Tata returning to South Africa's car market this month with a more upmarket line-up – here's what to expect
Image: Supplied
Tata is returning to the South African passenger vehicle market after a six-year hiatus, and the products on offer may surprise you.
During its previous 15-year stint on the local market, Tata primarily sold variations of its Indica hatchback, which was a back-to-basics vehicle that epitomised no-frills motoring.
The Indian carmaker's range has since been modernised, and now offers a full line-up of crossover and SUV models, some with striking designs that could turn heads on our streets.
The new Tata passenger car range will reportedly be imported by Motus, a retail giant that also represents popular brands such as Hyundai, Kia, and Renault in South Africa. This is not related to the Tata commercial vehicle operation, which never exited our market and which continues to trade under Tata International South Africa.
We'll have to wait until the official launch event on August 19 for official confirmation of which new passenger models are coming to our shores, but from the darkened teaser images released by the local importer on social media channels, we've managed to work out that the initial line-up will kick off with at least four models, including one hatchback and three SUVs.
Tata Tiago
Tata will once again target the entry-level hatchback market in Mzansi with the Tiago, which is the direct successor of the long-standing Indica, which was also referred to as the Bolt in later years.
Tata Tiago.
Image: Supplied
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Nonetheless, the Tiago boasts a modern exterior design that should please most buyers. Sized between the Suzuki Celerio and Swift, it could make a significant impact on the local budget hatch market if Tata gets the pricing right.
Power comes from a normally aspirated 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 64kW and 115Nm through a five-speed manual or automated manual (AMT) transmission.
There's nothing revolutionary in terms of specification, but flagship models in India do offer niceties such as a Harman infotainment system with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a digital instrument cluster and automatic climate control. Magazine pockets are also listed as a selling point!
Tata Punch
Based on the company's Agile Light Flexible Advanced Architecture (ALFA-ARC), the 3,827mm-long Tata Punch is a boxy compact SUV that will go up against the Hyundai Exter and Nissan Magnite.
Tata Punch.
Image: Supplied
Like the Tiago, it is powered by the normally aspirated 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine, producing 64kW and 115Nm in this instance, and driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual or AMT.
Key features available abroad include a voice assisted electric sunroof, 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charger and automatic climate control.
Tata Curvv
The most daring model on offer locally will be the Curvv crossover, which is a coupe-inspired variation of the Nexon compact SUV. Measuring 4.3 metres in length, this one is likely to go up against Citroen's forthcoming Basalt.
Tata Curvv.
Image: Supplied
In India this Tata is offered with two 1.2-litre turbopetrol engines, in 88kW and direct injection 92kW guises, and an 87kW 1.5 turbodiesel is also available.
Tata Harrier
This is where Tata really starts to shift upmarket.
Based on parent company Jaguar Land Rover's D8 platform, the 4.6-metre-long Harrier is the size of a Volkswagen Tiguan and fitted with a 125kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine.
Tata Harrier.
Image: Supplied
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