> First Drive verdict: From behind the wheel, the reborn Sierra EV justifies both the nostalgia and the wait. It's spacious, genuinely capable (especially the rare AWD version), lavishly equipped, and its class-leading range makes it a real long-distance EV. Ride quality on rough roads is the one area to scrutinise carefully. A characterful, well-rounded revival that does a cherished name proud. (See our full rated review, 8.5/10, for complete specs.)
Nostalgia in the driver's seat
We've already published our full rated review of the Tata Sierra EV (8.5/10) with complete specifications and buying advice. This first-drive piece is about something different: what it actually feels like to drive a revival that carries as much emotional weight as almost any nameplate in India.
Because the original Tata Sierra of the 1990s isn't just an old car to Indian enthusiasts — with its distinctive wraparound glasshouse and rugged charm, it's a genuine cultural icon, a symbol of an era when India began building its own aspirational vehicles. Reviving it electric was always going to be freighted with expectation.
From the driver's seat, the reassuring news is that the Sierra EV earns the badge on merit rather than sentiment. It's a genuinely good, capable, well-rounded electric SUV that happens to also carry a beloved name.
What the drive reveals
The range is genuinely liberating. The headline 665 km (MIDC, 2WD 75 kWh; ARAI ~595 km) translates to real-world figures in the 420–470 km range — and that changes how you use the car. Inter-city drives become straightforward rather than planned expeditions. For Indian buyers, where charging infrastructure is still developing outside major corridors, that margin is genuinely reassuring.
The AWD version's capability is real, not cosmetic. The dual-motor "quad-wheel-drive" flagship, with 205 mm ground clearance, six terrain modes, Off-road Assist and the 540-degree camera with Transparent Mode, handles rough roads and light off-road duty with genuine competence. On broken rural surfaces — the reality of much Indian driving — the extra clearance and traction matter far more than a spec sheet suggests. It's also spiritually right: the original Sierra was a rugged thing, and this honours that.
The triple-screen cabin creates real occasion. Driver's cluster, central infotainment and a dedicated passenger screen — it out-screens most rivals and gives the interior a sense of event. Whether you find it excessive or impressive is personal, but it certainly feels special.
Space is a genuine advantage. The Sierra EV emphasises practicality, with a larger boot than the Mahindra BE 6 and a roomy, family-friendly cabin. For buyers choosing between the two, this is the concrete difference.
The Sierra vs BE 6 question, from the driver's seat
This is the decision most Indian buyers in this segment actually face, and driving both clarifies it:
The Sierra EV is the practical, capable, characterful choice. More space, bigger boot, the rare AWD option, genuine off-road ability, class-leading range, and heritage appeal.
The Mahindra BE 6 is the exciting one. Lower, sportier, more dramatic, more fun to drive, with concept-car looks — but with the practicality trade-offs its coupe roofline demands.
Neither is wrong. If you want space, capability and long-distance confidence, the Sierra. If you want excitement and drama, the BE 6. Drive both.
The one thing to scrutinise
Ride quality on rough roads deserves careful attention on your test drive. Feedback on Tata's recent EVs — including the related XEV 9e's rear-seat behaviour — has raised ride-comfort questions, and Indian road surfaces are unforgiving. Specifically: sit in the back seat on a genuinely rough road before you commit, not just the smooth showroom loop. This is the single most important thing to check.
The range-versus-AWD trade-off
Worth restating because it's the key configuration decision: the 665 km headline figure applies to the 2WD 75 kWh model. The AWD flagship — which delivers the genuine capability — necessarily shows a lower range.
You're choosing between:
- Maximum range (2WD 75 kWh): the long-distance option
- Genuine capability (AWD): for rough roads, poor weather and light off-road use, at ~₹1.2 lakh premium
Pick based on your actual driving. Most urban and highway buyers will be better served by the 2WD's range; those in rougher regions or who genuinely venture off-tarmac should take the AWD.
The bottom line
Driving the Sierra EV confirms what our rated review concluded: this is a revival that earns its cherished name through substance, not sentiment. The class-leading range is genuinely liberating for Indian conditions, the AWD version's capability is real rather than decorative, the triple-screen cabin creates a sense of occasion, and the space advantage over the Mahindra BE 6 is concrete. It's a characterful, well-rounded, capable electric SUV that happens to carry one of India's most emotionally significant nameplates — and it wears it with credit. Test the rear-seat ride on a genuinely rough road, choose between range and AWD based on your real driving, and cross-shop the sharper BE 6. But yes: this was worth the wait. For full specifications, pricing and our complete verdict, see our rated review.
- Driving the Sierra EV confirms it earns its iconic name through substance rather than nostalgia alone
- The 665 km claimed range (real-world ~420–470 km) is genuinely liberating for Indian inter-city driving
- The rare AWD version's capability is real — 205 mm clearance, terrain modes and Transparent Mode camera matter on broken rural roads
- Against the Mahindra BE 6: the Sierra is the practical, spacious, capable choice; the BE 6 is the exciting one. Drive both
- Scrutinise rear-seat ride quality on a genuinely rough road before buying, and choose between maximum range (2WD) and capability (AWD)
Key takeaways
- Driving the Sierra EV confirms it earns its iconic name through substance rather than nostalgia alone
- The 665 km claimed range (real-world ~420–470 km) is genuinely liberating for Indian inter-city driving
- The rare AWD version's capability is real — 205 mm clearance, terrain modes and Transparent Mode camera matter on broken rural roads
- Against the Mahindra BE 6: the Sierra is the practical, spacious, capable choice; the BE 6 is the exciting one. Drive both
- Scrutinise rear-seat ride quality on a genuinely rough road before buying, and choose between maximum range (2WD) and capability (AWD)
Sources & further reading
- Autocar India
- CarWale
- CarDekho
- Tata Motors materials
- True Motion Auto rated review (Batch 11). *First drive companion to full review. Verified July 2026.*
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
