If you’re hunting a compact sedan that fits a wallet and a family, Tata’s new Aeris looks ready to compete.
The Aeris keeps the familiar notchback roofline of the old Tigor but adds a wide lower grille, LED lighting, and a dual‑tone roof that give it a fresher look. Inside, ventilated leatherette seats, a 26‑inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a 65‑watt USB‑C charger sit together without the fluff of a high‑end package.
Under the hood sits a 1.2‑litre, three‑cylinder Revotron that churns out 86 PS and 113 Nm. The same engine comes in a CNG version that delivers 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm, sharing the same 5‑speed manual or 5‑speed AMT gearbox. Fuel tanks are 35 litres for petrol and a 70‑litre water‑capacity tank for CNG, yet the boot keeps 419 litres of usable space.
In the price war of sub‑four‑metre sedans, the Aeris starts at ₹5.29 lakh for the petrol Smart, while the CNG Smart opens at ₹6.29 lakh. That puts it just above the Maruti Dzire (₹4.55 lakh) and Hyundai Aura (₹3.88 lakh) and just below the Tigor Xpres (₹4.25 lakh). The extra cost buys you a modern chassis, ABS, ESC, and a 360‑camera, features that the lower‑priced rivals miss.
The government’s push for cleaner fuels means CNG variants get a 5% GST and a 10% rebate on the 4% duty that sits on petrol cars. For buyers who can trade in a petrol vehicle, the Aeris CNG also offers a 15% discount on the final price in early 2024. That could swing the balance in favour of the dual‑fuel option if you’re looking to cut running costs.
The Aeris is already rolling out in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, with a wider city rollout expected by March 2024. Keep an eye on Tata’s next steps—whether that’s a hybrid version or a more aggressive trim, the company signals it’s not done with the compact sedan market just yet.