The Tata Aeris may be a new name, but its roots lie in the Tigor, which has enjoyed considerable popularity since 2017 for its distinctive styling, practical cabin, comfortable ride and decent powertrains. The Aeris builds on that foundation with a sharper design, a more upmarket cabin and an even more generous equipment list while retaining the same basic mechanical package underneath. Having already driven the iCNG version, we now get behind the wheel of the petrol Aeris to see how it fares as an everyday sedan.
Tata Aeris petrol performance and refinement –
The petrol version has slightly better cruising capability than the CNG
The Tata Aeris comes with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that produces 86hp and 113Nm in its petrol guise and is offered with a choice between a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). The three-cylinder engine isn’t the smoothest in the segment, while the sound insulation also has room for improvement. There are noticeable vibrations at idle and low speeds, though these settle down once you’re on the move. However, they make a comeback beyond 2,500rpm, accompanied by a coarse engine note that can get intrusive and tiring on longer high-speed drives.
The petrol version’s output figures are 10hp and 16Nm higher than the CNG version, which may look modest on paper, but the difference is discernible out on the road. We drove the petrol-powered Aeris with a 5-speed manual gearbox and noticed it offers short shift throws and well-defined gear gates. While it is not the slickest gearbox compared to its Maruti, Honda and Hyundai rivals, it is still a step up from the Tigor’s in terms of smoothness.
The performance in city speeds is adequate, and the powertrain is peppy enough for everyday driving. The clutch is light and has a predictable bite point, meaning you do not strain your left foot even in bumper-to-bumper traffic. There’s a dead pedal too, but it feels narrower than what we would have liked.
It is fairly quick to reach 80kph, but takes some time to reach triple-digit speeds. However, the petrol-powered Aeris maintains these speeds with relative ease, which makes it a decent highway cruiser. Unlike the CNG, the Aeris petrol does not feel out of breath when overtaking, and as long as you are in the right gear, it maintains good momentum.
We got a taste of the AMT during our earlier stint with the Aeris iCNG, when we switched to petrol mode, and found that the gearbox offered reasonable acceleration with measured inputs. Push the accelerator aggressively, though, and the typical AMT hesitation became evident, meaning overtakes need to be planned well. The AMT also gets a creep function, which comes in handy in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
All of this makes the AMT a good option for city driving, but for high-speed highway cruising, we recommend the manual gearbox, which offers greater control and a more engaging experience. That said, opting for the manual in the city is not a compromise either.
Tata Aeris petrol ride comfort and handling –
It allows for a confident drive at both low and high speeds
Like other Tata offerings, ride quality is one area where the Aeris excels. It takes broken roads in its stride, with the suspension absorbing rough patches well and keeping most surface irregularities from filtering into the cabin. The 170mm ground clearance is also adequate for tackling large speed breakers without much concern. That said, the CNG version has an edge in this department, thanks to its 14-inch steel wheels with taller sidewalls, which offer a more cushioned ride than the 15-inch alloys on the top-spec petrol version. Notably, lower Aeris trims get 14-inch wheels.
At high speed too, the suspension stiffens enough to keep the Aeris composed through quick lane changes, without feeling floaty. On the highways, it remains stable and inspires confidence at higher speeds. The steering, however, could do with more precision, as it feels slightly vague around the centre. While it weighs up nicely as speeds rise, a sharper response around the centre would have further enhanced the Aeris’ high-speed confidence.
Tata Aeris petrol mileage and efficiency
We expect the Aeris petrol to have similar fuel efficiency as the Tiago
Tata has yet to reveal the official fuel-efficiency figures for the petrol-powered Aeris. But it gets the same powertrain as the pre-facelift Tiago we tested in 2022. In that test, it returned 13.30kpl in the city and 16.60kpl on the highway. The Aeris could have similar fuel efficiency. However, we will be able to give you a more definitive assessment once we put the Aeris through our standard fuel-efficiency tests.
Tata Aeris petrol exterior design and engineering –
Has a sleeker and more modern exterior design and comes with LED lights all around
The Tata Aeris looks sleeker than before, with its design now closely aligned with the Tiago hatchback, something we have seen previously with the Tigor. Another factor that could work in the Aeris’ favour is Tata’s decision to offer it exclusively to private buyers, while retaining the Xpres, the fleet version of the Tigor, for commercial customers. This should help the Aeris steer clear of the ‘taxi’ tag often associated with rival compact sedans.
Up front, the new clamshell bonnet leads into slim LED headlights with thin LED DRL strips integrated into them. The headlights are connected by a gloss-black trim. The front bumper is also new, featuring wider air intakes and LED fog lamps, a welcome upgrade over the Tigor’s halogen units.
In profile, the 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels fill the wheel arches nicely, and their contrasting finish looks particularly appealing when the Aeris is on the move. The wheel arches get slim cladding, which Tata says is made from recycled materials and features a distinctive speckled texture. Like the Tigor, the Aeris also gets chrome door handles and a chrome strip along the window line, adding some contrast to the otherwise clean design.
The coupe-like, tapering roofline remains unchanged from the Tigor, and continues to make the Aeris’ overall design cohesive. At the rear, the new taillights give the sedan a more modern appearance, while the red trim connecting them visually makes the Aeris appear larger than it is. The rear bumper is cleanly styled, with the reverse light neatly positioned in the centre.
The Aeris measures 3,995mm in length, 1,684mm in width and 1,532mm in height, and has a 2,450mm wheelbase.
Tata Aeris petrol interior space and comfort –
Beige theme makes the interior feel airy, and everything is nicely laid out in the cabin
The Aeris’ interior is neatly laid out and looks fairly modern. The cabin gets a beige colour scheme, which makes it feel airy and gives the sedan a greater sense of space. However, the light shade could prove difficult to keep spick and span, especially with regular use.
The dashboard houses a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, a free-standing semi-digital instrument cluster and a revised two-spoke steering wheel. The latter retains physical buttons and, thankfully, does away with the scratch-prone gloss-black finish seen on the Tigor. The door handles look floating like the Sierra and feel sturdy. Lower down, Tata has retained rotary dials and physical buttons for the climate control. They feel solid and do not come across as flimsy.
The centre console has been thoroughly redesigned and looks neat. The manual gear lever looks premium and feels good to hold, while the AMT gets a rotary dial that also feels solid and operates seamlessly. Two rubberised phone holders on the console keep phones from sliding around, and the top-spec Accomplished trim offers wireless charging in one slot. The centre console also gets two cupholders and a leatherette-wrapped centre armrest with integrated storage space underneath.
Tata offers part-leatherette upholstery and has revised the cushioning and bolstering, ensuring comfort even on long journeys. They also get a segment-first ventilation function. The rear seats are comfortable too, with good legroom and kneeroom, although headroom is a little tight for passengers over six feet tall. Under-thigh support is adequate.
The Aeris offers 419 litres of boot space, marginally more than the Amaze’s 416 litres and comfortably ahead of the Dzire’s 382 litres and Aura’s 402 litres. The boot itself is large and can swallow a substantial amount of luggage. The use of mechanical struts instead of conventional hinges is a clever touch, as they do not eat into the available boot space. Despite the large boot, the Aeris gets a 14-inch underbody-mounted spare wheel, which is always more promising than a puncture repair kit.
Tata Aeris petrol features and safety –
Loaded with features to the brim, most of which are well integrated
Like other Tata cars, the Aeris is packed with features. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is slick to use and remains responsive even when navigating through multiple menus. It also displays the 360-degree camera feed, which is lag-free, although the image quality isn’t the best. Tata has also added a new DVR function that allows the surround-view cameras to record the car’s surroundings, ensuring you do not shell out extra for a dashcam. The infotainment screen automatically switches to the blind-spot monitor when indicators are used, which is useful. However, this can be annoying when you are using navigation, although there is an option to disable the view completely.
The front-seat ventilation function works well too. During our time with the car, it proved effective at keeping us cool in Faridabad’s near 40deg C ambient temperature. However, the infotainment screen or driver’s display shows nothing when the ventilation is on or the level is adjusted, which can be a little inconvenient.
The instrument cluster itself is fairly basic, with analogue dials for the fuel level and rev counter, while a digital display handles the speed and other general information. Depending on the steering wheel’s tilt angle and the driver’s seating position, some of this information can occasionally be obscured.
The four-speaker, two-tweeter audio system is a step down from the Tigor’s four-speaker, four-tweeter setup, although sound quality remains good enough for the segment. The rear seats lack pressure sensors, meaning the seat-belt warning will sound until the belts are fastened.
On the safety front, the Aeris gets six airbags, Isofix child-seat anchorages for the rear seats, rear parking sensors and three-point seat belts with reminders for all occupants as standard. Higher variants add a 360-degree camera, a day/night inside rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, a rear defogger, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and ESP with traction control. The pre-facelift Tigor scored four stars in Global NCAP testing in 2020, but a Bharat NCAP test for the Aeris is due.
Tata Aeris petrol value for money and verdict –
A well-rounded compact sedan, with the petrol engine making it more versatile
The Tata Aeris is a much more appealing proposition than the Tigor it replaces. Its fresh design, well-equipped cabin, generous boot and comfortable ride make it easy to live with, while the petrol engine gives it enough performance for both city and high-speed highway cruising. The manual gearbox is light and easy to use, while the AMT is better suited to relaxed city driving than enthusiastic highway use. The long list of features adds further appeal to the package.
There are some shortcomings too, including a coarse engine and poor cabin insulation. However, the Aeris’ biggest strength is its pricing. The petrol variants are priced from Rs 5.29 lakh to Rs 8.74 lakh (ex-showroom), and it undercuts rivals by a fair margin, making a strong case for itself in a segment where value for money remains a key consideration.
