Tata Nexon EV Review
Car Tested: Tata Nexon EV; Road Test No. 1161; Test Location: Pune
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 16.12 – 18.40 lakhs
Tata’s first mass-market electric car, the Nexon EV delivers on its promise of being extremely practical and feature-loaded
This is not the first electric vehicle from Tata Motors. The Indian carmaker launched the Tigor EV last year which is made for the fleet operators and government officials. However, they have now decided to expand their electric car audience to the private buyers with the Nexon EV. It is based on the facelifted version of the compact SUV and is expected to be priced at Rs. 15-17 lakhs (ex-showroom). We find out if this mass-market electric vehicle manages to attract attention and churn out substantial volumes in the Indian market, which is getting ready for the electric future gradually.
The Nexon EV gets a new front profile along with blue accents all-around
Exteriors – The Nexon EV comes in a facelifted avatar with some exclusive styling elements for the EV. The front profile is now more upright and sharp compared to the rounded styling of the pre-facelift version. The headlights are sleek with integrated LED DRLs and the bonnet gets a power bulge. The bumpers have been revised and there is a new grille which looks neat. The front design is pedestrian safety compliant. The side profile of the Nexon EV remains more or less the same apart from the EV badge on the front fender and new 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear also gets mild revisions in the form of revised tail lights and bumper. The EV specific blue accents can be seen on the front air dam, shoulder line and on the boot. The overall styling looks quite appealing, especially with the new front profile.
The cabin of the Nexon EV gets blue accents and better quality materials
Interiors – The interiors of the Nexon also comes with minor changes compared to the pre-facelift car. It gets a new steering wheel borrowed from the Tata Altroz with steering mounted controls for the infotainment system as well as the MID in the instrument cluster. There is a semi-digital instrument cluster wherein it comes with an analogue speedometer and a digital 7-inch display. It shows all the vital information such as the power, eco and regen meter which depends on the accelerator and brake inputs. It also shows info about the battery percentage and range available. There is a live energy row infographic of the power going to the wheels and regeneration from the wheels to the battery. It also shows the direction of the wheels when the car is parked. There is a ton of info available along with the standard time, temperature, ODO, trip readings, etc.
The Nexon EV comes loaded with a lot of equipment and features
Apart from the new steering wheel and a new semi-digital instrument cluster, the cabin is identical to the regular Nexon
The dashboard design remains the same but there are new materials and colours used in the cabin along with EV specific blue accents. The 7-inch infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It gets Harman audio system and the sound quality is quite nice. The touchscreen could’ve been more smooth and fluid to operate. The rear parking camera is available with dynamic guidelines, which is very convenient but the quality of the camera is just average. Some of the key features include fully automatic climate control system, keyless entry and push-button start, fog lamps with cornering ability, wearable key, electric sunroof, automatic headlamps and automatic rain-sensing wipers.
The flat floor allows three people to seat comfortably in the rear seats
The space and comfort are exactly the same as the regular Nexon. The front seats are well cushioned and supportive. The driving position is confidence inspiring too but the steering wheel should have got telescopic adjust, it only gets tilt adjust. The rear seat offers good legroom and headroom while shoulder room is a bit tight for three passengers sitting abreast. However, there is a good amount of comfort. Even though the battery is placed under the floor, the floor height has not increased. The boot space is accommodating too having 350-litres of capacity.
The ZConnect app unlocks a ton of additional functionality for your Nexon
Tata’s ZConnect app allows one to monitor, control and diagnose various functions of their Nexon EV
The Tata Nexon EV is a connected car and you can operate 35 connected car features using the ZConnect app. It comes with features like remote monitoring charge levels, range, charging history, nearby charging stations, etc. Remote commands like remote lock/unlock, lamp control and horn activation are available. You can also switch on the AC and pre-cool the car through the app. It also shows a detailed diagnostic report, location-based services like navigation, a list of charging stations on your route. You can share live location with friends and family. Tata Nexon EV customers will get preferential access to more than 300 charging stations in major metros in India, they have a tie-up with Tata Power. The ZConnect has alerts for vehicle health and safety. You can even set pre-determined custom speed, geo-fencing or time-fence limits. If these get breached, you get a notification. The app analyses driving behaviour and gives a scorecard at the end of every trip. It also shows insights of harsh braking, harsh acceleration and average speed. Customers can share their scorecards with other Nexon EV owners through an in-built community called Tribes.
The Nexon EV comes with two driving modes and regenerative braking
Performance – The Tata Nexon EV comes with a 3-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor along with a 30.2 kWh battery which is placed below the floor. The motor and battery are IP67 rated. The Nexon EV produces 129 PS and 245 Nm and 0-100 km/hr comes up in a claimed 9.9 seconds. With EVs, you get instantaneous torque delivery and there is no lag whatsoever. The Nexon too feels very responsive to drive and it actually packs in a decent amount of punch. The car comes with Drive and Sport modes and the difference between both the modes is humongous. The Drive mode feels better suited for day to day usage because power delivery feels relaxed and linear while Sport mode is quite aggressive and results in a lot of wheel spin too.
A DC fast charger can charge the Nexon EV from 0 to 100% in an hour
The electric motor is very responsive and offers instant power delivery, especially in Sport mode
Overtaking other vehicles on the highway is a breeze and Sport mode does offer a lot of fun too. Obviously, the range drops when you drive the car hard. The Nexon has a claimed range of 312 kms but I feel the real-world range will hover between 240-260 kms. A lot depends on the driving style and traffic conditions. The vehicle has regenerative braking and you definitely need to tweak your driving style a bit if you’re coming from ICE cars to EVs. A regular charger comes bundled with the car and it can charge the battery from 20% to 100% in about 8 hours from any 15 Amp socket while a DC fast charger can take the battery from 0% to 80% in roughly 60 mins. Tata Motors has also tied up with Tata Power to set up EV charging stations across major metros. Around 28-29 units of electricity are consumed to charge the battery and hence a full charge would cost somewhere between Rs. 260-300/-.
The Nexon EV comes with a feedback-rich steering & excellent ride quality
Driving Dynamics – The regular Nexon is known for its quality and steering feel and the EV isn’t too different. It still offers a very good steering feel. The steering is light enough to drive in the city and starts weighing up nicely as you go higher up on the speedometer. The steering also offers a fair amount of feedback. In terms of ride quality, the suspension feels very tough for our roads and can take a good amount of abuse. The ride is exceptionally good but kind of feels a tad bit stiffer than the regular Nexon. The suspension does a brilliant job of soaking up the potholes and the car does feel very composed all the time. High-speed stability is also brilliant and while there is some amount of body roll, it is well-controlled. Tata engineers have also reduced the centre of gravity by 40 mm in this version. The brakes do their job nicely too offering good stopping power.
Tata has tested the battery extensively and offers an 8-year warranty
Safety and After Sales Service – The Tata Nexon EV comes with ABS, EBD, cornering stability control and dual front airbags as standard across all variants. The battery is IP67 rated and has a liquid-cooled thermal management that keeps the battery temperature between 25 degrees to 35 degrees. Tata Motors has conducted a nail penetration test, crush test, fire pond test, overcharge protection test, shock protection test and short protection test with the battery. The service interval of the Nexon EV will be of 6 months and no major servicing is required apart from checking the parameters of the powertrain. Tata Motors will provide roadside assistance if the battery drains out. The battery warranty offered is 8 years/1,60,000 km.
The Nexon EV is the most practical and affordable electric car
Verdict – The Tata Nexon EV is a practical yet affordable EV one can buy in today’s electric vehicle scenario in India. The performance of the car is quite impressive and even the range on offer is very practical for day to day city usage. There is no compromise in comfort and convenience as the Nexon EV is loaded with enough features and offers decent comfort for 5 passengers with good luggage space too. Yes, the range anxiety will be there but as the electric car ecosystem improves gradually in India, it should get more convenient in the near future. The Nexon EV seems like a value for money offering in the electric car space and if the Indian audience builds trust in EVs, we believe it will speak volumes for the compact SUV.
The semi-digital instrument cluster shows a plethora of information
What’s Cool
* Striking and smart design
* Feature-loaded interior with lots of connected car features
* Responsive electric motor with decent range
* Superb ride quality and steering feel
* Battery comes with an 8-year warranty
What’s Not So Cool
* Infotainment system could have been more responsive
* Quality of rearview camera could have been better
* Steering misses out on telescopic adjust
Alternatives: – MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona
The 350-litre boot is adequately spacious but there’s no trunk at the front
Tata Nexon EV Specifications
* Engine: 30.2 kWh Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
* Power: 129 PS
* Torque: 245 Nm
* Range: 312 km
* 0-100 km/hr: 9.9 seconds
* Transmission: Single-Speed AT
* Fuel Type: Electric
* Tyre Size: 215/60/16 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD
Tata Nexon EV Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3994 mm X 1811 mm X 1607 mm
* Wheelbase: 2498 mm
* Ground Clearance: 205 mm
* Boot Space: 350 litres
* Turning Radius: 5.1-metres
* Kerb Weight: 1400 kgs
The Nexon EV will decide India’s electric future
Further Reading –
Tata Nexon EV Video Review
2017 Tata Nexon Review
2017 Tata Nexon Video Review
Tata Nexon Pros & Cons – Video
Tata Nexon Long Term Review – First Report
Tata Nexon Long Term Review – Second Report
Tata Nexon vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Ford EcoSport – Video Shootout
2017 Ford EcoSport vs Tata Nexon – Video Comparison
Tata Nexon vs Maruti Vitara Brezza – Video Comparison
Tata Nexon vs Maruti Vitara Brezza – Shootout
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