KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- There are speculations of a 1.5-litre nat-asp petrol being readied.
- The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos get 1.5-litre nat-asp petrol powertrains that drive in volumes.
- This could also help it benefit in terms of overall engine options.
Another write-up on the Tata Sierra. However, this isn't going to be your typical news fluff piece. With the launch of the Sierra now just days away, we are speculating exactly where it could be positioned in Tata Motors' lineup, and also in the mid-size SUV segment.
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The ONE thing that could benefit the Tata Sierra; Details
The Tata Sierra is highly likely to get turbo-petrol and diesel powertrain options with various transmission options. However, as many publications (including us) have reported and speculated, Tata Motors is said to be readying a 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol powertrain.
The reason that a supposed 1.5-litre nat-asp powertrain holds importance is down to the competition. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos have such a strong hold in the market, and that is due to the presence of a 1.5-litre, nat-asp petrol powertrain, despite the turbo petrol and diesel options. Hyundai sold 18,381 units of the Creta in October 2025, while Kia sold 7,130 units of the Seltos. These are the top two sellers in the mid-size segment, and while neither manufacturer has given a fuel type-wise sales breakdown, we won't be surprised to see the the more basic nat-asp powertrain bringing in the volumes due to its higher efficiency and easier maintenance.
Tata Motors also knows it needs to undercut the Creta, in order to properly capture people's attention. The Sierra name enjoys great recall value today, but we all know poor pricing can also derail a product's journey in India. Since the Creta's prices start from Rs 10.72 lakh (ex-showroom), we feel the Sierra's starting price could be from Rs 9.5 lakh to Rs 9.99 lakh onwards. This is considering the Curvv's starting price, which was also Rs 9.99 lakh lakh, and has since dropped down to Rs 9.65 lakh (ex-showroom).
If reports are to be believed, a nat-asp petrol powertrain is derived from the upcoming 1.5-litre turbo-petrol powertrain, but with significant changes, obviously, to make it more efficient. Turbo-petrol engines have a tendency to be on the thirstier side, especially when the car is being driven aggressively. Aside from the 1.2-litre powertrain on the Tiago and Tigor, Tata does not have a larger naturally aspirated petrol engine on offer.
The 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol Hyperion powertrain was shown alongside the Curvv's 1.2-litre unit at the 2023 Auto Expo, but it hasn't made its debut just yet. While Tata has had a solid history with diesel engines, petrol engines have not exactly been its strong suit, but it is definitely looking to change that. Tata could possibly be in the final stages of readying the nat-asp and turbo versions before it finally makes its debut with the Sierra.
Verdict
The importance of a nat-asp petrol engine in its lineup is something Tata Motors surely realizes, and if industry speculations are anything to go by, Tata is trying to iron out every possible issue before finally launching the car and letting the masses experience it.
