Tata Sierra: Daring Design Meets Engineering Excellence 

Back in 1991, the bold and handsome looks of the Tata Sierra swayed many; I was one of them. The manner in which Tata Motors had managed to mold the tinted glass around the roof and the body of the Sierra seemed incredibly fascinating to the school girl in me. That wasn’t all, the size of the Sierra was another draw. “This magnificent beast would be driven on our Indian roads,” I mused, enraptured by its sheer size! The very idea seemed astonishing, especially considering what one saw back then was mostly the puny little Maruti 800 and the breadbox shaped Omni. 

But the Sierra – that was something else. I remember seeing billboards of the Tata Sierra in Bombay and then there was also that brilliant ad on the Telly with the Sierra playing two roles for its owner to denote its serious (Work) and fun (Leisure) sides, with the tagline, “It takes the rough with the smooth,” where the owner of the Sierra transformed his look from office attire to that of an explorer’s, post work, before embarking into the Sierra for a new adventure. Back then, the Sierra sure occupied a lot of my headspace, so much so, that I managed to convince my Father (Who was already sold on the idea) to book one – in my favorite color – white.

But that was 1991. Fast forward to Auto Expo 2020. The minute the officials at Tata Motors pulled the wraps off the Tata Sierra EV, I gasped, shocked just like many others in the crowd who had assembled at the Tata stall, not knowing what hit us. What I do recall is that the crowd continued cheering for the Sierra for a very long time after that reveal. No one in the crowd had even an inkling that the SUV beneath the covers was in fact, the Sierra! That was one wild move from Tata Motors and the reaction that they received, from admirers of the Sierra, was perhaps enough to convince them that there were still several fans waiting for this iconic vehicle, and that a redux would indeed be a terrific idea.

Martin Uhlarik, Vice President & Head, Global Design, Tata Motors, and Executive Director, Tata Motors Design Tech Centre, in a recent interview with TURN OF SPEED, mentioned that the conversation about the Sierra had in fact, begun in 2019, and since it held a special place in so many Indians’ hearts, played a big role in its revival journey.

Present day – Chandigarh. We finally got behind the wheel of the pre-production, new Tata Sierra. We drove both the Petrol and the Diesel variants and were really impressed by the SUV’s performance. I have to admit that initially I had my reservations about the feeble 1.5-Litre engine that the new Sierra came with, but I am happy to report that both the engines shone brilliantly. Of course, add to that the fact that all those who’re looking for a really upmarket set of wheels have a brand-new category to choose from – The Premium Mid SUV – that Tata Motors just created which immediately elevates the Sierra from the rest of the pack. Here’s why…

First things first – the looks. The Sierra is certainly not an SUV that can be overlooked. Besides solid road presence, it gets fascinating colors that makes it impossible to ignore. While on the topic of colors, the guys over at Tata Motors have been quite creative in terms of naming the colors with delightful names such as Andaman Adventure, (Yellow) Bengal Rouge, (Red) Coorg Clouds, (Silver) and Munnar Mist (Green). Of course, there’s also the ubiquitous Pristine White and Pure Grey available for those who prefer a more conservative color scheme. We drove the ICE variant in Andaman Adventure (Yellow) and the Diesel variant in Bengal Rouge (Red) and had an absolute blast!

What grabs your attention first on the Sierra is the front fascia which is so breathtakingly stunning… unlike anything you’ve seen before. The design, in all black, feels so premium, that you’ll be forgiven for mistaking it to be a German CBU. Those slim DRLs beneath which sit the turn indicators… just look magnificent when lit. Beneath that is the SIERRA lettering in silver which has been beautifully crafted into the black ribbed design just above the Tata logo in chrome, and it really stands out. Psst…I tried yanking every letter of the SIERRA, just to see if it would come loose and if there would be people trying to sell it in the aftermarket, but it just sat there sturdy as ever, so nope, that SIERRA lettering is so firmly fitted that it is going nowhere, my friends.

Below were those much talked about 17mm headlamps – the slimmest headlamps in the country and they really added to the Sierra’s appeal. In the other half, came the jewel-like fog lamps and a bumper in a glossy black finish with horizontal small slats for aesthetic purposes and a skid plate finished in matte silver. Everything in the front fascia has been put together so cohesively that you actually have to see it to believe it. One look and you will agree with me that it really makes the Sierra look like a foreign luxury SUV. That is how good the treatment is on the Sierra and that front fascia, well that is going to look really contemporary for a very long time to come.

On the side, the first thing you notice is that this time around the Sierra gets doors for the second-row passengers. Besides, there are those flush door handles with a tiny spec of light, a thoughtful touch indeed. The B-pillar is more pronounced and comes in the body color. However, it is the piano black cladding at the bottom that steals the show with it’s glossy finish. This glossy finish runs from the front fascia (bumper, to be precise), over the squared off wheel arches, through the doors and over to the rear bumper and all of it comes together really well. In fact, we did wonder what regular cladding would look like, but this glossy black finish really gives that touch of premium-ness to the Sierra. And the best part – that glossy black color is common for whatever body color you choose. Also, the lettering, just above the cladding, looks really tasteful.

Buyers of the Sierra get, 17,18, and 19’ inch alloys, depending on the variant they purchase. Since we were driving the top variant, ours came shod with 225/55R -19R tubeless tyres and they filled the wheel well pretty well.

At the rear, we really loved the powered clamshell tailgate with gesture control, but it was the LED strip that stole the show because of the way it dazzled in all its brilliance. Also, the way the rear wiper is concealed below the spoiler is a very clever touch. 

However, it was the boot space that bowled us over. With 622-Litres and a 60:40 split, after folding the seats, I got even more room for my luggage… read 1257-Litres! There is also a 12v power outlet to charge your devices in the boot. Another thoughtful touch. The loading lip of the boot isn’t too high to be an impediment when you try loading your luggage but at the same time it ensures that your luggage remains well-ensconced inside. And last, but not the least, the Sierra does get a spare tyre but it doesn’t sit inside the boot rather, beneath it.

While the original Sierra is hard to forget, I must say that the new Sierra’s boxy exteriors look really modern and stylish and undoubtedly, this SUV will be winning hearts with love at first sight.   

Inside, the materials used are absolutely top notch. The quality of the hard plastics immediately tells you that the new Sierra isn’t any ordinary SUV and the plastics don’t just look great but also feel great to use. The light beige fabric on the dash, I felt, may attract dust but the guys over at Tata Motors told me that it was nothing that a quick cleaning agent couldn’t fix. Overall, the interior in light beige and grey looks really upmarket and the fit and finish is absolutely outstanding. 

The seats are really comfortable and come with 6-way powered driver seat with memory function and very good under-thigh support. That’s not all, the seats also happen to be ventilated. 

At the rear also, the seats are very comfortable and come with an armrest so that the rear passengers have a place for their beverages. The windows also get sunshades in order to keep the sun and other unwanted elements at bay. Besides, the rear passengers also get air-con vents and a 65-watt USB-C charging port. Needless to say, the Sierra with its large PanoraMax sunroof makes up for the wraparound glass that the earlier Sierra came with. With newer and stricter regulations now, this sunroof compensates by bringing in all the light that the original Sierra managed to bring in.  

The Sierra also gets floating elements, and the door pads, both at the front and at the rear get them. A unique touch with that glossy black panel that houses the window buttons and adds to the novelty element of the Sierra as does the sound bar, that protrudes slightly from the dash, giving the interiors a luxe look and premium sound. 

In terms of the tech, the Sierra gets a massive touchscreen that is basically divided into three screens (Two 12.5-inch screens and one 10.25-inch instrument panel) with absolutely brilliant graphics. These kind of graphics on a touchscreen at this price point is really remarkable.

The third screen also allows you to pair your Bluetooth headphones and your joystick so that you can enjoy your own entertainment/gaming sessions in the co-passenger seat without disturbing the driver or the other passengers in the SUV.

The second screen is for adjusting the settings of the Sierra, just the way you like it, such as climate control, for instance.

The third screen has all driver related info that you can glance at and while our top variant did not get a HUD unit (Head Up Display), we were informed by the Tata Motors guys that the lower variants did come with one. All in all, the Sierra comes loaded to the gills with tech and while some of the fonts on the screens are still small, it did not hinder our experience like on their other models as much and it seemed like there have been some tweaks, evidently for the better. 

You may have also noticed the Start/Stop button which is in fact, hard to miss. It sits in solitude over a soundbar that the Sierra comes with and it gets a beautiful chrome band around it… again adding to the premium feel of the SUV.

The soundbar is truly something else and we listened to some great music and were completely blown away by its performance. This kind of attention to detail on an SUV that starts at INR 11.49 lakhs is definitely going to attract not just audiophiles but also true driving enthusiasts who love the good life and appreciate good quality on a well-built and well-equipped SUV such as the Sierra.

We started our drive with the Andaman Adventure in a bright yellow that came with Tata Motors’ brand new 4-cylinder, 1.5-Litre (1498cc) TGDi Hyperion engine. This engine puts out 160 PS of power @5000 rpm and 255 Nm of torque @ 1750-4000 rpm and is mated to a 6-Speed AT (Automatic Transmission). Of course, if like me, you dig an MT (Manual Transmission) you also have the choice of a 6-Speed MT. After driving around this Sierra all morning in Chandigarh, what I can say is that the Hyperion engine is a gem of an engine from the Tata stables which is not just quiet but also an able performer. At no point in time during our drive did we find it gasping for breath, and it delivered linear power throughout our drive.

We drove it on highways, inside the city, in traffic, and also up and down hills, but this engine just delivered phenomenal performance. Also, the FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) enhanced our ride quality, giving us a supple ride throughout and allowing for extremely good handling even while cornering. It handled bumps and undulations with aplomb and true to Tata SUV characteristics, the Sierra, truly did not disappoint in this department and yes, there was practically no body roll, just like Tata’s other bigger SUVs such as the Safari and the Harrier.

The gearshift offered a good grip, although being an AT, I never had to use it while driving. The gearshifts happened smoothly; in fact, I was barely able to tell when they were happening, and this despite me really pushing the Sierra with the Hyperion engine really hard, all morning. 

Next, it was time to drive the 4-cylinder, 1.5-Litre (1498cc) Kryojet diesel engine that puts out 118 PS of power @4000 rpm and 260 Nm of torque @ 1500-2750 rpm. The one we drove came mated to a 6-Speed AT, but just like its petrol sibling, you also have the option of a 6-Speed MT.

Our diesel came in Bengal Rouge and we’re happy to say that this is indeed a beautiful deep red that really stands out from other red cars on offer. The first thing we noticed on this diesel SUV was that it was noisier (evidently) than its petrol counterpart and the diesel clatter filled up the cabin in true diesel style. Torquier than its petrol sibling, it was fun to drive around Chandigarh with this one. Diesel heads are bound to love it on account of it making the Sierra sound and feel like a true-blue SUV.

But, I must confess that while I love diesel engines too, and even drive a diesel back home in Mumbai, but on the new Sierra, I found myself leaning towards the Hyperion engine. 

It is important to note that there is yet another 4-Cylinder, 1.5-Litre (1498cc) Revotron engine – the NA (Naturally Aspirated) – engine on offer, but it wasn’t available to review during our test drive of the Sierra, in Chandigarh. 

In terms of safety, Tata Motors has conducted a never-seen-before crash test with two Sierras being crashed against each other at 50kmph and the results are out there for everyone to see. Besides, the Sierra also gets Level 2 ADAS and we experienced how flawlessly it worked while driving on the roads of Chandigarh…especially that Lane Departure Warning which turned out to be pretty useful on more than one occasion. The Sierra also comes with four disc-brakes and they provided enough bite to bring this Premium Mid-SUV to a grinding halt which we experienced first-hand as we had a close shave with a motorcyclist whose motorcycle skid just a few meters ahead of us, on loose gravel. Luckily no one was hurt nor were any vehicles damaged, and within minutes, were back reviewing the Sierra.

All in all, the new Tata Sierra was and continues to be an outstanding product from the Tata stables and with prices starting at INR 11.49 Lakh – 18.49 Lakh (Ex-Showroom) (Sans the top end Accomplished variant), the Sierra sure looks like a steal, considering all the features that this SUV comes packed with.

The Sierra customers will not just get bragging rights on account of its handsome looks, but will also get very refined engines to choose from, along with the best safety features out there. And that’s not all, the pricing, has already created quite a stir in the market, as other car makers scramble to keep up with Tata’s latest tour de force, the Sierra, that brings not just daring design, but also superlative engineering.