Tata Sierra To Be Super Competitively Priced Thanks To This: Hyundai Creta Watch Out
Hype is building around the upcoming Tata Sierra, as it inches close to an official market launch. Though not confirmed by the manufacturer yet, we expect it to launch in October 2025. Now, we have learnt that the SUV will be competitively priced, as it will debut a 'more economical' powertrain. The Sierra will be one of the first models to feature Tata's new 1.5L petrol engine.
Tata Motors first showcased its newly developed 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine at the Auto Expo 2023. It was, however, delayed to the Indian market, and is yet to make an official debut.
The carmaker is already known to be working on a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) unit as well. This NA engine will power a series of Tata SUVs including the Sierra and an upcoming compact SUV.
Giving the Sierra a petrol engine will enable Tata Motors to price it competitively. Now, there are three petrol engines available on various Tata cars and SUVs- a 1.2-litre NA petrol, a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, and a 1.2-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol. The larger vehicles- especially the larger SUVs, are now diesel-only. Both the Safari and Harrier feature the same Stellantis-sourced 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine.
Rendering (CarScoops)
Tata Sierra will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos when launched. There is a strong demand for petrol models in this segment. The Koreans offer both naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engines. If Tata Motors takes a similar approach with the Sierra, the SUV could fight strongly against its rivals.
We assume the entry-level variants of the Sierra to feature the 1.5 naturally aspirated engine, while the higher ones will have turbo-petrol and diesel engines. The addition of a petrol engine could also increase the vehicle's appeal in states and regions with a clear preference for petrol vehicles (or a strong fear of a possible diesel ban!), Delhi NCR being a quick example. It will also help Tata in pricing the vehicle aggressively. The Sierra nameplate does have an aspirational value, but pricing remains key in a market like India.
More About Tata's New NA Petrol Engine
It could be a bit too early to take a deep dive into the finer details. But we expect the new 1.5 naturally aspirated engine to be a derivative of the direct-injection turbo-petrol showcased previously. The Creta and Seltos feature naturally aspirated petrol engines which deliver around 115hp.
The Grand Vitara, another rival has a 1.5 petrol that produces 103hp. Going by these, it seems safe to expect the Sierra's NA petrol powertrain to have its power figures in the ballpark of 125 hp. We'll only get to know the exact numbers closer to launch.
You might now ask: Where is the 1.5 direct-injection turbo-petrol? Well, Tata Motors seems to be taking its sweet time in 'getting it right'. When it finally makes a market debut, the 1.5 TDCi petrol will be used on the Harrier and Safari, and won't be kept exclusive to the Sierra. Its state of tune could vary with the model, variant and segment. The unit displayed at Auto Expo previously was capable of producing 170hp and 280Nm of torque.
Pricing Is Critical!
The Creta continues to be the leader in the compact SUV space. Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Honda Elevate, MG Astor and Citroen C3 Aircross also belong to the segment. Some of these have strong footholds as well. The Sierra, if packaged and priced well, can give these a tough time...