Photography: Vaibhav Dhanawade
Tata Motors is one of the pioneers in the Indian EV space whose early foray into electric vehicles paved the way for a diverse EV market in India. Their most affordable EV is the Tata Tiago EV, an electric hatchback that brings affordability to four-wheeled EVs. But is it practical enough for daily use, especially compared to its ICE counterpart? Let’s find out.
The petrol-powered Tiago is an attractive hatchback with its well-proportioned design, and the electric version steps it up a notch. The sealed grille, triangular air dam mesh, and stylish 14-inch wheel caps catch your attention immediately as does the addition of light blue accents.
Inside, the Tiago and Tiago EV share a lot in common. Both models feature a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, accompanied by an eight-speaker Harman audio system. The EV variant adds a touch of luxury with comfortable leatherette seats and a two-tone interior. At 240 litres, the boot space is just two litres less than the petrol version. On the downside, the Tiago EV does not get a spare wheel, but a puncture repair kit. We feel this shouldn’t be an issue given that the Tiago EV will mostly be driven in the city where puncture shops are easily accessible.
The top-spec Tiago EV is powered by a 75PS electric motor and a 24kWh battery pack. Despite the mild outputs, the driving experience is quite enjoyable. Though not as powerful as its petrol counterpart on paper, the instant torque of the electric motor makes the Tiago EV feel more fun to drive. The three levels of regeneration also help conserve the battery depending on the driving conditions.
During our time with the electric hatchback, we managed to get around 190km of range that too with different driving styles. Charging it from 20-100 percent using a 15-amp home charger took around nine hours. The Tiago EV supports DC fast charging where a 10-80 percent charge takes close to an hour. An impressive aspect of the Tiago EV is its city usability. The light steering coupled with the compact dimensions means you can easily manoeuvre through the traffic and park in tight spots.
With prices starting at Rs 8.69 lakh ex-showroom, the Tata Tiago EV is quite practical for daily use. Given its compact dimensions, spacious interiors, peppy powertrain and usable range, the Tiago EV is a good alternative to your humdrum ICE hatchback.
