Tata Tiago JTP Vs Competition: Spec Comparison

Tata now has a unique position in the Indian four-wheeler market by becoming the first manufacturer in the mass-market segment to have its own performance division. JTP, short for Jayem Tata Performance, made its debut quite recently with the launch of performance variants of two of the most popular Tata cars on sale - the Tiago hatchback and the Tigor sub-4 metre sedan.

While the Tata Tiago JTP, which is priced at Rs 6.39 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), does not have any direct competition, its performance numbers do match some existing cars. Let’s see how they stack up against each other on paper.

The Tata Tiago’s competitors include the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS and the Polo GT TSI. We would have added the Fiat Punto Abarth to the list too, but that is only available on order and is difficult to buy. We have also compared the Tiago JTP with its non-performance petrol counterpart to show how much of an improvement it is.

Also Read: Our real-world comparison test of the Baleno RS and the Polo GT TSI

When it comes to size, the Tata Tiago is clearly in a lower category of hatchbacks as compared to the Baleno RS and the Polo GT TSI. Being based on a commuter hatchback, it loses out in terms of length, width and wheelbase. But interior space has been freed up by making it tall - it is the tallest car in the comparison.

You can also notice that the Tiago JTP has bigger 15-inch wheels as compared to the standard car. The Baleno RS and Polo GT TSI get bigger 16-inch wheels, though the GT TSI has the same tyre width as the Tiago JTP.

The Polo GT TSI is the lowest to the ground with an unladen ground clearance on 165mm, closely followed by the Tiago JTP which is 4mm lower than the standard car. The Baleno RS is high off the ground at 170mm.

The Tiago JTP ditches the naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine of the standard car for the turbocharged version of the same engine from the Nexon. Power has been bumped up by 4PS in comparison to the Nexon, though torque has been limited to 150Nm, which is 20Nm lower. This engine is paired to a slick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission.

Compared to the competition, the Tiago JTP has the most powerful engine - developing 114PS as compared to the Baleno RS’ 102PS and Polo GT TSI’s 105PS. The Baleno RS matches the Tiago JTP in terms of torque, while the Polo GT TSI develops even more from its 4-cylinder 1.2-litre motor. The Polo GT TSI has the advantage of having a 7-speed fast-shifting dual-clutch transmission which should, in theory, make it the fastest car here in most situations.

The Tata Tiago is the fastest car in the comparison here when 0-100kmph times are compared, but that can change under real-world conditions. In our tests, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS was the quickest, surprisingly quicker than the Polo GT TSI. This could be down to the fact that the Polo GT TSI we tested was not in the best shape.

Safety Features

These cars are based on the top-of-the-line variants of their respective non-performance versions, meaning they are well equipped. All the cars here are equipped with dual-front airbags, ABS and EBD as standard. Only the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS is fitted with disc brakes all-around, while Tata and Volkswagen have kept costs in check by offering front discs and rear drums.

The Tiago JTP dethrones the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS as the most affordable performance hatchback in the country. It undercuts the competition by over Rs 2 lakh! Even if it may not have the same number of modification options as the Polo GT TSI (for now) or does not have the same reliable and widespread service network as the Baleno RS, it offers the most performance-for-the-buck in this comparison. On paper, at least.

Also Read: Our first-impressions of the Tata JTP twins. They are really good!