Tata Tiago Vs Hyundai i10 Nios; Comparision, Features, Mileage, Price

 

Over the last 6-8 years compact SUVs are continuously gaining immense popularity among Indians. Compact SUVs or urban SUVs dominate sedans and hatchbacks in aspects like ground clearance, commanding seating position, feel of an SUV in the same budget, and an additional shoulder and headroom.
Although Compact SUVs are doing great in the Indian market, the Hatchbacks still have a few positives over them. Hatchbacks make sense due to the following reasons;

·       Low maintenance and service costs.

·       Ease of manoeuvring in city traffic.

·       Better fuel efficiency.

·       Consumption of less parking space.

In this blog, we will be comparing two popular mid-range hatchbacks that most Indians are confused about when choosing the better one as per their requirement. The one is Tata Tiago, this hatchback recently clocked a milestone of 4 lakh units sold since launch. The other one is Hyundai’s i10 Nios, a hatchback from a manufacturer that has the best trust and reliability image amongst buyers.

Exterior

Hyundai i10 Nios’ boomerang-style LED day-time-running lamps, sharkfin antenna, large front grill and a well-designed headlight unit with projector headlamps, look comparatively more appealing than Tiago. However, the Tata Tiago’s smiling shaped chrome lining on the front grill makes it look wider but the old-styled antenna should be replaced with a sharkfin type. 

In short, both of the hatchbacks look fabulous from the outside and one may spend days deciding between them, based on looks. To me, Nios looks a bit premium as compared to Tiago.

Interior

However, Tata Tiago’s interior is quite decent in its segment but Hyundai Nios doubtlessly wins the battle when it comes to the interior. The overall fit & finish, layout and quality of dashboard material and seat fabric are way too better than that of Tiago. A fully digital instrument cluster in Tiago compared to a semi-digital one on Nios, is something that might attract a few young buyers.

Features

Both the hatchbacks offer features like Android Auto, Apple Carplay, reverse camera, Bluetooth compatibility, automatic AC, steering mounted controls and obviously a touchscreen infotainment system.

The 8-inch infotainment system on the Hyundai i10 Nios is better in terms of touch response and visibility. While the one on Tiago is smaller by an inch and also lags occasionally. However, Tiago’s JBL music system with 4 speakers and 2 tweeters significantly offers a better sound quality compared to Nios.

You get a wireless charging feature in the Hyundai Nios Asta variant, but it is approximately 80 thousand costlier than that of Tata Tiago’s XZ Plus.

Engine & Gearbox

Hyundai i10 Nios comes with a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine putting 82hp of power and 114Nm of torque. The 1.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine generates 74hp of power and 190Nm of peak torque. Apart from the above two engines, a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine is also available that is capable of generating 99hp of power and 172Nm of torque. This is the most powerful engine in the segment currently.

The Tata Tiago offers only one engine option which is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine producing 85hp and 113Nm of peak torque.

Both the hatchbacks do offer the option of CNG variants and are coupled to a 5-speed manual and AMT transmission system.

Driving Dynamics

In terms of performance, Hyundai Nios's 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine is a bit better than Tata Tiago. Also, the gearshifts in Nios’s, manual and AMT both work smoothly, while Tiago’s gearshifts are a bit notchy.

The Steering on the Nios is too light which favours the driver in the city, but at a higher speed on highways, it’s the Tata Tiago that promises great confidence to the driver due to its robust stability.

Comfort

Tata Tiago’s rear seat comfort is better for long journeys as compared to Nios. Also, the suspension setup of the Tiago is the best in its segment and this helps in providing excess comfort on uneven roads. However, for a short journey or city use, you won’t feel much difference in seat comfort.

The 1.2-litre kappa series engine of Nios is so well refined that the cabin is free from engine noise and vibrations, unlike Tiago. The Nios also gets a rear AC vent which is a plus point for rear passengers.

Safety

Tata cars are known for their safety and Tiago is keeping upto that promise by getting a 4-star out of 5 safety rating in the Global NCAP crash test. The Nios scored just 2-star which makes Tiago a one-sided winner in this department. However, both the hatchbacks do have almost similar safety features like dual airbags, ABS and EBD and much more.

Price

The base variant XE of Tiago costs Rs 5.34 lakhs (ex-showroom), While the top-end variant XZ plus cost Rs 6.78 lakhs (ex-showroom).

The base variant Era of i10 Nios costs Rs 5.30 lakhs (ex-showroom), While the top-end variant Asta cost Rs 7.43 lakhs (ex-showroom). However, Nios’s Sportz variant cost almost similar to Tiago’s top variant and offers similar features.

Final Verdict

The Hyundai Nios is a good choice if you want to spend most of your time in the city and take fewer highway journeys. The reason for this is that it is a premium product with the Hyundai brand's reputation for reliability.

If you want to use your car on longer highway trips, Tiago is a good choice because of its great suspension, handling, and safety.