2026 Tata Tiago ICE And CNG Facelifts Driven: The Tiagos Have Grown Up!
Most will call them facelifts but Tata Motors calls it much more than a facelift. In fact, top management personnel at Tata Motors call it a near 'full model change'.
But why, you may wonder? That's because the Tiago Facelift, which has happened 10 years after the car made its debut, brings in a brand new E&E architecture.
E&E stands for electronics and electrical, and this is the single largest change that transforms the cabin experience of the car dramatically. So, let's start right there.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay? Check. A lovely stereo to accompany? Check. Navigation? Check. Beautiful displays that read legibly even under the midday sun? Check. A 360 degree camera that is surprisingly useful on a car so compact? Check. Wireless charging? Check.
A totally revamped dashboard design that feels and looks upmarket? Check. Rear AC vents? Check. You even get a nice armrest between the driver and co-passenger. And the driver's door has a reprofiled doorpad, making the driver's seat an armchair.
All these things come together to elevate the cabin experience of the facelifted Tiago twins, and makes them feel like much larger cars.
Going a little further, the new Tiago twins don't ride like small hatchbacks. There's a grown up vibe about the way the suspension soaks up road imperfections, the way the cars feel at triple digit speeds, and how quiet the cabin feels despite having a triple cylinder engine (85 Bhp-113 Nm on petrol and 74 Bhp-96 Nm on CNG) under the bonnet. Yes, there's insulation, too! Like I said, the Tiago twins are now all grown up!
Between, the petrol and iCNG, it's the iCNG trim that impresses more, and it's down to the way the automated manual transmission (AMT) is tuned. This is a car that's meant to stretch a rupee to the farthest - cue CNG - and is also meant to be driven in a sedate manner.
Drive it with a steady foot on the throttle with no violent stabs, and the Tiago iCNG moves ahead seamlessly, and the gearshifts are very smooth (for an AMT). Those who don't know cars may even be fooled that the Tiago iCNG is running a torque converter. Yes, a smooth driver brings the very best out of the CNG.
And for when you want to get a move, there are paddles, too. Yes, on a CNG AMT car, you now have paddles served up. And the new Tiago iCNG's paddles are very responsive. While this is understandable as an AMT is essentially an automated clutch running on top of the manual gearbox, the paddles delight in the way they get the gearbox to respond while driving at a faster pace.
Given the road, the Tiago iCNG can do a little over 150 Kmph (indicated), and for a CNG car designed primarily with fuel efficiency in mind, that's ample performance for both city and highway use.
But the Tiago iCNG is a car that's meant to be driven in a relaxed fashion, and it's a sedate pace that the car is happiest at. This also means while putting it across high speed corners. There's a fair bit of body roll, and you want to back off from being very aggressive around the bends. This behavior is consistent with the petrol version as well. Want superb handling and high speed poise? Buy the Tiago.EV. That thing will make you smile, both in the straight line, and on the bends!
Talking high speed, the petrol powered Tiago is significantly faster than the iCNG AMT trim because it has a manual handling the gear shifting. Gears slot easily and precisely. The clutch is light enough for everyday driving but again, it's not a short travel clutch or a short throw gearbox. No sporty pretensions here.
The engine can get vocal when you reach the higher rpms (4,500 rpm and beyond), and you do know that it's a triple cylinder engine at such rpms. It's the same with vibrations too. They're muted but are there, especially at start up, and while driving slowly in traffic. And they're pronounced when you find yourself a gear or two too high.
Apart from these situations, one really can't complain about the sound the engine makes or the thrum it produces. What really impressed me about the 1.2 liter REVOTRON motor is it feels right sized for the Tiago. While the same engine felt a little too slow on the Altroz, it has the right amount of performance on the Tiago.
And overtaking is quite easy at highway speeds. And low speed torque is particularly impressive. I found myself on a particularly challenging incline on some farmland, and the Tiago Petrol Manual just chugged along, with no throttle input, almost like a diesel. Anti-stall of the ECU works very well.
To sum things up, in the order of refinement and ease of use, a steady and gentle driver will appreciate the CNG more than the manual petrol trim. Those who want more boot space will have to opt for the petrol as the iCNG AMT - despite the twin CNG cylinders - offers a much smaller boot, and no spare tyre as well.
Pastel works, and the new colours (Pangong Pulse, Sobo Surge and Varanani Vibrance) go a long way in making the car a lot more expressive, and youthful. The front is new, rear is new, and the sides have new alloy wheel/plastic wheelcap designs.
The design works for most parts, managing to make the new Tiago quite fresh while retaining a friendly familiarity. This is a car that the young and old would be happy to be seen in. And that's exactly what the designers set out to achieve, and have managed quite spectacularly.
There are a few misses. For instance, the power window does down with a touch but doesn't come up with 'one touch'. There are paint imperfections and a few rough edges here and there. All of these bits can be overcome through better quality control at the factory. And the same has been conveyed to Tata Motors' feedback team.
What I truly loved about the Tiago was one change that's been incorporated - piano black on the steering makes way for a matte finish, and the buttons have been recessed for easier operation. Result? A steering what feels a lot better to operate - particularly the horn - and no more fat fingers pressing buttons by mistake.
Tata Motors is listening, and has been listening. This to me is the biggest takeaway from the two new ICE Tiagos, which after all the feedback over the years, are a big step up over their precedecessors. And the money Tata is asking for them (Petrol starts from Rs. 4.7 lakh, and iCNG from Rs. 6.8 lakh), represent very strong value.