Tata Aeris Review: A meaningful step forward

Design

Making a good-looking compact sedan is no easy task. You have a strict four-meter length limit, a boot that needs to accommodate everything from airport luggage to the weekly grocery haul, and proportions that can go horribly wrong if the designer gets a little too ambitious. It is rather like trying to make a convincing superhero costume out of a bedsheet. The intentions may be noble, but the execution matters.

Thankfully, the Aeris is arguably Tata's most well-proportioned compact sedan yet. The Indigo eCS had its utilitarian charm, the Zest looked a little more contemporary, and the Tigor brought a coupe-like roofline into the picture. The Aeris builds on that lineage with a cleaner, more modern face, featuring slim LED headlamps, integrated daytime running lights and a redesigned bumper. The connected black trim across the front gives it a contemporary look without trying too hard. The front profile in that sense is very contemporary, rather than being in your face.

The side profile is where the Aeris reveals its familiar fastback-inspired silhouette. The roofline slopes towards the boot, giving the car a slightly sportier appearance than the conventional three-box sedan. At 3,995mm long, it stays within the sub-four-metre category, while the 2,450mm wheelbase gives it the proportions expected of a compact family car. Meanwhile, the rear sees visible differences over the Tigor, including the connected LED taillamps and revised bumper. Just like the front, the rear too focuses on being contemporary.

But the design isn't without its awkward moments. Viewed from the rear three-quarter angle, the coupe-like roofline and the slightly long front overhang don't always work in harmony. The result is a car that looks reasonably cohesive from some angles but a little odd from others.

It isn't an ugly car, and the changes certainly make it look more contemporary than the Tigor. But if we're handing out trophies for the best-looking compact sedan, I'd still give the crown to the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. The Aeris has improved its appearance, but it hasn't quite reached the point where you'll find yourself turning around for a second look after parking it.

There is another important distinction worth mentioning here. Unlike some of its rivals, the Tata Aeris is aimed exclusively at private buyers, with Tata's Xpres range catering to the commercial fleet market, that will have its set of differences both in terms of design and interior. That gives it a certain advantage in a segment where compact sedans have long had to contend with their association with taxis. For buyers who want a personal car rather than something that reminds them of their airport transfer, this separation could matter more than you'd think.

Interior

Now, this is where things get interesting.

Tata's cabin quality has been a bit of a mixed bag over the years. Some of its products have impressed with their design and equipment, while others have left you wondering whether the plastics were sourced from the same factory that makes lunchboxes for schoolchildren. The Aeris, thankfully, feels like a meaningful step forward.

In fact, the improvement in perceived quality is something I genuinely didn't expect to appreciate as much as I did. The plastics feel much better than the other Tata models, giving the cabin a more polished appearance. The overall finish is a considerable improvement over what we've come to expect from some of Tata's more affordable offerings. The updated Tiago had already given us a hint of this change, but the Aeris makes the point rather convincingly.

The dashboard looks modern without becoming unnecessarily complicated. The two-spoke steering wheel, revised centre console and neatly arranged controls along with the front ventilated seats give the cabin a more upmarket feel.

However, there are still areas where the cabin could be better. The sloping roofline for example, does place some restrictions on rear headroom. But my overall impression is positive. For me, the cabin is one of the Aeris's biggest strengths. It may not have the most flamboyant design in the segment, but it is a genuinely pleasant place to spend time. And sometimes, a car that feels well put together is more satisfying than one that merely looks good in photographs.

Features and equipment

The Aeris may not be the most feature-loaded car in the segment, but it certainly doesn't leave you feeling short-changed.

Depending on the variant, equipment includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital driver's display, automatic climate control, cruise control, rear AC vents, wireless phone charging and a 65W Type-C charging port. The higher variants also get front ventilated seats, leatherette upholstery, a 360-degree camera, a blind-spot monitor and a dashcam function. Six airbags are standard across the range.

The ventilated front seats deserve particular mention. In a country where stepping out of an air-conditioned office and into a parked car can feel like entering a tandoor, this is the sort of feature that can make a tangible difference to everyday comfort. It is also unusual to find ventilated seats and leatherette upholstery in this segment, which gives the Aeris a useful point of differentiation.

The 360-degree camera and blind-spot monitor are equally welcome, especially for buyers who spend most of their time navigating crowded city streets. The touchscreen and smartphone connectivity take care of the modern-day essentials, while physical controls for frequently used functions keep the cabin from becoming a frustrating exercise in menu navigation.

No, you don't get every conceivable gadget simply because the marketing department can fit it into a brochure. But the Aeris covers the essentials rather well, and the higher variants offer a few features that help it stand out from the crowd.

The bigger point is that Tata hasn't restricted the more desirable equipment to the petrol versions alone. Buyers opting for CNG can also access higher-spec variants, depending on their budget. Saving money at the fuel pump, therefore, doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing the creature comforts.

Drive

Here's where I'd make a slightly controversial recommendation: if you're considering the Aeris, start by looking at the CNG version rather than the petrol one.

The Aeris uses Tata's familiar 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing 86hp and 113Nm. In CNG guise, output drops to around 76hp and 97Nm. Both versions are offered with a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed AMT. Those figures won't set your pulse racing, but then, this isn't a compact sedan designed to impersonate a sports car.

The CNG version is the more convincing of the two powertrains. Power delivery is smooth and linear, and there is enough grunt in the lower rev range to make the Aeris perfectly adequate for urban driving. It doesn't feel as though you need to wring its neck every time the traffic light turns green, and it settles into a relaxed rhythm when driven within its comfort zone.

Of course, the familiar CNG limitation is still there. Push the engine beyond roughly 3,000rpm and it begins to run out of breath. There isn't much point in chasing the rev counter in the hope that a hidden reserve of performance will suddenly reveal itself.  But here's the thing: most compact sedans aren't bought by people looking to set lap records.

They're bought by people who want a dependable daily driver that can carry the family, handle the school run and get them through the evening rush without making every kilometre feel like hard work. The Aeris CNG is happiest when you drive it sensibly, build speed progressively and get on with your day. The CNG-AMT combination fits that brief rather well. The automatic gearbox takes some of the effort out of stop-start traffic, and the powertrain's relaxed character suits city driving.

The petrol version, on the other hand, is a little less convincing. The engine is reasonably smooth, but the three-cylinder rattling noise makes its way into the cabin, taking away some of the refinement you would expect from a modern family car. The ride also feels a little joltier at lower speeds, which makes the overall experience less polished than that of the CNG version.

And that brings us to the suspension, which is another area where the Aeris deserves credit.

The setup strikes a good balance between comfort and control. It deals with uneven surfaces without making the occupants feel every crack in the road, and the car remains composed enough over the sort of broken tarmac and speed breakers that are part and parcel of Indian driving. The CNG version, in particular, feels more forgiving over rough surfaces than the petrol car.

There is a broader point here. Compact SUVs may offer a higher seating position, but a taller body doesn't automatically make them better to drive. The Aeris feels well balanced, and its lower stance gives it an inherent advantage when it comes to body control. It isn't a driver's car in the enthusiast sense, but it is reassuringly predictable and comfortable.

And that is what makes the CNG version so appealing. It doesn't try to be something it isn't. It simply gets the everyday fundamentals right, with a powertrain that makes sense for city use and a suspension setup that doesn't punish you for living in a country where perfectly surfaced roads remain something of a luxury.

Verdict

See, SUVs are fashionable, and I suspect they'll remain so for a while. But before you hand over your money for a raised hatchback with a rugged-looking bumper, spare a thought for the humble compact sedan.

The Tata Aeris makes a reasonable case for doing exactly that. It offers a proper boot, adequate ground clearance for everyday Indian roads, a comfortable ride and a cabin that feels considerably better finished. You don't have to buy an SUV simply because everyone else seems to be buying one.

Against its direct rivals, the Aeris has its strengths and weaknesses. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire remains the better-looking proposition in my opinion, while the Honda Amaze has an edge in refinement. But the Aeris has a couple of aces up its sleeve. For starters, it is positioned exclusively for private buyers, with Tata keeping commercial customers within the separate Xpres range. That distinction gives the Aeris a clearer identity as a personal family car. It is also more affordable than the Amaze, while offering a competitive equipment list.

Pricing makes the argument more interesting. With introductory ex-showroom prices starting at Rs 5.29 lakh for the petrol range and Rs 6.29 lakh for the CNG range, the Aeris offers an accessible entry into the sedan segment. The higher variants cost considerably more, so choosing the right trim will be important, but the entry price is certainly worth considering.

If I had around Rs 7-8 lakh to spend, the Aeris would certainly make my shortlist. And if I were buying one, I'd lean towards the CNG version. Sometimes, the sensible choice is also the one that makes the most sense. And in the Aeris's case, the CNG version might just be the most convincing reason to give the compact sedan another chance.