New Tata Aeris Review – More Than Just A Name Change?

Tata compact sedan has become even more premium to keep up with the expectations of the new-age consumers

We recently got the opportunity to experience the new Tata Aeris thoroughly as part of the media drive. In fact, we drove the petrol and CNG versions with manual and AMT gearboxes to get a comprehensive feel of the car. The Indian auto giant has renamed the Tigor to Aeris. However, there is much more than just the name change. In fact, while the Tigor was based on the Tiago, the Aeris gets its individual identity with a new exterior design, a premium cabin with tons of new-age tech amenities and a comfortable cabin with new seat cushioning. Let us delve deep into our thoughts about the new compact sedan.

New Tata Aeris – Exterior Styling

On the outside, the Tata Aeris looks considerably different from either the Tigor or Tiago. It has its own identity. At the front, it features a redesigned fascia with signature LED headlamps, sleek LED DRLs connected by a blacked-out panel, a wide front grille, fog lamps and a sporty bumper. Moving to the sides, the sedan gets new 15-inch diamond-cut aero alloy wheels, a sharp shoulder crease, Cosmo Grain-textured wheel arch cladding and chrome-finished door handles. Note that the CNG version gets 14-inch steel wheels. The rear section features infinity-connected LED taillamps, a dual-tone black roof, a shark-fin antenna and a sporty bumper. Remember, the connected taillamp gives it a premium look, although it is only reserved for the top-end variant. Overall, the Aeris feels like a comprehensively redesigned facelift rather than just a mildly updated version of the Tigor.

New Tata Aeris – Interior, Features and Safety

Just like the new Tiago, the Tata Aeris gets a new dashboard layout with a split-screen setup for the driver’s instrumentation and infotainment display. These screens offer good resolution and fonts and the steering wheel is also new. Interestingly, the Aeris now comes equipped with paddle shifters for the AMT trims in both petrol and CNG avatars. Furthermore, there are impressive amenities like ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera. At the rear, the Aeris has decent knee room and legroom and the passengers can use the 65W fast-charging USB-C port. On the other hand, there are a few quirks too, like the minor glitch in the reverse parking camera and a few panel gaps. Finally, the boot space is a healthy 227 litres in the CNG and 449 litres in the petrol version. Some of the main amenities are:

• LuxTouch Leatherette Seats
• AeroLux Ventilated Leatherette Seats
• Plush OpenView Dashboard
• Satin Chrome Inner Door Handles
• SportLux Steering Wheel
• Seamless Dual-Screen Setup
• Premium Dual Tone Interior Theme
• Grand Tech Console with Soft Touch Leatherette Armrest
• AeroLux Ventilated Leatherette Seats
• Ultra View 26.03cm HD Touchscreen Infotainment
• 12.7cm Digital Island Cluster
• Dual Smartphone Deck with Wireless Charger
• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• iRA Connectivity with 35+ connected Car Features
• iToggle Window Controls
• Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC)
• 65W Rear USB Type-C Fast Charger
• 6-Speaker Surround System
• 419L of Practical Boot Space
• SportLux Steering Wheel
• Rear AC Vents
• Height Adjustable Driver Seat
• Rear Centre Armrest with Cupholder
• Rotary Knob (AMT)
• Ergo Under-Thigh Support Front Seats
• Soft-Touch Leatherette Front Armrest with Storage
• All-Door Soft-Touch Fabric Armrests
• Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS)
• Zipfast 65W Front & Rear Type-C USB Chargers
• Autofold & Electrically Adjustable ORVMs with Turn Indicators
• Cooled Glovebox
• Magazine Pockets
• 6 Airbags as standard
• DashCam Recorder (DVR)
• 360° SVS HD Camera with Multiple 3D/2D Views
• Blind View Monitor
• ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors
• HD Reverse Parking Camera
• Intelligent Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (iTPMS)
• ABS with EBD and CSC
• Hill Hold Control
• Ultra High Strength Steel Construction
• Rear Crash Protection

New Tata Aeris – Specs and Price

The Tata Aeris retains the familiar 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol and CNG engines. The petrol unit produces 86 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque, while the CNG version delivers 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm. Both engines are available with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox. The petrol variant offers a generous 419-litre boot, while the CNG version also provides a reasonable amount of luggage space, thanks to its dual-cylinder technology. The Aeris starts at Rs 5.29 lakh and goes up to Rs 9.19 lakh, ex-showroom.

New Tata Aeris – Driving Impressions

We drove the new Tata Aeris primarily in city conditions with moderate traffic. I found the vehicle to be sufficient in most conditions. It isn’t too rev-happy or too fun to drive, but that is something one expects of a budget compact sedan. There is enough performance in the low and mid RPM range. I even tried pulling the car from 37 km/h (below 2,000 RPM) in 4th gear and the vehicle powered through cleanly. In fact, the engine is well-tuned for city conditions. Talking about fuel efficiency, you can expect around 12-13 km/l in urban conditions and around 16-17 km/l on the highways. Nevertheless, mileage depends on individual driving mannerisms.

Now, if your running is high and you want low running costs, Tata Motors is also offering the Aeris in the CNG guise. The performance here is also decent as far as CNG cars go. There is no evident lag or inconsistency in power delivery. In fact, even the AMT is well-tuned and that inherent lag between shifts is well contained. I would mention here that the NVH levels could have been better, especially when one launches the car from low speeds at high RPM. Finally, the ride quality is quite impressive even over undulations on the roads. Also, the steering doesn’t feel lifeless and it has gained some heft, which makes us feel confident. The brakes feel a bit spongy, but I feel the pedal feel could have been better.

Editor’s Note

The Tata Aeris is much more than a renamed Tigor, as Tata Motors has given its compact sedan a distinctive exterior design, a more premium cabin and several useful new features. After driving the petrol and CNG versions with both manual and AMT gearboxes, I found the car to be well-suited to everyday urban use, with adequate low-end performance, comfortable ride quality and a predictable driving experience. The CNG version also makes a convincing case for buyers looking to reduce running costs, while the addition of paddle shifters and a well-calibrated AMT improves convenience. However, engine noise under hard acceleration and the slightly spongy brake feel leave some room for improvement. Overall, the Aeris looks like a more complete package that builds on the Tigor’s strengths while offering a fresher, more premium experience. – Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor

Also Read: New Tata Aeris Launched in India – All You Need To Know!