Here it is! The new Tata Tiago NRG. Yes, it’s based on the refreshed Tiago. But, it doesn’t rely on the cutesy looks. Instead, it wants to be taken seriously, especially by “those who live differently”. That’s what Tata Motors feels. The automaker also calls the Tiago NRG an “Urban Toughroader”. Why? Because it has “an SUV inspired design”. As for the variants, there are two available – manual and AMT. In the former form, it costs Rs 6.57 lakh, whereas the automatic gearbox takes the asking price up to Rs 7.09 lakh.

So, how is it different to the standard Tiago? On the outside, the Tiago NRG flaunts dual-tone bumpers with satin skid plates, protective cladding on wheel arches and the sills, and 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. Apart from that, the roof is blacked-out and accompanying that are integrated roof rails. Even the tailgate has a unique finish. Step inside, and charcoal black interiors accentuate the sporty feel. Alongside, there are new fabric seats with Deco stitch and body-coloured side air vents & gear lever surround. So, those elements can be red, green, white or grey.

That’s not all! Tata Motors has also worked with some of the mechanical stuff. For example, the dual-path suspension has been re-tuned, which has resulted in a raised ground clearance of 181mm. As for the propulsion, that comes from the same 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine producing 85bhp/113Nm. You can have it with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT.

Tata Motors has taken the top-spec XZ+ trim as a baseline for the NRG. That means the list of features is quite extensive, with stuff like push-button start, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a rear-view camera and auto-folding ORVMs in the mix.

But the real question is, what kind of premium the NRG is demanding on top of the donor Tiago? For example, suppose you want it with a manual transmission. In that case, the newcomer will cost about Rs 7,500 more than the XZ+ Dual-Tone variant and Rs 19,500 extra over the XZ+ derivative. The price difference is a bit less if you opt for the AMT. Compared to the XZA+ Dual-Tone and XZA+ variants, the Tiago NRG costs Rs 4,500 and Rs 16,500 more, respectively.

So, I ask, would you buy the Tiago NRG? Or, would you instead settle for the standard Tiago?