thuds in the rough weren't evident here. The slight firmness too mostly fades away.
We did not go corner carving in this, but on winding highways and single lane roads, the Sierra is comfortable and predictable. It doesn't lean sharply or feel skittish around faster bends. That said, the sharp and agile feel of some other similarly sized SUVs is missing. The diesel drives quite similarly to the petrol, but you do notice a touch more bounce over speed breakers and such. The nose feels a touch heavier around bends too, but this is a small difference that you may not notice in isolation.
For most users, the steering finds the right balance of heft and convenience. It doesn't need too much heft in the city but you do wish for more directness. This would add a layer of excitement to the driving experience. The braking performance is linear and predictable too. So at all times, the Sierra has a composed feel. Around corners, it may not have the most connection for an enthusiast but it feels competent for most everyday users.
2025 Tata Sierra price, verdict
We still don't have full prices for the Tata Sierra, but with prices topping out at Rs 18.99 lakh for the variant below the ones seen here, the Sierra seems competitively priced. It could do with a bit more refinement and a touch more aggression from the turbo petrol but otherwise it should be a strong contender in the segment it competes in. The road presence, great cabin space and practicality, long features list and comfortable ride make it stand out.