The Tata Tiago EV has just joined our long-term fleet, and I wasted no time putting it to the test. My daily routine is a straightforward commute in Mumbai from Chembur to Byculla and back. It is predictable, and on paper, this compact EV fits that brief perfectly.
But I also drive to Pune every weekend to see my family, which is a challenge for a small EV with a relatively modest 24kWh battery pack. Especially when all I want is to get home quickly rather than stop to charge.
The Mumbai to Pune run is particularly tricky. While the roughly 150km distance is within the Tiago EV’s claimed capability, Friday traffic on the expressway is heavier, and the long uphill stretches do not help efficiency either. Curious to see how it would cope, I decided to give it the full treatment and came away genuinely surprised.
With its 24kWh battery pack, we at Autocar India have tested a real-world range of around 187km on a full charge in mixed conditions. Stop-go traffic, lower speeds, and regenerative braking all work in its favour. Highways, though, are a completely different story. Sustained speeds between 80kph and 100kph drain energy far quicker, and the Mumbai-Pune route only makes things tougher. It is not just the distance, but also the climb towards Lonavala and the ghats that constantly demand power.
I set off at around 5pm from the office with a full charge and a fair bit of curiosity. Getting onto the Atal Setu, the Tiago EV, cruising at 80kph to 100kph, did see the battery percentage drop quickly, and at the back of my mind, I was constantly calculating the drop against distance covered to make sure I would complete the run on a single charge. The first half of the drive was reassuring. The battery was dropping, but not alarmingly so, and it felt like the target was within reach. What stood out immediately was how comfortable the car felt at highway speeds. It never felt out of its depth.
As I approached the ghats, I expected the strain to show – not just in the battery percentage, but also in performance, given the electric motor makes 75PS. To my surprise, power was never an issue. There is enough for climbs, and I never felt like I was pushing it too hard. The torque delivery is linear and predictable, making it easy to maintain momentum. Through the sweeping bends, the car felt planted and stable.
Ride comfort was another pleasant surprise. The Tiago EV has a soft suspension setup that works wonderfully at low speeds, but even on the highway, it held its own. It felt forgiving and comfortable. Yes, sharp edges and sudden undulations can catch it out, but beyond that, there is little to complain about. What did become noticeable at higher speeds, though, was cabin insulation. There is more road and wind noise than I would like, and over a long drive, that does take away from the sense of refinement.
The ghat section did have an impact on the battery. After the climb, it dropped to around 20 percent, and I still had some distance to go. That is when I eased off, became gentler with the throttle, and focused on conserving energy. At around 15 percent, the car starts conserving energy. There is a noticeable drop in power, and even the air conditioning cuts out to save charge – not the best situation to be in the middle of summer.
Those last few kilometres into Pune were tense. I was constantly watching the range and battery percentage, recalculating whether I would make it. It was not the most relaxed way to drive, but that was part of the experiment. And importantly, I did make it! The Tiago EV completed the Mumbai to Pune run on a single charge with around 10 percent battery to spare.
Now that I have done this drive once, I know what to expect, and that makes a big difference. The next time will be far less stressful because I understand how the car behaves and where I need to adapt my driving. That is the thing with EVs. The first time brings range anxiety, but once you understand the pattern, it largely disappears.
What this drive has shown me is that while the Tiago EV is not built for highways, it is far more capable than I initially gave it credit for. At the same time, its limitations are clear. A larger battery would make highway runs far more comfortable, and better cabin insulation would improve long-distance refinement.
For now, though, it has made a strong first impression. It may be a city car at heart, but it is not afraid to step outside its comfort zone.
Sergius Barretto
Gavin DSouza
Hormazd Sorabjee
Saumil Shah
Lenny D'sa
