Tata Tiago EV

It is one of India’s top automotive writers with over a decade’s experience in road-testing and reviewing cars. He is currently the Editor of Quarter Mile magazine and a columnist in several leading magazines and newspapers. He is also a highly sought after consulting engineer and market analyst for many automobile manufacturers.

- Vivek Venugopal

Ever since we drove the Tigor EV, we couldn't help but wish that Tata had offered the EV drivetrain on the smaller, cheaper, and better-looking Tiago. Last year they decided to do just that and about a month back, we got to sample one.

From the outside, things aren't too different. It has a closed-off grille and lower air-dam with a tri-arrow pattern, teal bits, black roof, black mirrors, and '.EV' badging. There are no alloy wheels, but the Tiago EV gets smart-looking wheel caps on special steel rims to mimic the look. First launched in 2016, the Tiago still manages to look fresh after all these years, especially after the last facelift. Interiors are more or less the same but the top-spec model gets white leatherette seats with blue stitching which look great. The dashboard has teal highlights, there are regen buttons and it gets a rotary gear selector from the Nexon Prime. The seats are the same but the best part is, the Tiago EV doesn't have a raised floor, unlike most EVs. Even the 240-liter boot is roughly the same size although instead of a spare wheel, you get a gel sealant and an air compressor.