With the new Sierra EV, Tata Motors now has two contenders in the highly competitive midsize electric SUV segment, alongside the Curvv EV. It takes on rivals such as the Hyundai Creta Electric, Maruti e Vitara, Toyota Ebella, MG ZS EV, Mahindra BE 6 and Vinfast VF6, all of which offer long equipment lists. However, the Sierra EV does have a few standout features that none of its rivals offer. Here's a closer look at them.
Triple screens
Unlike the dual-screen setup of rivals, the Sierra EV gets three screens: 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch passenger screen. The latter unit gives the co-driver a dedicated touchscreen for entertainment. There's Dolby Atmos support as well, just like the BE 6, but Tata claims the Sierra EV is the first car in India to bring the surround sound technology to Apple CarPlay.
540-degree camera
A 360-degree camera, as the name suggests, gives a surround view of the area around the car, but a 540-degree camera goes a step further by showing what's underneath the vehicle. This can be useful while off-roading, as it helps the driver see where the wheels are placed and better understand the terrain below.
All-wheel drive
Speaking of off-roading again, Tata Motors has equipped the Sierra EV with electric motors at both the front and rear, which enable all-wheel-drive (AWD). Not only is AWD a standout feature in this segment, it also makes the Sierra EV the quickest among its rivals, with a claimed 0-100kph time of 5.8 seconds; the BE 6 has the next best sprint time at 6.7 seconds (claimed), which is nearly a second more than the Sierra. This is with the 75kWh battery pack, which uses a 140hp front motor and a 209hp rear motor, producing a combined 504Nm of torque.
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Remote gaming support
The Sierra EV comes with AirConsole, which turns the infotainment screen into a multiplayer gaming console. Even better, players can use their smartphones as game controllers, eliminating the need to poke at the touchscreen while playing. This can help keep occupants entertained, especially during charging breaks.
V2V charging
In addition to V2L (vehicle-to-load) charging, which is also offered by other midsize electric SUVs, the Tata Sierra stands out by offering V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) charging. V2V charging allows the Sierra EV to charge another compatible EV, which can be useful in situations where a charging station is not nearby. The system supports a power output of up to 5kVA.
Tata Sierra EV price vs rivals
The top-spec Tata Sierra EV Empowered A 75 AWD variant, which gets all of the above mentioned standout features, costs Rs 25.99 lakh, ex-showroom. That makes it costlier than most of its rivals at the top-end, save for the Rs 26.9 lakh-Mahindra BE 6 Pack Three (price is exclusive of home charger and installation costs). Despite being priced Rs 91,000 lower than the Mahindra EV, the Tata Sierra EV makes a strong case for itself by offering both standout features and an AWD setup.
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
