What Goes into the Sierra
It was 1991 when the first-gen Sierra launched in India, and it received a mid-life refresh in 1997. The three-door SUV was finally discontinued in 2005. The Sierra has a 34-year heritage, and the 2025 iteration seeks to revive the iconic nameplate. Most importantly, what goes into it? We’ll go ad-hominem on its design, and cover the ‘why’ aspect of certain implementations, according to insights received from our media interaction with Ajay Jain, head, Tata India Design Studio.
The Icon and Its Revival
The ‘OG’ Tata Sierra is indeed a sight to behold. It doesn’t look outdated, even in 2025. Gen-Zs were children when the Sierra left the market for a long hiatus, and we were fortunate enough to get to see the OG as well as its modern interpretation, all on the same day. The Original Sierra struck us with a question: Is it really three decades old? If so, it still holds a commanding presence in this day and age!
The Sierra quickly became a coveted model, thanks to the ‘Alpine Roof’ design. Back then, it would get two diesel engine options – 2.0L Peugeot XD88 63bhp NA (yes, in a diesel!) and 83bhp turbo. Fast forward to this day, tighter regulations and emission norms don’t let out the acoustic drama as much.
In a modern-day market flooded with mid-size SUVs, Tata had to step in. What would be better than a revival – something that’s popular and would not take much to become a household name in a fast-moving era? The Original Sierra, although iconic, had a few flaws: The Alpine roof was iconic, but it was a fixed glass. The rear seat access would be problematic for the old folk. It only remained exclusive to a niche.
The Sierra, in its modern interpretation, had to mitigate these issues, keep itself as familiar as possible, and also future-proof itself. The challenge was bigger than ever. This led to a few radical changes – a five-door configuration, re-locating the spare tyre from the tailgate to the underbody section, implementing a clamshell tailgate instead of a door-type unit, and discarding the ‘Alpine’ roof for a flat glass panel. The interior is completely redesigned – there’s a tri-cluster unit, soft-touch dashboard materials, thickened B-pillar to mimic the original, dual-zone climate control, and dual-tone upholstery.
“The Sierra is an Accolade”
Through the course of the unveil event, we at CarWale had the opportunity to interact with Ajay Jain, head, Tata India Design Studio. The conversation gave us valuable insights, and these have been charted out here.
The Tata Sierra has made quite a jump – from Gen 1 to Gen 5. Tata Motors envisioned a modern interpretation of the erstwhile classic.
Tata Motors has a twist to the idea of sustainability: The Sierra is a souvenir that trickles down generations. At the same time, the 2025 Sierra uses recycled cabin materials, and the glass part itself has 20 per cent recycled content. The cabin’s roominess is said to be similar to the Range Rover Velar.
The Sierra is designed for all generations – Gen-X who would feel a sense of nostalgia, Gen-Y who would view it as an achievement, and Gen-Z who would flaunt it as a fashion statement, Jain added.
Design
The 2025 Tata Sierra has received mixed responses for its design language. While some call it practical, others feel it has little resemblance with the original. Here’s the ‘why’ part that explains these choices:
Clamshell tailgate: Design-wise, this isn’t easy to pull off. Tata is known for introducing tech-loaded packs at competitive prices, and this is a future-forward implementation. This requires the spare wheel to be moved.
Doing away with the ‘Alpine’ roof: Tata Motors states that this has been done to reinforce the car’s safety and keep it in line with the latest norms.
Interior revamp: The Sierra also needs to keep pace with the competition, but at the same time, not skimp out on the openness of the original, thereby offering a panoramic sunroof. A futuristic and future-proof cabin is tech-first, and this is the implementation Tata came up with.
The new Sierra also bagged the Red Dot design award.
The Design Process
The Sierra starts with a sketch – this stage itself starts as a cross-collaboration across three design studios. We were told that the design process takes anywhere between 100-150 designers, and a few dedicated sculptors to carve out finer details.
Two different sketch artists – one for the interior, one for the exterior – simultaneously work on the respective design areas. Sketching isn’t a one-time process, there’s trial-and-error, and multiple drafts to arrive at a design choice that would strike a balance – especially with this iconic nameplate.
We move to the clay model – the next step towards the final design. As expected, it is a life-sized model being worked upon. Sculptors carve out finer details. We do not know the type of milling machines used for ancillary carve-outs.
Taking a closer look at the sculptor’s work, the efforts come through. Not only does this require razor-sharp precision, but it also calls for undivided attention and patience. It’s no easy job!
When the silhouette is done, the cabin is the next significant bit. Not only does it have to be plush and comfortable, but it also has to feel roomy, premium, and above all, something that stands the test of time – and the last one is quite significant for Tata, as the Sierra is poised to be sustainable through its longevity quotient.
Easter egg – certain fabric materials also show where they drew inspiration from.
AR and 3D Visualisation: Design is one aspect, and keeping things in proportion is another. The AR and 3D deck showcases precision checks – all before the Sierra starts rolling off production lines.
The Icon: Now Launched
As the production-spec Sierra launched today, on 25 November, 2025, the SUV has certainly evoked an emotional high. While the design bit is not something that the Gen-Z crowd would be able to backtrack, and given that the general consensus leans towards future-proofing, the Sierra has gone beyond being emotional – a feature suite loaded with Level 2 ADAS, multiple airbags, vast multitude of collaborations, diversity of powertrains – 1.5L NA, turbo, and diesel, comfort and convenience quotient, and above all – an accessible price point. Starting at Rs. 11.49 lakh, the launch goes beyond a revival – the new Sierra will rival the most popular midsize SUVs. Will it be the shark of the sea?
Photos by Dwij Bhandut
