Tata has just announced that two new cars are coming to South Africa this year.
The Indian carmaker’s passenger car division relaunched in our market in August 2025, offering an initial roster of four models, comprising the Tiago hatchback, Punch crossover, Curvv crossover coupe, and Harrier SUV.
This is only the beginning, however, as Tata Motors South Africa has confirmed that it will release two new vehicles in 2026 – the Nexon crossover and the Sierra SUV.
Unfortunately, the company has yet to announce the launch window for these new products, though it did state that “by the end of 2026, customers will have six modern Tata models to choose from to suit all customer needs.”
This suggests it could be several months before either car touches down in South Africa.
2 new additions to the Tata family
Tata has only provided a few snippets of information on each car, starting with the Nexon.
According to the manufacturer, the Nexon is a compact SUV that slots between the Punch and Harrier in terms of size.
Taking a look at Tata’s Indian website, we can see that the Nexon is 3,995mm long, 1,804mm wide, and 1,620mm tall.
It also has a wheelbase measuring 2,498mm, and 208mm of ground clearance.
This makes it slightly smaller than the Currv, which is another crossover positioned between the Punch and Harrier.
| Dimension | Tata Punch | Tata Nexon (New) | Tata Curvv | Tata Harrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,827mm | 3,995mm | 4,308mm | 4,605mm |
| Width | 1,742mm | 1,804mm | 1,810mm | 2,131mm |
| Height | 1,615mm | 1,620mm | 1,635mm | 1,718mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,445mm | 2,498mm | 2,560mm | 2,741mm |
| Ground clearance | 167mm | 208mm | 208mm | 205mm |
As another point of reference, the Nexon is almost identical in size to crossovers like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Suzuki Fronx, and Toyota Starlet Cross.
The Nexon is India’s best-selling SUV, and some of the standout features highlighted by Tata include sequential LED daytime running lights, bi-function LED headlights, and a two-tone roof.
It also has a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel with an illuminated logo, a physical touch panel, a large centre console, and six airbags.
It received a five-star Global NCAP safety rating in 2024.
Tata made no mention of the powertrain selection, but in other markets, the crossover is sold with a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine and a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
The petrol units generate 88kW and 170Nm, while the diesel models put out 85kW and 260Nm.
Moving on, the second vehicle coming to South Africa is the Sierra, which will be positioned as the brand’s penultimate model between the Curvv and the Harrier.
The Sierra is one of Tata’s newer cars, boasting features like “Night Saber” Bi-LED booster headlights, “Light Saber” LED daytime running lights, flush door handles, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
It has a “Persona-themed interior” with a large sunroof and three screens stretching across the dashboard, comprised of a digital instrument cluster, infotainment system, and a front passenger display.
In terms of size, the Sierra measures 4,340mm (L) by 1,841mm (W) by 1,715mm (H).
Like the Nexon, we’ll have to wait for Tata to confirm the engine selection, but over on the subcontinent, the Sierra offers a naturally aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol, and turbo-diesel option.
Considering its upmarket positioning, the turbocharged models are the most likely bet, with the petrol units producing 117kW and 255Nm, while the diesel can tap into 88kW and 280Nm.
Both the Nexon and Sierra will be sold with a 5-year/125,000km warranty with 24/7 roadside assistance once they arrive in South Africa.
Loading ...
