Update on the cards?
The Tata Tigor is expected to get an update in 2025. This will be long overdue and, on paper at least, should bring Tata’s lone sedan back into a fight where the major players have entered a new generation. But the game has gotten harder for the Tigor since it arrived nine years ago and it needs to do quite a bit to claw back the numbers it is capable of giving to Tata’s overall numbers picture.
Working in favour
Now before we jump into what the Tigor facelift needs to succeed, let’s look at what advantages it already has when looking at the competition. The first and foremost is a diversity of powertrains. It can be had in petrol, petrol AMT CNG, CNG AMT and EV guise. There was even a diesel when the car was launched in 2016 but with demand waning in this part of the market; it got the axe a few years ago. In fact, this part of the market has one of the widest powertrain offerings only rivaled by its hatchback sibling the Tiago.
What it needs to get back into the game
Feature list to match the Punch
They are priced so closely yet the fortunes of the Punch and Tigor are a complete contrast. While the Tigor has steadily managed to eke out sales figures, the Punch has run away with the market and in fact, managed to even take top honours at some point in the FY. It only makes sense for the Tigor to pick up everything the Punch offers in its arsenal.
This list includes dual digital screens, climate control, an upgraded connected car package and a 360-camera setup. While squeezing all of these into one top-spec model would hike the cost at the upper end, spreading it out over multiple variants would allow a tantalising step up in small increments for those who can afford it. Funnily enough, that is Tata’s game with the Nexon having the largest list of over 100 trims across a Rs. 10 lakh price range.
Rear AC vents
While the Punch’s feature list will make the Tigor a premium offering, adding rear AC vents is more of a segment hygiene feature as all of its competition offers it in multiple body styles. Going by Tata’s game this could be a mid-spec step up.
Ventilated front seats
This could be a halo feature for the Tigor and could be offered in the top-spec XZ variants. The feature already exists in everything above the Nexon and bringing it here would allow Tata to market it as a USP for the car.
Optional sunroof variants
Like Hyundai, Tata has gone big on the sunroof game and bringing it in an optional guise to the Tigor would widen its appeal and make it only the second car in its class to have this popular feature. Tata would have to cap the price jump under Rs. 60,000 to make the sunroof variants popular among buyers.
