Tata Tigor EV Introduction:
Tata Tigor EV comes in as the company’s smallest and most affordable electric car. If electric cars are your thing, there is good news. The electric vehicle segment in India is swiftly taking shape. The Tata Tigor EV offers prospective buyers to get EV technology at a much more affordable price bracket. After the initial success of Tata Nexon EV, Tata would be hopeful that the Tigor EV accelerates the EV revolution in the country. Currently, the Tata Tigor EV is positioned as the most affordable electric car in India.
Tata Tigor EV Exterior:
The Tigor EV has a very subtle design, the first impression tells you that this EV has a uniqueness that is distinct from the gasoline-powered variant. The car gets a redesigned grille with ‘tri-arrow’ detailing and an enhanced front bumper. The car receives “matte-aqua” color accents on the grille, fog lamps, and wheels. These highlights are what make this electric distinctive from its gasoline-powered counterpart. There is minimal usage of Chrome. There is an underline along the window line, and chrome bits on the boot and door handles. Like the regular Tigor, the Tigor electric houses halogen projector headlamps, daytime running lamps, and clear lens tail lamps. Another notable difference from the standard Tigor is the wheels. The Tigor EV gets tinier 14-inch steel wheels. It misses out on alloys.
Tata Tigor EV Interior:
Inside the cabin, there are blue accents on the dashboard. They underline the AC vents and are present in the instrument cluster as well. The car also features blue tri-arrow motifs on the upholstery. Apart from these, the cabin remains largely identical to the regular Tigor. Being an entry-level sedan, you do get hard plastics which should be acceptable for an electric car costing below INR 10 lakh. Additional elements like leather-wrapped steering, leather upholstery on the seats, and door pads could have enhanced the overall cabin experience.
The Tata Tigor EV scores high on space and overall practicality. The car gets a height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt-adjust for the steering. The Tigor EV has enough space to fit four six-footers. Even a third passenger of a smaller built can be accommodated at the rear. The absence of rear adjustable headrests and rear AC cons are a disappointment. Also, unlike the standard Tigor which gets a 419 litre boot space, the Tigor EV only gets a 316-liter boot. This is due to the raised boot floor and a spare wheel that is placed on the boot. Tata also offers a puncture repair kit in the EV, so the spare wheel can be ditched for additional boot space. If you remove the spare wheel, the boot space increases to 376 liters.
Feature and Technology:
The Tigor EV does not miss out on any features in comparison to the standard Tigor. The top-spec Tigor XZ+ variant gets features like – keyless entry, push-button start, automatic climate control. On top of that, the Tigor EV also gets auto-dimming IRVM, front armrest, and cruise control. Tata also offers connected car technology that can be accessed through the ‘Z connect app’. This application lets you access data such as car range and also start air-conditioning remotely. The car also gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This comes paired with an 8-speaker Harman sound system. The screen also doubles up as a display for the reverse camera which does not have the best video output.
Safety:
The Tigor EV gets dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and corner stability control. It is also the first EV to be crash-tested by the Global NCAP. It scored 4 stars for adult and child occupant safety.
Performance:
The Tigor EV gets a 26 kWh battery pack. The new ‘ZipTron’ powertrain churns out 75 PS of power, and 170 Nm of peak torque. It does not feature an old-school 3-phase AC induction motor that does duties on the Xpres-T (Tigor EV for the taxi market). Like modern EV’s the batteries in the Tigor EV can be charged up to 80% in a little more than an hour. This requires a 25 kW DC fast charger that can be seen at a public charging station.
The car takes nearly 10 hours to charge the Tigor EV with a regular 15 A charger. It nearly takes 10 hours for the battery to charge from 0-100%. It is recommended that you charge the batteries up to 100% at least once a week. For optimized battery performance, it is recommended that you do not completely rely on fast charging. The battery-pack comes with a 8-year/1,60,000 km factory certified warranty.
Driving Modes:
There are two modes on offer – Drive and Sport. The Drive Mode is specially designed for city commuting. Also, in regular Drive mode there is no immediate surge in accelaration as it is found in most EV’s. The power delivery is smooth, and is suitable for relaxed driving. The Drive mode won’t give you any spirited Driving performance. Th regenerative braking system works fine and does not feel obstrusive once you lift your feet off the accelerator pedal.
In Sport mode, you get extra accelaration. Except for that initial spike, you won’t feel that instant surge in accelaration. There is sufficient torque for wheelspins. The Tigor EV does a 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. There is constant accelaration up until you reach 120 km/h. When driven in a regulated manner, the Tigor EV can achieve a 200-220 km range. Hard driving will make you run out of battery juice pretty quickly. The range suggests it is a pretty good bet for city commuting.
Ride and Handling
The Tigor EV weighs approximately 200 kg more than the standard Tigor. The suspension still remains cushiony like on the standard. You don’t get unsettled in the cabin while you drive over rough patches. Over deeper potholes, the car starts rocking side to side. The car feels planted even at high speeds. The car does not feel foaty or light. This EV has a light steering, and the small size allows for nimble driving. The braking is hard to judge, as the brakeforce applied to the wheels does not give a precise feel.
Verdict:
The price tag works best for the Tata Tigor EV. The feature list and cabin quality could have been better and is a bit of a disappointment. There could have been more improvisations over the regular Tigor. The Tigor EV works really well as a city commuter. It is a sensible option for those who wish to do office duties and drive around town. Except for a smallish boot, there are no major setbacks. You save on fuel prices and maintenance too. So for lower running cost and a very promising drivetrain, the Tigor EV is very sensible option to buy.
