Features like ventilated seats and front parking sensors, once exclusive to high-end cars, have now made their way to affordable, mass-market models. A powered tailgate is another such feature, now offered on the top variants of some Maruti, Tata and MG cars. It’s worth noting that a powered tailgate isn’t the same as an electric tailgate release, which only unlocks the boot, while the tailgate still has to be lifted and closed manually. With that out of the way, here are the five most affordable cars that come with a powered tailgate.
Tata Harrier | Tata Harrier EV
Rs 23.12 lakh-25.25 lakh | Rs 27.49 lakh-30.23 lakh
Tata Harrier ICE.
On the ICE and electric fronts, the Tata Harrier and the Harrier EV, respectively, are the most expensive cars here to feature a powered tailgate. Harrier variants with a gesture-controlled tailgate comprise the top-spec Fearless X+, Fearless X+ Dark and Fearless X+ Stealth, powered by a 170hp 2.0-litre diesel engine.
Similarly, the Tata Harrier EV's top trims, including the 238hp Empowered 75 and 313hp Empowered QWD 75 (or AWD) with a 75kWh battery pack, get a powered tailgate; their Stealth editions are also on sale.
| Model | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Tata Harrier | Tata Harrier EV | |
| Boot space (litres) | 445 | 502 (up to roof) | |
Tata Curvv | Tata Curvv EV
Rs 17.09 lakh-18.85 lakh | Rs 21.99 lakh-22.24 lakh
Tata Curvv EV.
Like the Harrier duo, the Tata Curvv and Curvv EV feature a gesture-controlled powered tailgate in their top variants. These include the Curvv’s Accomplished+ A and its Dark edition, both of which can be optioned with a 125hp 1.2-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine or a 118hp 1.5-litre diesel unit. Coming to the Tata Curvv EV, the 167hp Empowered+ A 55 and its Dark edition equivalent feature a powered tailgate and use a 55kWh battery pack.
| Model | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Tata Curvv | Tata Curvv EV | |
| Boot space (litres) | 500 | 500 | |
MG Hector | MG Hector Plus
Rs 18.34 lakh-20.96 lakh | Rs 18.92 lakh-21.54 lakh
MG Hector Plus.
Both the 5-seater MG Hector and the 6/7-seater Hector Plus offer the gesture-controlled boot-opening functionality. Their Sharp Pro, Savvy Pro, Blackstorm and Snowstorm trims, equipped with this tech, can be had with either a 143hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine or a 170hp 2-litre diesel motor; the latter is a Fiat-sourced unit and also powers the Tata Harrier.
| Model | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | MG Hector | MG Hector Plus | |
| Boot space (litres) | 587 | 155 | |
MG Windsor EV
Rs 15.85 lakh
MG Windsor EV.
Next in line is the MG Windsor EV, the only non-SUV model in this set. The Windsor’s central touchscreen lets you choose how wide the tailgate opens, which can be useful when in tight parking spaces. Just the 136hp Windsor EV Essence Pro with a 52.9kWh battery pack comes with the feature.
| Model | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Windsor EV | Windsor EV Pro | |
| Boot space (litres) | 604 (Excite, Exclusive) | 579 ( Essence, Exclusive Pro, Essence Pro) | |
Maruti Victoris
Rs 13.72 lakh-19.99 lakh
Maruti Victoris.
The Maruti Suzuki Victoris, which rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate, is currently the most affordable car with a powered tailgate. Like most SUVs here, the Victoris gets a gesture-controlled powered tailgate in its range-topping trims. These include the Victoris ZXI, ZXI (O), ZXI+ and ZXI+ (O), which offer several 1.5-litre engine choices: a 103hp mild-hybrid petrol (FWD/AWD), a 116hp strong hybrid and an 88hp petrol-CNG (with an underbody tank to free up boot space). Do note that Maruti has not yet disclosed the Victoris’s boot capacity figures by powertrain.
