Tata Tiago Base Model Review: Too Basic to buy?

At around ₹4.69 lakh ex-showroom, the Tata Tiago Smart is one of the most affordable hatchbacks you can buy in India. Depending on the city, its on-ro...

At around ₹4.69 lakh ex-showroom, the Tata Tiago Smart is one of the most affordable hatchbacks you can buy in India. Depending on the city, its on-road price can move to roughly ₹5.2 lakh to ₹5.8 lakh, after registration, insurance and other charges. At this price, the Tiago looks like a very tempting proposition for someone who simply wants a new car.

But then you open the door, sit inside and discover one very old-school feature.

There are no power windows in the base Smart variant.

Yes, in 2026, you still have to manually operate the windows.

The biggest cost-cutting in the Tiago Smart

The absence of power windows is probably the most noticeable cost-cutting measure in the Tiago Smart.

Tata has kept the base variant focused on the basics. You get manual air conditioning, a part-digital driver's display, fabric seats, 13-inch steel wheels, rear parking sensors, tilt-adjustable steering and six airbags. ABS with EBD, ISOFIX and three-point seatbelts with reminders for all seats are also standard.

So Tata has clearly prioritised safety over convenience.

That is a good thing.

But the strange part is that something as basic as power windows has been left out.

The jump to the Pure variant brings front and rear powered windows, along with electrically adjustable ORVMs, a height-adjustable driver's seat, rear defogger, steering-mounted controls and a few other useful features.

Six airbags, but no power windows

This is where the Tiago Smart becomes an interesting product.

The base car gets six airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX as standard. Tata has therefore not treated the entry-level Tiago as a completely stripped-down safety package.

But at the same time, the person sitting inside the car has to manually operate the windows.

It creates a funny contrast.

Six airbags? Yes.
Power windows? Nope.

Of course, airbags are far more important than power windows. There is no debate there.

But buyers also use their cars every day. A power window is not a luxury feature anymore. It is one of those small convenience features that you expect in even an affordable family car.

Is the Tiago Smart useful for commercial buyers?

Yes.

And this is probably where the Smart variant makes more sense.

For commercial use, fleet operators and taxi owners may not care much about features such as touchscreen infotainment, electrically adjustable mirrors or fancy cabin equipment.
The objective is simple, buy the car at the lowest possible cost, keep running costs under control and get the job done.

The Tiago Smart does exactly that.

It gives you the 1.2-litre petrol engine, manual gearbox, basic air conditioning, six airbags and essential safety equipment without pushing the purchase price too high. A CNG version is also available for buyers who want to focus more on running costs.

For a private buyer, however, things change.

Pure makes more sense for a family buyer

The Tiago Pure starts at around ₹5.49 lakh ex-showroom, which is roughly ₹80,000 more than the Smart.

That is not a small amount.

But you are getting several features that you will actually use every day.

The Pure adds:

• Front and rear power windows

• Electrically adjustable ORVMs

• Height-adjustable driver's seat

• Steering-mounted controls

• Rear defogger

• 14-inch wheels with covers

• Central locking

• Day/night IRVM

• 2-speaker audio system

• Front USB Type-A and Type-C ports

It also opens up the option of an AMT gearbox, which is not available on the base Smart.

This makes the Pure a much easier variant to live with as a personal car.

What about the Pure+?

The Pure+ starts at around ₹5.99 lakh ex-showroom, another ₹50,000 above the Pure.

This is where the Tiago starts feeling considerably more modern.

The Pure+ adds an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear camera, cruise control, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist, TPMS and a four-speaker audio system.

For someone buying the Tiago as a personal family car, these are meaningful additions.

You get the convenience features in Pure, then add the features that make the car easier to use every day in Pure+.

Tata Tiago Smart vs Pure vs Pure+

Prices can vary slightly depending on the exact pricing update and Tata's dealer billing, so check the current quotation before booking.

Opinion on Tata Tiago Base Model

The Tiago Smart is not a bad base variant.

It brings six airbags and essential safety equipment to a price point where buyers usually have to make several compromises.

But the lack of power windows makes the cabin feel more basic than it needs to be.

For a commercial buyer, that may not matter.

For a private buyer, spending more on the Pure brings several everyday features, while the Pure+ goes a step further with the touchscreen, rear camera, wireless smartphone connectivity and electronic safety features.

So the Smart makes sense if your only target is the lowest possible purchase price.

If you are buying the Tiago for yourself and your family, the Pure and Pure+ variants make more sense because the extra money buys features you are likely to use every single day.