Tata Aeris Variants Explained: Which of the 18 Is Worth Buying?

Tata's new compact sedan has been in showrooms since 11 October, and the question buyers keep typing is simple: with 18 versions of the Aeris on the price list, which one makes sense? Tata launched the car on 25 September at an introductory ₹5.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) as the replacement for the Tigor. After going through Tata's press release and brochure line by line, the short answer is that the middle of the range does most of the work, and the top trim costs more than it first appears.

Tata Aeris price list, all 18 variants

These are Tata's introductory prices, in ₹ lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The Smart trim is manual-only; every other trim comes with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT, in petrol or iCNG.

Two patterns are worth knowing before you walk into a showroom. CNG adds exactly ₹1 lakh on every trim, and the AMT adds exactly ₹55,000. Bookings are open at ₹11,000.

What each step up actually buys

Smart is the price leader, and Tata has not stripped the safety out of it: six airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX and rear parking sensors are standard across the range. But the cabin has no touchscreen, the AC is manual and the wheels are 14-inch steel. Pure (+₹85,000) adds power windows, a height-adjustable driver seat, steering audio controls and Bluetooth through the driver display, still without a touchscreen.

Pure+ (+₹60,000 over Pure) is the first trim that feels like a modern car. It brings a touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear AC vents, stability control, hill hold and tyre pressure monitoring. Autocar India calls it the pick for a tight budget, and the numbers back that up.

Creative (+₹75,000 over Pure+) is where Tata packs the visible upgrades: the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera with blind-view monitor, LED headlamps, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlamps and passive keyless entry and start. Autocar India names this trim the best balance of price and features, and the brochure shows why.

Accomplished costs another ₹70,000 and adds ventilated leatherette front seats, the dashcam function, a dual-phone wireless charging deck, LED fog lamps and a rear 65W Type-C port. Those are nice to have, but few families will use ₹70,000 worth of them every day. Autocar India's advice is to pick this trim only if you specifically want those features.

Petrol, CNG or AMT?

The engine is the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder Revotron: 86 PS and 113 Nm on petrol, 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm on CNG. The CNG car uses two smaller cylinders under the boot floor instead of one big tank, which Tata says keeps the sedan's practicality intact. Autocar India and CarDekho put the CNG boot at roughly 217 to 219 litres, against 419 litres on petrol.

CNG variants give up a few things. They ride on 14-inch wheels across the range, and Tata's brochure says cruise control is not offered on the CNG AMT. On the other hand, CNG is available on every trim, so you are not forced into a bare-bones car to save on fuel.

Will that extra ₹1 lakh come back? Take rough round numbers, not today's pump rates: petrol at ₹95 a litre and 19 km/l works out near ₹5 per km, while CNG at ₹77 a kg and 26 km/kg is close to ₹3 per km. A saving of about ₹2 per km repays ₹1 lakh in around 50,000 km. If you drive 1,000 km a month, that is over four years.

The mileage question

Tata's launch release and brochure give no mileage figure. Some listing sites show ARAI numbers of 19.2 kmpl for the petrol manual and 26.49 to 28.06 km/kg for CNG, but Autocar India says Tata has not revealed an official figure and expects real-world CNG returns of 25 to 30 km/kg. Treat the listed numbers as unconfirmed until Tata publishes them.

How it stacks up against rivals

Autocar India lists the Maruti Dzire at ₹6.31 to 9.54 lakh, the Honda Amaze at ₹7.65 to 10 lakh and the Hyundai Aura at ₹6 to 8.67 lakh. The Aeris undercuts all three at the bottom and is cheaper than the old Tigor at the start, though its top price is higher (₹9.74 lakh against ₹9.10 lakh). Its 419-litre boot is bigger than the Amaze (416), Aura (402) and Dzire (382). CarDekho also notes that the Aura's CNG version has no AMT option.

The weak spots are on the safety and refinement side. The Aeris has not been crash-tested yet. The Tigor earned four stars from Global NCAP, per Autocar India, but that does not carry over automatically. There is no ADAS and no sunroof. Autocar India found the engine coarse above 2,500 rpm and the CNG-AMT slow and jerky from a stop, and CarDekho says the rear seat is tight for three adults.

Which Aeris should you buy?

If the budget is firm, take the Pure+ petrol manual at ₹6.74 lakh. If you can stretch, take the Creative: petrol manual at ₹7.49 lakh, or CNG manual at ₹8.49 lakh if you cover more than about 1,000 km a month. Pick the AMT only if your commute is heavy stop-and-go, and test it first. Skip the Smart and Pure unless you plan to add your own touchscreen. If even that feels steep, the Tiago hatchback shares the same engines, per Autocar India. Waiting periods vary by city, and CarDekho advises checking cancellation terms before you pay the booking amount. Related reading: the XUV 3XO CNG against the Nexon CNG and Brezza CNG for buyers weighing a CNG SUV instead.

Tata Aeris FAQs

What is the price of the Tata Aeris?

Introductory ex-showroom prices run from ₹5.29 lakh to ₹9.74 lakh (Delhi). Petrol starts at ₹5.29 lakh and CNG at ₹6.29 lakh.

When are Tata Aeris deliveries?

Deliveries began on 11 October 2026. Waiting periods depend on variant, colour and city.

Does the Tata Aeris have a CNG AMT?

Yes. iCNG is offered with both a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT from the Pure trim upwards.

What is the mileage of the Tata Aeris?

Tata has not published an official figure. Autocar India expects 25 to 30 km/kg in real-world CNG use.

Which Tata Aeris variant is best?

Autocar India recommends the Creative for balance; the Pure+ suits a tighter budget.

Prices are introductory ex-showroom Delhi and may change. Sources: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles press release (25 September 2026) and Aeris brochure, Autocar India, CarDekho, CarWale.