Tata Nexon

Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon comes with a brand new and stylish design template along with toning down its overall aggression considerably. The SUV has been successful for Tata Motors in the Indian market and stands out for its overall value proposition. 

How’s the design? 

The Tata Nexon now has a more refined and sleek design with toned-down aggression throughout the exteriors. There are muscular touches yes, although this is somewhat reduced now as per the Impact 2.0 design template. The front fascia has been fully revamped along with integrating a new signature grille and sleeker bumper with a faux skid plate. There is also a revamped LED package option for the Nexon. The side is similar although the coupe-themed aerodynamic body is striking. There are new piano-black themes for the ORVMs while the alloy wheels have also been revamped. The rear gets revamped LEDs with badging at the centre now. The rear has always been quite unique. 

How does it perform? 

The engines are the same 1.2 litre Revotron turbo petrol engine and the 1.5 litre diesel Revotorq engine. The power figures of the former are slightly better while the diesel engine remains unchanged. There are 6-speed AMT and manual transmission choices available for buyers. There are City, Eco and Sport driving modes available for these engines alongside. The engine seems a little sluggish until the 1800 RPM mark, although it becomes livelier after crossing this threshold. The Nexon can be planted on the highway and offers good stability at higher speeds. The diesel engine is reliable and refined while the petrol engine is also decent enough to drive. 

How’s the mileage? 

• Diesel Manual- 21.19 kmpl
• Diesel Automatic- 22.07 kmpl
• Petrol Manual- 17.57 kmpl
• Petrol Automatic- 16.35 kmpl 

How’s the driving experience? 

The Tata Nexon offers superb ride and handling, while ensuring a slightly stiff low-speed riding experience over potholes, sharp bumps and other undulations. The ride quality is also good enough with the car remaining stable and composed over bad roads as well. The steering is also one of the top picks in the category while offering good feedback and feel alike. The Nexon offers high driving confidence alongside. The car has good braking as well. 

What’s the interior like? 

The Tata Nexon comes with a new three-tone design along with a revamped dashboard which offers a plush look and feel. It has a revamped dashboard with the tri-arrow upholstery for the seats. The new central console looks luxurious and useful at the same time. There is also a flat-bottom steering wheel for a sportier option. The electric sunroof is the key highlight for the Tata Nexon while there is cruise control as well. The Xpress Cool feature is a handy touch, enabling special cool-down features for the cabin amidst extreme heat and humidity. There are rear AC vents along with automatic climate control and the 8-speaker audio system. Legroom is decent at the back and so is overall headroom and knee room. 

Tech and infotainment

The Tata Nexon comes with several technologies and features including automatic projector headlamps, tyre pressure monitoring system, rain-sensing wipers, new instrument console, three driving modes, wearable key, and the engine start/stop button. There is also a 7-inch touch screen infotainment unit with IRA connected technologies and telematics. One will also find features like remote vehicle control, live diagnostics reporting, find my car, tribe feature for connecting with owners, intrusion alerts, natural voice technologies with an understanding of Indian accents, what3words navigation, and reverse camera assist. There is an electric sunroof and an 8-speaker Harman audio unit present. One

Safety equipment

Safety features on the Tata Nexon include roll-over mitigation, traction control, ESP, automatic headlamps, TPMS, automatic wipers, dual front airbags for all variants, and more. There are 6 and 7 airbag choices for the top-end trims. The Tata Nexon got a 5-star rating in the adult occupant protection category in the Global NCAP crash test along with a 3-star rating in the child occupant protection category. 

Which variant to buy? 

One can take their pick from the XE, XM+, XM, XZA+, XZ+, and XMA variants. The XZ+ is the desired variant in this category offering more value for money along with features like the digital instrument cluster, infotainment unit (7 inches) with connectivity features, interior features, smart key with push-button features, automatic climate control and more. The petrol-manual version is the value pick in this category. 

Which cars compete in this segment?

The rivals in the segment include the Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Toyota Urban Cruiser, and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza along with the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger. The Nexon is decently fuel efficient and comes with good features including excellent safety features (its rating is a plus point). The Sonet and Venue take it head-on in terms of features, while the XUV300 could make more sense at a slightly higher price band. However, the Nexon still stands out as a compelling proposition in the compact SUV category. 

Verdict (Value for money) 

The Tata Nexon is a stylish and attractive SUV that is already synonymous with safety, great features, and good performance overall. The Nexon is everything that buyers want in a compelling package and stands out as a value proposition for buyers. The only thing is that it does not get a few features like wireless charging, ambient lighting, an air purifier, and some other kit. However, the feature list is still extensive and the petrol and diesel engines are powerful enough, while the ride quality is also top-notch. There is also good interior space. Yes, the petrol engine is not that fun and engaging to drive, especially in congested city traffic, the infotainment unit could have been better, and the Nexon could also have offered better quality of plastics inside. However, looking beyond these minor chinks in its armor, it seems to be unstoppable in the market at the moment.

should make it continue its successful run in the compact SUV segment.