South African Expert Drives Tata Tiago – Here’s What He Thinks

Tata has re-entered the passenger car market in South Africa with 4 models – Tiago, Punch, Curvv and Harrier

In this post, I discuss what a South African car expert has to say about the new Tata Tiago. Note that Tata Motors never technically left SA. It had been selling commercial vehicles like trucks continuously. However, it halted selling cars back in 2019. Nevertheless, after a hiatus of around 6 years, the Indian automobile giant is back with its new range of products. These range from entry-level hatchback, i.e., the Tiago, to large SUVs like the Harrier. There is also that striking-looking coupe SUV in Curvv, while the Punch is an affordable micro-SUV. For now, let us take a look at what the host thinks about the Tiago.

South African Expert Drives Tata Tiago

The video stems from Cars.co.za on YouTube. The host has the new Tata Tiago in its mid XT Manual trim. On the inside, the host is satisfied with the overall setup. This includes things like the plastic quality and the amenities. The Tiago gets a digital driver’s instrument cluster, a decent-sized touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, manual AC, USB charging port, illuminating Tata logo on the steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, a clip for parking receipts, 4 power windows, decent space for the rear passengers, 2 airbags, ABS, etc. The vehicle is pretty loaded for the price point. The host just wishes that the Electronic Stability Program had been standard across the range.

He then took the Tata Tiago on a route which represents an average road in South Africa. It has a fair bit of everything, like slopes, curves, uneven surfaces and straight patches. The first thing he notices is that there is enough power in the car to take on any situation. Also, he says that the gearbox is fine, but it could’ve been a bit better, especially when compared to some other cars in this price range. Apart from that, the suspension setup is decent, but the steering wheel lacks feel. In terms of practicality, the Tiago has a usable boot compartment and a space saver spare tyre. All in all, the vehicle ticks all the right boxes.

Specs, Price and Warranty

Finally, let us delve into the specifications of this entry-level car from Tata Motors. It comes with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol mill which churns out 63 kW (86 PS) and 113 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. There are two transmission options to choose from – a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT. The claimed fuel economy is around 5 litres per 100 km. The prices start at R184,900 for the base XM variant and go up to R224,900 for the XT Auto. Remember, an even higher version will arrive shortly. It gets a standard 5-year/125,000 km warranty with a 2-year/30,000 km service plan.

Editor’s Note

Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor

Having followed Tata’s evolution closely in the Indian market, it’s interesting to see how familiar strengths translate to South Africa. The Tiago continues to play to Tata’s core competence, solid build, generous features and honest pricing, traits that have earned it long-term credibility back home. While the expert’s observations about steering feel and gearbox finesse echo what we’ve seen in India, the overall package still stands out as a value-centric proposition. For a re-entry product, the Tiago reinforces Tata’s positioning as a maker of robust, sensible cars that resonate well with cost-conscious buyers.

Also Read: Mahindra Opens New Assembly Plant in South Africa

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