2021 Tata Tigor EV First Drive Review

Why I would buy it?

Compact, easy to drive EV
Significant savings in the long run

Why I would avoid it?

Limited range
Expensive compared to ICE Tigor

Engine and Gearbox

The electric motor powering the Tigor EV comes from the same Ziptron line of tech that we have seen in the Nexon EV. But here you get less power and torque at 75bhp and 170Nm but then again the Tigor is a much lighter car and its usage is even more urban focused so with that in mind these power figures seem alright both on paper and on the road. The acceleration at low to medium speeds is good and even though you will not feel a strong shove as you go full throttle, progress is more than adequate for city use.

We didn’t get a chance to test the Tigor EV on the highway during our brief first drive but we did manage to test it for performance using our precision timing gear. Zero to sixty was dealt with in just 5.32 seconds and the Tigor EV will complete the zero to 100kmph sprint in an equally impressive 12.63 seconds. The 26-kWh battery pack allows for decent if not great straight line performance but then this car offers enough punch around town and for reeling in those gaps in traffic, the performance on offer is more than enough.

So what about charging times? Well, you can charge your Tigor EV either using a standard 15amp plug or a 25kW DC fast charger. Now it will take you around an hour to charge the battery from zero to 80 per cent using the fast charger, however, it will take at least 9 hours if you end up using the standard 15amp plug. Get the battery up to 100 per cent and you are good for a claimed 306kms of range but bear in mind the fact that in real world, with changing traffic conditions and speeds you can expect at least 240kms of range.

Now Tata Motors is offering a warranty of 8 years and 1.6 lakh kms on the battery pack and the electric motor which is great. And before you figure, the standard warranty on the vehicle stands at 3 years and 1.25 lakh kms. Couple this with a low maintenance drivetrain and you can expect a car that is very affordable to own and run. More importantly, the Tigor EV has also managed to score a commendable 4-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test, making it one of the safest compact sedans out there.

Ride and Handling

There isn’t much difference between the electric and the petrol powered Tigor when it comes to ride and handling. That said, the steering definitely has more weight to it and for the most part it’s really decent with a direct feel to it and no slack off-centre. In terms of ride quality, the Tigor EV remains unfazed over bad roads and for a compact sedan it’s quite comfortable. Most of the bumps and irregularities are absorbed nicely and one would feel only the sharpest of potholes filtering into the cabin. At highway speeds, the ride gets even better and the stability is impressive right till the top speed which is around 118kmph.

Exterior

Like the Nexon EV, the Teel Blue color is exclusive to this electric version and you also get gloss blue colored trim below the grille, around the fog lamps and on one portion of the wheels which, by the way, are actually full wheel covers designed to look like alloys.

Comfort Convenience and Features

Inside, not much has changed except for the level of equipment you get. Well now you get a rotary dial for the gearbox instead of a traditional lever and a new instrument cluster which has been redesigned for the electric version. Besides that, you get matching blue surrounds for the AC vents and the seats have a new cool pattern as well.

As is the way with EV packaging, the battery pack has been put under the boot floor and because of that Tata has had to reposition the spare wheel to sit vertically inside the boot. Now as you can see this placement eats into the boot space and as a result, the capacity is now reduced to 316 litres though you can always remove the spare wheel if you absolutely need to use all of the boot space for a short trip or something.

Conclusion

In terms of variants, the Tigor EV is being offered in three variants: XE, XM and XZ+ with prices starting at Rs 11.99 lakh ex-showroom. Now this base price doesn’t represent particularly great value because the base variant is missing quite a few essential features. Sure it gets modern equipment like climate control, a digital instrument cluster and LED taillights but on the other hand, you don’t get basic features like power windows at the back, alloy wheels or even a music system. The top-spec XZ Plus is definitely the most value for money variant if you ask me. You get all the good stuff such as push button start, a nice Harman music system, cooled glove box, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, rear parking camera, rear armrest, auto folding wing mirrors and some more.

The Tigor EV’s value proposition comes under scrutiny once again when you consider the fact that the entry-level Nexon EV is a couple of lakh more expensive and for that you are getting a much superior electric vehicle. In comparison, the Tigor is less powerful, slower, has a smaller capacity battery pack and effectively marginally less range than the Nexon’s ARAI claimed 312km. However, it is significantly lighter than the Nexon and the weight advantage could translate to a better real world range among the two. Naturally, the smaller Tigor EV will also be easier to drive and park around town and for anyone who wants to switch to EVs, there is no better budget car at the moment.