New Delhi. There are many options for SUV cars in the current Indian market. You can choose your car according to your budget and choice. There was a time when sedan and hatchback cars used to dominate the Indian market. Now SUV models are dominating the market. But do you know which was India’s first SUV? When was it launched? And how much did it cost? If not, let us know.
Tata Sierra: India’s first SUV
Tata Motors’ Sierra car was India’s first SUV which was launched in 1991. That means 34 years ago. At the time of launch, this car was a completely different car in itself. No other such model existed in India. The entire concept of SUV was new in India.
How much did the first SUV cost?
At the time of its launch in 1991, the price of this SUV was Rs 5 lakh. In today’s times, this price may seem quite low but it was not so. This was a huge amount in 1991 and with this price, this car was counted among the most expensive cars of that era.
Return on 25th November
The most important thing is that the company is once again going to launch Tata Sierra in the Indian market in a new avatar. This car will be officially presented by Tata Motors in India on 25th November.
Why was Sierra special?
indigenous engineering
It was the first Indian car to be designed and engineered entirely for personal use, keeping the Indian market in mind. Earlier, the jeeps available in the market were either foreign designs or were primarily built for utility purposes.
Features ahead of time
Sierra was way ahead of its time. This was the first car in India in which features like power windows and adjustable steering wheel were provided. It was also available with factory-fitted air conditioning (AC).
Powerful and offroad capability
It was a 3-door SUV, with its unique identity being the large glass window at the rear (called the Alpine Window). It was built on body-on-frame construction, which made it very strong and suitable for rough roads. It also had the option of 4×4 (four-wheel drive) variant, which made it an excellent off-roading SUV.
engine:
Initially it came with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Later, the company also introduced a turbocharged diesel engine (2.0-litre, 87 bhp) in 1997, which further increased its performance. When the Sierra was launched in 1991, it was priced around or above ₹5 lakh. At that time, popular cars like Maruti 800 were available for ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh. In comparison, the Sierra was a premium and expensive offering. Due to its high price and three-door design, its sales were not as successful as expected, and production was discontinued in 2003.
