Tata has re-entered the Indian SUV segment with the comeback of the Sierra, reviving a nameplate that has been absent for more than two decades. The reborn Sierra arrives with near concept-car styling, modern technology, and a price tag that feels shockingly affordable for what it offers.

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The new Sierra first appeared as a concept in 2023, and the production version remains remarkably faithful to that design. Its squared-off silhouette and rugged stance lend it Land Rover vibes, a detail made all the more interesting given Tata’s ownership of JLR.

Premium Looks

The strong B-pillar and wraparound rear glass nod to the original three-door Sierra of 1991, which stayed in production until 2003. Those retro cues meet contemporary details like glossy black cladding, aluminum-effect skid plates, sculpted rear haunches, and an upright tail capped with full-width LEDs.

Base models sit on 17-inch steel wheels, while top trims roll on 19-inch alloys with a more polished look. The overall design wouldn’t feel out of place alongside a modern-day Freelander or even a compact Defender.

Tata has also given us a glimpse of the upcoming Sierra EV that stands out thanks to a Tesla-like full-width LED bar and a grille-less look for the redesigned front bumper.

The Sierra measures 4,340 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width, and 1,715 mm in height, with a 2,730 mm wheelbase and 205 mm of ground clearance. That footprint plants it squarely among rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Suzuki Grand Vitara / Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, and VW Taigun.

High-Tech Interior

Step inside and the Sierra greets you with a triple-screen setup: a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and a matching 12.3-inch passenger display.

The options list runs deep, including a 12-speaker JBL system with a dashboard sound bar, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, ventilated seats, and what Tata calls the largest panoramic sunroof in its class.

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Tata promises a roomy and comfortable five-seat cabin, finished with soft-touch materials and offering a 622-litre (22-cubic-foot) boot. The company has also placed strong emphasis on safety, even showcasing a crash test that recreated a vehicle-to-vehicle impact. Standard equipment includes six airbags and an ADAS suite with Level 2+ autonomous features.

Flexible Underpinnings

The Sierra rides on Tata’s new ARGOS platform (All-Terrain Ready, Omni-Energy, and Geometry Scalable architecture), designed to support multiple powertrain types.

At launch, the Sierra will be available with a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 105 hp (78 kW / 106 PS), a turbocharged 1.5-liter with 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS), and a 1.5-liter turbodiesel with 116 hp (87 kW / 118 PS).

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Transmission choices include a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual-clutch, or a six-speed automatic. All versions are front-wheel drive for now, with selectable terrain modes, but all-wheel drive is planned. Later on, the lineup will expand to include fully electric, hybrid, and CNG options.

Priced To Sell

And that brings us to price, arguably the Sierra’s biggest talking point. Tata has announced a starting figure of ₹11.49 lakh (around $12,800 or about what you’d pay for a bespoke color at Range Rover), which positions it as strong value in its class.

Even so, it lands just above the Hyundai Creta, priced from ₹10.72 lakh ($12,100), which continues to dominate India’s SUV charts.

Orders for the Sierra open on December 16, with deliveries beginning January 16. For now, Tata says the model will be sold exclusively in India, with no export plans on the table.

Out in northern Kenya’s rugged Matthews Range, where dusty tracks thread through elephant herds wandering at dawn, the loudest thing on a safari should absolutely not be your truck.

Yet for years, Sarara’s trusted but tired diesel Land Rover Defenders clattered and coughed their way across the bush, reliable and practical but about as subtle as a generator in a library.

Related: This Vintage Rolls-Royce Is Now Twice as Powerful and Completely Silent

Now, thanks to Oxford-based EV conversion specialists Electrogenic, those old warhorses have been reborn, and suddenly, safaris at Sarara sound more like nature documentaries than construction sites.

What Powers Them?

Two of Sarara’s Defenders got Electrogenic’s E62 kit consisting of a 62 kWh battery under the hood and a 161 hp (163 PS / 120 kW) water-cooled motor, delivering a real-world range of 120 miles (193 km) in mixed on-road driving, with 160+ miles (258 km) for off-road use.

A third Land Rover received the more serious E93 kit, which has a 93 kWh battery and 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) water-cooled motor, delivering a real-world range of 150 miles, with 200+ miles (320 km) for off-road use. All three SUVs can take 6.6 kW AC charging but also fairly rapid CCS fills, too, which juice the 62 kWh battery up in 50 minutes.

Electrogenic, of course, has form. This is the same outfit Hollywood star Jason Momoa tapped to transform his 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II into a silent, sinister EV cruiser.

For Sarara, the team shipped in their “drop-in” electric powertrain kit, complete with pre-terminated wiring looms and a plug-and-play philosophy, and trained local mechanics to handle the transplant. Three Defenders were converted in just two weeks.

How Silence Saves the Safari

On paper, the main motivation was survival. During Kenya’s rainy season, the roads into the 850,000-acre (344,000 hectares) conservancy turn into axle-deep mud pits, making diesel deliveries nearly impossible.

In past years, Sarara had to scale back operations entirely when fuel trucks failed to arrive. With the new electric Defenders running off solar power generated on site, the camp can now operate year-round.

But the real magic happens out on the trails. With silent motors and zero tailpipe emissions, the electrified Defenders let guides ease up on wildlife without disturbing them, and without spoiling guests’ enjoyment of it.

And the EVs aren’t just greener; they’re better off-road as well. Instant torque helps the Defenders claw up slippery inclines, while regenerative braking doubles as a natural form of hill-descent control. They still retain the original transfer box and low-range gearing, too, so capability hasn’t been sacrificed.

Sarara’s team loved the project so much that the lodge is now an official Electrogenic installer, ready to help electrify other African 4×4 fleets.

Electrogenic