The Tata Sierra launched in
December 2025 and immediately
became one of India’s most
talked about cars. Over 70,000
bookings on the very first day
order books opened crossing
1 lakh bookings by March 2026
winning Autocar India Car of
the Year 2026 and achieving
5 stars in Bharat NCAP — the
Sierra has done everything
right. Here is our complete
review of India’s most
anticipated new car.
The Return of an Icon
The original Tata Sierra launched
in 1991 was India’s first true
SUV — a three door boxy SUV
with a distinctive panoramic
rear glass that became one
of the most recognisable cars
on Indian roads. Discontinued
in 2004 it left behind a
generation of car lovers who
never forgot it. The new Sierra
honours that legacy while being
thoroughly modern in every way
that matters.
Design — Instantly Recognisable
The new Sierra’s design is
unmistakably a Sierra. The
boxy upright silhouette blacked
out B pillar treatment rear
glass that echoes the original’s
panoramic window full width
LED light bars at front and
rear and flush door handles
create a distinctive road
presence unlike anything else
in India’s mid size SUV segment.
At 4340mm in length 1841mm
in width and 1715mm in height
it sits between the Curvv
and Harrier in Tata’s lineup
occupying a segment that no
other manufacturer currently
addresses. The 19 inch dual
tone alloy wheels on top
variants and the Andaman
Adventure yellow shade have
become among the most
photographed cars on Indian
social media since launch.
Triple Screen Dashboard —
Horizon View
The Sierra’s interior is dominated
by Tata’s Horizon View triple
screen setup — two 12.3 inch
displays and a 10.5 inch driver
screen spanning the entire
dashboard. This is paired with
a central console mounted JBL
soundbar and a 12 speaker JBL
Black setup with Dolby Atmos —
a combination that creates
an extraordinary audio visual
cabin experience unlike any
other car in its price range.
The Sierra is also India’s
first ICE vehicle with AR
based Heads Up Display —
a genuinely useful technology
that overlays navigation
information onto the real
road view ahead. The t.idal
2.0 electric architecture
makes it India’s first ICE
vehicle with 5G connectivity
enabling OTA updates for
up to 10 ECUs.
Engine Options — Three Choices
The Sierra is available with
three 1.5 litre engine options.
The naturally aspirated petrol
produces 106bhp and is the
most affordable and practical
choice for city driving starting
at ₹11.49 lakh. The Hyperion
1.5 litre turbo petrol produces
160bhp and 255Nm — the
enthusiast’s choice — available
only with an Aisin torque
converter automatic. The
1.5 litre diesel produces
118bhp and 260 to 280Nm —
accounting for 55 percent
of all Sierra bookings due
to its real world efficiency
of 18 to 20 kmpl.
The diesel automatic variant
is the top seller — combining
the practicality of diesel
efficiency with the convenience
of automatic transmission for
Indian driving conditions.
The Largest Sunroof in Segment
The Panoramax sunroof at
1525mm by 925mm is the largest
panoramic sunroof in the
mid size SUV segment. Combined
with the generous headroom
provided by the tall roofline
the cabin feels remarkably
airy and spacious — one of
the most praised aspects
by Sierra owners.
Safety — 5 Star Bharat NCAP
The Sierra achieved 5 stars
in Bharat NCAP testing in
March 2026 — results applicable
to all cars manufactured from
that date. Level 2 Plus ADAS
with 22 driver assistance
functions 6 airbags 360 degree
camera electronic parking
brake with auto hold and
front and rear disc brakes
make it one of the most
comprehensively equipped
cars for safety in its segment.
Honest Limitations
The white and beige interior
on top variants looks stunning
but will require careful
maintenance in Indian conditions.
The turbo petrol is not available
with a manual gearbox —
disappointing for enthusiasts.
The rear seat does not slide
and there is no powered passenger
seat even on top variants.
Boot space at 350 litres
with seats up is slightly
below the segment average.
Price and Waiting Period
The Sierra starts at ₹11.49
lakh for the base Smart Plus
naturally aspirated petrol
manual going up to ₹21.29
lakh for the fully loaded
Accomplished Plus diesel
automatic. The waiting period
was 3 to 4 months as of
February 2026 with Tata
increasing production to
meet demand.
Sierra vs Rivals
Against the Hyundai Creta
the Sierra wins on design
distinctiveness triple screen
technology largest sunroof
and Dolby Atmos audio. The
Creta wins on hybrid efficiency
service network reliability
data and resale value. Against
the Kia Seltos the Sierra
wins on design presence and
audio technology. The Seltos
wins on features loading
and ADAS depth.
Verdict
The Tata Sierra winning
Autocar Car of the Year 2026
is thoroughly deserved. It
combines iconic design
extraordinary technology
including India’s first AR
HUD in an ICE car genuine
5 star safety and three
practical powertrain options
at a price that makes it
accessible to a wide range
of Indian buyers. The 1
lakh bookings speak louder
than any review — India
has voted and the Sierra
has won its heart all
over again.
