6 Upcoming Tata AWD SUVs: Sierra.EV To Safari.EV
Tata Motors once had several 4x4 SUVs on sale in India. As years passed, its lineup shrunk to just front wheel drive models. The Harrier.EV’s launch in June 2025 was, in a way, a milestone. It marked the return of All Wheel Drive (AWD) to the Tata Motors portfolio. AWD variants of the Harrier.EV soared in acceptance, surprising even the folks at Tata Motors. The carmaker plans to launch six AWD models in the coming years. These include both internal combustion engine (ICE) products and EVs.
Tata Motors will launch the much-awaited Sierra.EV in the second half of this year. It will be based on the Acti.EV+ platform, shared with the Harrier.EV. Like the bigger SUV, the Sierra.EV will also get dual-motor based Quad Wheel Drive (QWD) - essentially the Tata speak for AWD. It will then become the most affordable Tata model to offer AWD.
The carmaker hasn’t yet revealed the battery pack sizes. We expect the Sierra.EV to come with 55 kWh and 65 kWh units. The AWD variant could, however, get a larger 75kWh battery.
On the design front, the Sierra.EV will borrow heavily from the ICE version. It will retain design elements like the large rear glass areas, clamshell tailgate and the tall, boxy stance. It will, however, have EV-specific bits like a closed grille section and aero-optimised wheels.
Inside, the EV is likely to use different trims and colours. The feature list is likely to be shared with the ICE version. If so, the EV will also come with three screens, 12-speaker JBL Black premium audio system with Dolby Atmos, panoramic sunroof and other features that we loved on the ICE version.
An all-electric version of the Safari is known to be under development. When launched, it will become the carmaker’s first three-row electric SUV. It will be based on the Harrier.EV’s platform and will thus offer AWD. The Safari.EV is likely to feature 65kWh and 75kWh battery packs. Real world range figures could fall in the 450-500km bracket.
This electric SUV will likely be offered in both six-seater and seven-seater configurations and will come with features like 540-degree camera, auto park assist, Level 2 ADAS and more. When launched, the Safari.EV will compete primarily with the Mahindra XEV 9S. The presence of AWD is likely to give it a noticeable upper hand, as the XEV 9S is only offered with a rear-wheel drive (RWD) arrangement.
The Avinya isn’t a standalone product. It is a family of luxury EVs which Tata Motors plans to launch in the near future. At least five models are known to be in the pipeline, currently codenamed P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5. The first of these is expected to be out next year.
Previously, it was believed that Tata Motors would base the Avinya on Jaguar Land Rover’s EMA (Electrified Modular Architecture) platform. Recently however, it came to light that iMAX platform, sourced from Chery-Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) alliance in China, would form the base of the Avinya family. This is the same platform that underpins the new Freelander, and supports AWD.
The transition from EMA to iMAX is expected to give Tata Motors a faster and more cost-effective base for development. It is too early to comment on battery specifications, but 80 kWh and 100 kWh units are likely. Inside, the Avinya models will feel premium and tech-heavy.
The new internal combustion Sierra went on sale in November 2025. It is now available with both petrol and diesel engines and has a front-wheel drive (FWD) layout. Underpinning it is Tata’s new-age ARGOS platform, which is claimed to be very versatile. It supports All Wheel Drive configuration and Tata Motors is reportedly working on an AWD version of the new Sierra.
The regular Sierra is offered with three engine options- 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5L diesel and 1.5L turbocharged petrol. It remains to be seen as to which of these will make it to the AWD version.
Equipment on the AWD Sierra will mirror that of the regular version. There will not be any noticeable change in the design either. We expect the AWD version to debut in early 2027.
The (ICE) Harrier enjoys a strong foothold in the Indian market. The current model is only offered with a front-wheel drive configuration. No proper 4x4 is available. This is mainly due to the limitations of the current OMEGA architecture.
The next-generation Harrier is known to be under development and is called Taurus, internally. It will be based on a new platform, which the carmaker describes as ‘flexible’. It will have support for AWD. The next-generation Harrier will thus offer AWD on higher variants and will be powered by the familiar 2.0L diesel and 1.5L turbocharged petrol engines. Market launch is expected by the end of 2027.
Tata also has plans to launch a 4x4 version of the Safari sometime in 2028. This will be the next generation of the SUV, based on an all-new platform. The new platform will support 4x4 system and will address one of the biggest gripes about the Safari- the absence of a proper 4x4 system- something which the original SUV was loved for.
The project is codenamed Leo. The next-generation Safari will be bigger in size and will come with a better-packaged cabin. Both space and equipment levels are expected to increase. The petrol and diesel powertrains of the current model are expected to be retained on the new model as well.