Tata Motors launches Aeris compact sedan at Rs 5.29 lakh ex-showroom with six airbags as standard

Tata Motors has launched its new compact sedan, the Tata Aeris. The company has set the starting price at Rs 5.29 lakh ex-showroom. For buyers looking for a new sedan on a tight budget, the car is likely to draw attention.

The price is about Rs 1 lakh lower than that of Maruti's best-selling Dzire. The Aeris will directly replace the Tata Tigor. Its length is kept under 4 metres, so it will compete with the Dzire, Hyundai Aura and Honda Amaze.

Tata has made considerable changes to the looks. The front has new LED headlamps with a DRL strip above them. The bumper also has LED fog lamps, and the rear tail-lamp design is entirely new. The side has new alloy wheels, which look sportier than those on the old Tigor. The company has also offered a new purple shade this time.

Inside, the dashboard is the same as in the Tata Tiago, so the cabin will feel familiar. The features are nonetheless plentiful. There is a large 10.24-inch touchscreen in the centre, along with a digital instrument cluster. The wireless charger can hold two mobile phones at once. Rear passengers get AC vents and Type-C charging ports.

The features list is long. There is cruise control, which makes highway driving easier. The car also gets automatic AC, ventilated seats, a dashcam, a monitor for viewing blind spots and a 360-degree camera. It is said that no other car in this segment offers a 360-degree camera, but Tata has provided one, which should make parking easier. Electrically folding mirrors, push-button start and comfortable fabric seats are also provided.

On safety, the company has provided six airbags from the start, so even the cheapest model comes with six airbags. The automatic model has a rotary selector dial in place of the gear lever, which looks similar to that of a BMW.

The engine is the same as in the Tigor, a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. It produces 84 BHP of power and 113 Nm of torque. There are two gearbox options, a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT.

For those who want CNG, the car has a twin-cylinder CNG setup, which also saves some boot space. On CNG, the car produces 73 BHP. The CNG variant also offers an AMT gearbox and paddle shifters. It is said that no company has offered paddle shifters on a CNG car before.