Strong performance. Excellent ride quality.
Steering lacks feel. Interior quality could be better.
The original Tata Sierra was an iconic, boxy and rugged masterpiece that holds a special place in the hearts of Indian families. And even now the Tata Sierra’s legacy continues to evolve.
Tata revived the nameplate, and it successfully bridged the gapbetween nostalgic heritage and modern sophistication with the ICE Sierra last year. But the evolution doesn't stop there. Enter the Sierra.ev—a purpose-built electric mid size SUV designed for the modern family. Combining advanced intelligent tech with everyday practicality, this isn't just another EV; it is a legend reborn for the electric age. Let’s check out what Sierra.ev has in store with us. Shall we?
The Sierra.ev is built on the advanced pure EV architecture called acti.ev+ from ground up and is paired with an all wheel drive and a dual motor setup giving out 138hp at the front axle and 206hp from the rear motor for the driving enthusiasts. Together it produces 504Nm of torque and does 0-100kmph in 5.8 secs with a boost mode. Making it the fastest in the segment. With such power figures the Sierra.ev is set to impress the enthusiasts. And that’s not it! There’s more!! Tata is offering Two Battery pack options. The 63kWh pack with RWD gives out 566kms of range while the 75kWh pack with RWD gives out 665kms of range. And the Sierra.ev which we drove has the 75kWh pack with AWD giving out 625kms. But the real question is whether we get the expected range in real life.
The front end of the Tata Sierra.ev has a distinct identity compared to its ICE counterpart while also retaining the iconic boxy design at the same time. Up front, the traditional blacked-out grille has been replaced with a closed off front end giving it an EV look. It also features an illuminated Tata logo, a connected DRL light, and neatly integrated headlamps and fog lamps.
On the side the silhouette hasn’t changed. The signature floating rear section, chunky B-pillar, and wraparound glass effect pay homage to the original Sierra.The car comes with 19inch aero wheels, flush door handles and a Tata.ev badging on the front door to complete the look. It has a 204mm ground clearance and a longest in segment 2730mm wheelbase.
At the rear, the design is familiar to the ICE Sierra, with connected LED tail lamps and Sierra.ev badging below. Practicality is another strong point when it comes to storage in the Sierra.ev. It has a generous 622-litre boot (measured up to the roof), a point to be noted is although it is electronically operated, the tailgate is slow compared to its ICE counterpart. The car also offers a useful 55-litre frunk with a maximum load capacity of 17 kg.
The cabin is one of the biggest highlights of the Sierra.ev! Right as you enter the car, the triple-screen layout catches your attention, it includes a 12.3inch infotainment system and a 12.3 inch passenger display along with a 10.25inch digital cluster. The audio system is equally impressive, featuring a SonicShaft soundbar, a 12-speaker JBL black setup with 5.1 Dolby Atmos, and ambient lighting that changes according to the selected drive mode. Overall if one wants they can have a movie night with a theatre experience in the Sierra.ev. And when the theatre experience wasn’t enough Tata made sure to keep the passengers entertained by enhancing the in-car gaming experience with AirConsole. As well as passenger screen wireless connectivity with smartphones and controllers. And a hypAR HUD with 19 features to help guide the driver better while driving.
The panoramic sunroof adds to the sense of space, while the overall material quality feels impressive. The Car gets a new dual tone scheme with grey and white colours. Rear seat comfort is another standout, offering ample head space and leg room as well as comfortable seating experience for passengers. The floor has been raised slightly to accommodate the battery. While the front seats are ventilated and have thigh support extender too. It also gets a wireless charger and 4 c-type ports at the front and rear. But overall the quality of the materials used in the interiors is still in question and has been carried forward from its ICE counterpart. The side and middle armrests has a slight wobble in them, only after driving the car around a little longer can we decide whether they are of good quality.
Behind the wheel, Performance is one of the Sierra.ev's biggest strengths. Acceleration feels strong and punchy, with power delivery remaining consistent while going upto higher speeds. The surge in performance builds progressively, and the aggression becomes more noticeable as speed increases. With Boost Mode engaged, Tata claims a 0–100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, making it one of the quickest mid sized SUVs in its segment.
In terms of handling the steering gains weight nicely at higher speeds, which gives you confidence on highways. However, I expected it to feel slightly more responsive normally. The feel of the steering wheel could be improved. Thanks to the higher sitting position in the car, we can adapt and turn accordingly. The tilt and telescopic adjustments in the steering wheel does help too.
What really impressed me was, the Body roll is very well controlled compared to it’s ICE counterpart. Be it normal or higher speed the car gives you enough confidence to turn while it stays planted. Although the suspension feels identical to the ICE Sierra, Tata has done an excellent job tuning the suspension especially to accommodate the extra weight from the battery. The ultra glide suspension with FDD has turned out to be one of the major highlights in the car. The battery's placement under the floor helps distribute weight evenly and lowers the centre of gravity. It absorbs rough surfaces very well while maintaining composure, giving us a comfortable yet planted driving experience. To make the driving experience even better. The insulation has definitely improved too. And considering it’s an EV there is obviously no engine sound and the refinement of the car feels a lot better.
What makes it even more fun to drive around is the 6 different terrain modes. From the Normal, Snow/ Grass, Mud - ruts, Sand, Rock crawl and a custom option. We went off roading and did multiple challenging obstacles and the car held up pretty well through all of them. Add to that a 540* HD surround view system with a transparent mode which helps while doing such offroad activities as well as while driving in neck to neck traffic areas in the city or while parking in tight spaces. It comes with level 2 ADAS, and also includes 6 air bags.
Braking performance is good thanks to all four wheels getting disc brakes. The SUV feels stable during hard braking, and despite being a midsize SUV, the stopping distances are short. The initial bite isn't particularly sharp, but once you get used to the pedal feel, braking becomes slightly more predictable—a characteristic that's familiar across Tata's lineup. The range can be tricky to manage but once you figure out the light foot acceleration, it provides a good range. Especially if you know how to make use of the regen mode.
Last but not the least the battery! It charges 263 kms of range in 15 mins and does 20% to 80% in 26 mins. The ring around the charging port also gets illuminated to 4 different colours every time you plug the charger in the port. It also has the vehicle to load and vehicle to vehicle charging available.
To end it with, the Tata Sierra.ev does make a good family car to drive and at the same time it attracts the driving enthusiast too. It has a great combination of practicality, adventure and performance with the nostalgic silhouette and design. If you are looking for a midsized SUV and also are a fan of the Iconic Sierra and have a budget of 18.79 lakh to 24.79 lakh in the top model, this might just be a car you are looking for.
