Built on a dedicated Gen-2 electric architecture, the Tata Sierra EV has relaunched an iconic nameplate in India. But this time, it offers genuine off-road hardware, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and battery sizes large enough that take the anxiety out of interstate journeys. The vehicle packages features typically found in cars costing double its price because Tata Motors has decidedly built an uncompromising primary vehicle for Indian households. In this review, we take a closer look at its pricing strategy, offered features and real-world practicality.
What Is the Tata Sierra EV?
The Sierra EV is a mid-size electric SUV that pays visual homage to the 1990s Sierra with its signature curved rear glasshouse styling and squarish stance. It measures 4,340 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width and 1,750 mm in height. It rides on a long 2,730 mm wheelbase, pushing the four wheels out to the corners to maximise passenger room inside the cabin.
But the mechanical foundation underneath is strictly modern. Tata offers the SUV across five key variant tiers: Pure, Pure S, Adventure, Empowered and Empowered A, and finally the flagship Empowered A AWD. Battery options include a 63 kWh pack and a larger 75 kWh pack.
And unlike entry-level EVs that rely on front-wheel drive, standard Sierra models power the rear wheels, while the top-spec version adds a front induction motor for electric all-wheel drive (QWD). With 205 mm of unladen ground clearance (taller than a standard 200 mm school ruler), you can clear most steep monsoon gutters and broken concrete slabs comfortably while seated inside this vehicle.
Who Is the Tata Sierra EV For?
This vehicle is for buyers who want to move past the limitations of smaller, city-bound electric runabouts. If you have hesitated to buy an EV before because you fear getting stranded on a family holiday to the hills or dislike cramming luggage around charging cables, the Sierra EV handles both issues well with its ample space and decent range.
It competes directly against rivals like the Mahindra XEV 9e, the BYD Atto 3 and also the higher variants of the Hyundai Creta EV. These often lean heavily into coupe styling that cuts into rear passenger headroom, but the Sierra sticks to an upright, boxy roofline. It is also an alternative for existing mid-size petrol and diesel SUV owners who want lower running costs and effortless automatic driving.
How Is the Tata Sierra EV Inside?
The Sierra’s cabin has a lounge-like layout that feels far airier than standard compact alternatives. Its flat floor, made possible by the dedicated skateboard chassis, gives rear passengers plenty of foot room. Taller occupants will appreciate the headroom as well; there is easily a 50 mm gap above a six-footer’s head.
The Empowered variant adds ventilated front seats, a 6-way powered driver seat with memory and welcome functions and an extendable under-thigh cushion on the passenger side. Rear passengers get a 2-stage recline mechanism, integrated sunblinds and a "Boss Mode" lever that slides the front passenger seat forward to create limousine-like legroom.
Top trims feature the "Horizon View" setup, integrating three screens: a 10.25-inch digital cockpit for the driver, a 12.3-inch centre infotainment touchscreen and an additional 12.3-inch personal display for the front passenger. The screens are responsive, running wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Audiophiles get a 12-speaker JBL sound system as well.
The rear boot, meanwhile, offers 622 litres of cargo volume, which fits three full-size suitcases laid flat with room to spare for backpacks and grocery boxes. Up front, you get an illuminated frunk under the bonnet: 55 litres on rear-wheel-drive variants (enough for an overnight duffel bag and charging cables), which drops to 35 litres on the AWD model for the front electric motor.
One real interior drawback, however, is the excessive reliance on capacitive touch buttons on the centre console, which attract fingerprints and are tricky to operate over bumpy roads.
What About the Tata Sierra EV Battery, Motor and Charging?
Tata equips the Sierra EV with two liquid-cooled battery options: 63 kWh and 75 kWh. Both feature IP67 dust and water resistance and come with a 15-year battery warranty.
The 63 kWh version uses a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 235 bhp and 315 Nm of torque. It has an MIDC-certified range of 535 km, which means around 440 km to 460 km in everyday driving. The 75 kWh rear-wheel-drive version produces 206 bhp and 315 Nm, and it stretches the certified range to 665 km. In the real world, that range is between 510 km and 530 km.
Then there’s the range-topping Empowered A AWD, pairing the 75 kWh pack with two motors: a 138 bhp induction motor on the front axle and a 206 bhp motor at the rear. Combined, they offer 504 Nm of instantaneous torque. While its certified range is 624 km, real-world usability is between 480 km and 500 km.
Replenishing the battery is fast if you can find high-output DC fast chargers. Using a 120 kW DC station, the 75 kWh battery charges from 20% to 80% in approximately 26 minutes; just enough time for a roadside coffee and washroom stop. A standard 7.2 kW AC home wallbox takes 8.9 hours for the 63 kWh battery and 10.5 hours for the 75 kWh unit. Tata also includes bi-directional charging, offering 3.3 kVA Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability to power appliances on camping trips, alongside 5 kVA Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging to assist stranded electric vehicles.
How Does the Tata Sierra EV Drive?
Despite its imposing stance, the Sierra EV is easy to manage around congested city streets. The electric power steering stays light at slow speeds, and the tight 5.32-metre turning radius allows you to execute U-turns in two-lane corners without having to reverse. Four levels of regenerative braking are available, controlled via steering-mounted paddle shifters, making one-pedal driving in stop-go traffic convenient.
Out on the highway, the AWD version with Boost mode pushes you firmly into the seatback, picking up speed with a lot of electric urgency. Overtaking long trucks on state highways requires only a mild tap on the accelerator, with none of the hesitation or gear-hunting typical of automatic internal combustion engines.
The ride quality is composed, thanks to the vehicle’s Frequency Selective Damping (FSD). On the top-spec Empowered A, the large 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tyres transmit slightly more road bumps at slow speeds than the 18-inch wheels on lower variants, but high-speed composure remains rock solid. The AWD model also features six terrain modes like Sand, Mud-Ruts and Rock Crawl that help the SUV comfortably tackle steep incline tracks and slushy fields.
Is the Tata Sierra EV Safe?
All Sierra variants come standard with 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes managed by an intelligent vacuum-independent brake control system (i-VBAC), and an Electronic Stability Program with 19 functions, including rollover mitigation, corner stability control and hill descent assist.
The Empowered A variants add a Level 2 ADAS suite with 22 more active functions. These include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality for bumper-to-bumper flyovers, autonomous emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians, and active lane centring. Parking is aided by a 540-degree camera system that renders the area underneath the car completely transparent on the screen, along with an automated park assist function that can reverse and steer the vehicle into tight parallel and perpendicular spots autonomously.
Should You Buy the Tata Sierra EV?
The Tata Sierra EV is an interesting option for buyers looking to make the electric switch without accepting the practical compromises of earlier electric cars. If your driving is mainly urban with occasional weekend highway runs, the 63 kWh Adventure variant offers high value for money. If you regularly undertake interstate journeys or want all-weather traction for trips to rough terrain, the 75 kWh AWD version is worth the stretch then.
Available between ?18.79 lakh and ?26.48 lakh (ex-showroom), the Sierra EV easily undercuts most imported luxury electric SUVs while offering comparable real-world range, charging speeds and cabin equipment. The only few compromises that you’ll have to live with are the fingerprint-prone touch controls and the low-speed firmness of the 19-inch wheels over sharp bumps.
