A SIERRA IN WINTER

The new Tata Sierra is proof that going retro doesn't mean going backwards

- Words By: Sohil Nikam

At 6 degrees Celsius, Chandigarh has a way of waking you up without warning. The kind of cold that cuts through your jacket before you've even thought of coffee. And yet, on this particularly chilly morning, it wasn't the weather that got the city buzzing. It was the car. The Tata Sierra, parked quietly at our shoot location, had already begun attracting a crowd. Chandigarh's love affair with cars is well-known, but what stood out was not just the attention; it was the quality of it. Instead of the inevitable "kitne ki hai?", I was met with questions about drivetrain options, screen sizes, ICE vs EV possibilities, the rear-seat experience, and even safety tech. It felt less like a curious crowd and more like a popup auto expo audience.

RETRO SHAPE WITH MODERN SWAGGER

Much of that magnetism comes from its design. In a world full of lookalike compact SUVs, the Sierra looks as if it has confidently walked in from another room altogether. The Defender-like upright stance, clean surfacing, squared proportions and that unmistakable greenhouse-style glass area instantly give it a presence that's both muscular and elegant. Then there's the nostalgia factor. If you've grown up in the '90s, the Sierra is less a car and more a memory. One associated with success, style, and that rare Indian-made vehicle that genuinely looked premium back in the day. Tata has cleverly retained the "glass house" DNA while reimagining everything else. It doesn't feel like a reboot; it feels like a respectful revival that remembers the original fondly, but is not trapped by it.

MODERN INTERIORS