Tata Aeris enters budget sedan race, takes on Dzire and Aura
Tata Motors launches the Aeris compact sedan at Rs 5.29 lakh, undercutting the Hyundai Aura and Maruti Suzuki Dzire on starting price.
Competition in the budget sedan segment has intensified further. Tata Motors has launched its new compact sedan, the Tata Aeris, in the Indian market at a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 5.29 lakh. It comes with petrol and CNG engine options along with manual and AMT transmissions, putting it in direct comparison with the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura.
Price is the biggest factor for budget car buyers. The Tata Aeris starts at Rs 5.29 lakh ex-showroom, while its iCNG variant starts at Rs 6.29 lakh. The Hyundai Aura, on the other hand, starts at Rs 5.99 lakh, while the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is priced at around Rs 6.31 lakh. Following a price hike in September 2026, the Dzire's base petrol variant now starts at Rs 6.30 lakh. This means the Tata Aeris is about Rs 70,000 cheaper than the Aura and about Rs 1 lakh cheaper than the Dzire at their starting ex-showroom prices. However, actual pricing and features can vary depending on the variant chosen.
On the engine front, the Tata Aeris gets a 1.2-litre petrol engine available with 5-speed manual and AMT options in both petrol and CNG forms. The petrol engine produces around 86 PS, while the CNG version produces around 75.5 PS. The Aeris's CNG variant uses Tata Motors' twin-cylinder iCNG technology, which is designed so that boot space is relatively less affected.
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire also offers a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a CNG option. The claimed mileage for the petrol manual variant is 24.79 km/litre, while the CNG manual variant is claimed to deliver 33.73 km/kg. In September 2026, the Dzire CNG also got an AMT option, with a claimed mileage of 36.47 km/kg. For buyers who drive long distances daily, CNG availability and mileage could be key points of comparison.
The Hyundai Aura also offers a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a CNG option, along with manual and AMT transmissions. This means the Aura, Aeris and Dzire all offer both petrol and CNG options, allowing buyers to choose according to their needs. When choosing a CNG car, buyers should consider not just the company-claimed mileage but also local CNG rates, monthly travel and the variant's price.
On features, the Tata Aeris offers a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless charging, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ventilated front seats, rear AC vents and USB-C fast charging. On safety, the Tata Aeris gets 6 airbags as standard, along with ABS with EBD, ESP, ISOFIX, hill-hold control, TPMS and a 360-degree camera. The top variant also gets a Blind View Monitor and a MultiView Digital Video Recorder.
The Tata Aeris's lower starting price could matter for budget-conscious buyers. For the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the company-claimed mileage figures for its petrol and CNG options remain important. For the Hyundai Aura, the availability of petrol, CNG and AMT options could help buyers decide based on daily city use. Ultimately, buyers would do well to weigh price, fuel cost, mileage, features, safety and their own daily driving needs before deciding.
