Tata Tiago Review: Smarter than Before but still Rough Around the Edges

For 2026, Tata has given the most affordable car in its lineup, the Tiago, more than just a quick nip and tuck, perhaps even justifying its ‘new-gen Tiago’ tag even though it is a facelift. There’s new styling all around the car, a fully reworked cabin, a new electrical architecture and a surprisingly exhaustive feature list. 

The Tiago already sold in healthy numbers, though it’s clear that its going after Maruti Suzuki’s two best-sellers in two slightly different price brackets, the WagonR and the Swift, with this update. We drive the updated Tiago to see if this hatchback has grown up enough, in the right places at least, to really give buyers enough reason to skip the bestsellers and pick it instead. 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Tiago facelift updates what buyers actually see and touch, with a fabric-wrapped dashboard, 10.25-inch touchscreen, and features list from a segment higher. 
• The 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder engine remains the weakest link, though there’s a factory-CNG variant available for budget-conscious buyers.
• Fit and finish still isn’t up to scratch, though the Tiago looks more premium than ever before and aftersales and service remain inconsistent. 

SCORE BREAKDOWN

EXTERIOR DESIGN - 4.3 / 5

The new Tiago has matured into quite the handsome little hatchback. The squared off bumpers and sharper, more appropriately-sized lighting at either end trade the outgoing Tiago’s trademark smiley face and rounded corners look for something altogether more contemporary. The LED headlights with integrated DRLs are connected by a gloss black panel, with a substantial air dam bookended by vertical elements that match the bumper’s sharper contours. 

At the rear, smart wraparound taillights help bring the Tiago in line with the rest of Tata’s lineup that’s already on the connected taillight bandwagon. Tata’s incorporated the use of recycled materials with the new wheelarch cladding, with the speckled finish being a giveaway of the plastics' eco-friendly origins. Cladding is a plus point on a city car to protect from scratches and dents and it helps that Tata’s given it a fun twist. 

There are new 15-inch alloy wheels that fill out those wheel arches nicely and a host of fun colours to spec the Tiago in. Ground clearance stands at 170mm, which is taller than most rivals, its chief ones included. Overall, the new Tiago’s design already looks like it’ll age more gracefully than the outgoing car. 

INTERIOR & COMFORT - 3 / 5

The Tiago’s cabin sees a much-needed total overhaul. The reprofiled dashboard has very premium-looking light-grey fabric inserts that help cut reflections on the windscreen on sunny days. The fabric treatment is carried over to the armrests on the doors. Between the interesting surfacing layout of the dash and the textures, you almost gloss over the hard plastics in the cabin, which is pretty much the norm at this price point. What is a pleasant surprise is the sheer length of the features list on top variants, though mid variants are also decently equipped.

Two floating screens, one for the digital instrumentation and another crisp 10.25-inch touchscreen, give the Tiago an ambience that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern EV. The view of that digital instrumentation can get obscured by the steering wheel, depending on your seat position. The driver’s seat gets 6-way manual adjustment, while the steering wheel adjusts for height only, with a new central armrest coming to the rescue of front seat passengers on longer journeys. Seating all around is supportive with extended thigh support, despite the lack of adjustment on headrests front and rear. The rear bench is best suited for two adults, and taller passengers may run out of legroom here. Rear AC vents are finally a feature, to help keep passengers cool.  

The 242-litre boot may not sound like much, but it can handle the odd airport run with space for a couple of pieces of cabin baggage and then some. The CNG variant has its dual tank setup under the boot floor, so luggage space is compromised a bit, instead of being nonexistent. To make sure you can make the most of what space is left, the CNG variants don’t come with a parcel tray. 

There are fit-and-finish issues, though. Some of the control switches and toggles on the steering wheel feel like they won’t hold up to years of use, for example. The outgoing Tiago has racked up enough real-world usage to know that owners deal with squeaks and rattles after a point, so it remains to be seen if the new Tiago can fare better in this regard. 

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE - 3.3 / 5

1.2-litre Petrol

Power 86 hp, Torque 113 Nm

Transmission options: 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT

1.2-litre Petrol/CNG

Power 76 hp, Torque 97 Nm

Transmission options: 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT

This is where the Tiago’s age really starts to show. The 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol is easy enough to live with in the city at low revs, with just enough grunt to get the job done. Any sense of urgency reveals the characteristic three-cylinder vibes and clatter, that can be heard in the cabin. On the highway, the engine is happy to sit at 100 kmph but executing quick overtakes at speed will likely need a downshift. The new 5-speed manual has a far more precise shift action than on the outgoing car, where throws were long and shifts felt rubbery. The long throw of the clutch takes some getting used to but once you do, smooth getaways in traffic are easy enough. Cruise control is available on top variants. Whether its presence on a car primarily meant for city driving is warranted or not, depends on how you plan to use the car. 

The CNG variant, while down on outright figures in a vaguely noticeable way, makes for an ideal city car when paired with the AMT. That is, as long as you learn to drive around the typical limitations of the AMT, which requires a more relaxed approach to driving for a smooth experience, even if you choose to take control with the paddle shifters. The Tiago, then, is clearly still a city car that prefers being driven the way one would drive within the city, which is well within speed limits and keeping with traffic. 

RIDE & HANDLING - 4 / 5

Tata hasn’t tweaked the suspension on the new Tiago, nor did it need to. The Tiago’s balance of ride comfort, bad road abilities and poise at speed continues unchanged. The suspension feels compliant over even the worst that Indian roads can throw at it, even managing to even out speed breakers taken a touch too quickly. The CNG variant rides on marginally stiffer suspension to cope with the extra weight of the dual tanks. 

The two-spoke steering is generally a joy to use in the city, being light and quick to turn the car. Weight adds in sensibly as speeds increase, though feedback is not its strong suit. That’s forgiven on a city car, with body roll being well controlled, holding its line confidently through corners. Braking feels perfectly adequate, too. 

FUEL EFFICIENCY - 4 / 5

The Tiago carries ARAI-certified figures between 19.1-19.3 kmpl for the petrol manual and AMT variants. Considering the engine carries over from the outgoing Tiago, real-world fuel efficiency that can be expected should be close to 12-13 kmpl in the city and 15 kmpl on the highway. The Tiago iCNG carries a healthy 28 km/kg ARAI rating with its 60-litre tank in addition to the 35-litres of petrol, meaning it’s got a good amount of driving range on offer. 

SAFETY - 4 / 5

The new Tiago hasn’t been crash tested yet but expect a stronger result than the outgoing Tiago’s 4-star Bharat NCAP rating. Six airbags are standard on every variant, which remains the Tiago's strongest argument. You also get ABS with EBD, cornering stability control, three-point belts with reminders for all five seats and ISOFIX mounts. The best kit is reserved for the Creative+, which adds ESP, traction control, hill hold, tyre pressure monitoring, parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and a blind view monitor.

WHICH TATA TIAGO SHOULD YOU BUY?

EXPERT PICK

Creative+ 

It’s not often we’d recommend the top-of-line variant as the one to get but with the Tiago you’re getting a lot for what you pay for. A 360-degree camera and parking sensors turn the Tiago into a properly reassuring city car, especially for newer drivers. The AMT is recommended if you live in a heavily congested city, though remember the caveat of needing to drive it gently. If you want to save a little, the Pure+ A gets most of the feel-good features, only skipping a few of the wow-inducing features that most can honestly live without. The CNG variants are great for buyers looking to keep running costs in check. 

RIVALS

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
A smoother, more refined engine and a reputation for polish, but the Tiago counters with a bigger feature list and a lower entry price.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR
The segment's best seller, with better overall refinement. It can't match the Tiago's equipment or its six airbags across the range.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio
The efficiency benchmark, and a good pick for mileage-led buyers.

Maruti Suzuki Swift 

Benchmark for 3-cylinder refinement, slightly more space at slightly higher prices.

FINAL VERDICT

3.9 / 5

The Tiago has spent a decade being another option for the B1 hatchback segment shopper, but with these updates can genuinely work to win over shoppers from the B2 segment as well. The styling is more on point, the cabin is much nicer to be in, the feature list is longer than ever and the ride is still among the best in class. What holds it back is that the updates haven’t addressed the basics. 

The engine is not the most refined, nor the most punchy, or even the most efficient. Combine some of the fit and finish misses with Tata’s reputation for patchy after sales and you’re looking at an ownership experience that will be dictated more by your local dealership than the car itself. Ultimately, the Tiago could make a great city car for first-time buyers or families looking to experience features from the segment above. Just be prepared to cut it some slack for the less than perfect refinement of the overall package.