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The 1.2-litre Revotron engine makes more punch in the JTP cars than the Nexon

Performance – Enough of exteriors and interiors, we’re here for performance so let’s get to the heart of the matter. Under the hood of the JTP siblings is the same 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, Revotron turbo petrol engine that also powers the petrol variant of the Nexon. However, it produces more power here and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox unlike the 6-speed unit found on the Nexon. Delivering 114 PS at 5500 RPM and 150 Nm at 4500 RPM, this engine offers good performance. Low-end is just about decent but it is the mid-range where this engine shines and it delivers power seamlessly right up to the redline. The clutch is on the lighter side while the gearshifts are slightly notchy though far from rough.

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Both the cars get similar power figures, yet the Tiago feels punchier

There is a considerable amount of difference in performance between the City and Sport modes

0-100 km/hr comes up in 9.95 seconds and 10.38 seconds in the Tiago and Tigor respectively. The engine is refined for most part but gets vocal at higher RPMs. 100 km/hr in 5th gear comes up at a notch above 2600 RPM. After driving both the cars back to back, I could feel a bit more pronounced lag under 2000 RPM in my Tigor test car compared to the Tiago. There are 2 driving modes on offer – City and Sport. Sport mode makes the engine feel more responsive while in City mode, performance is reduced in the interest of fuel efficiency. Talking about fuel efficiency, don’t expect anything more than 10-12 km/l. The Tiago being lighter than the Tigor by 35 kgs feels a bit more peppier to drive.

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The JTP siblings get well-balanced driving dynamics

Driving Dynamics – The steering of both the cars is pretty much direct and offers decent feedback too. The Tiago and Tigor have always been known for their good ride quality, the suspension on the JTP versions has been retuned and made stiffer but it is far from uncomfortable and still offers a pliant ride on most road surfaces. Ground clearance has been reduced to 166 mm and this coupled with the stiff suspension helps improve the composure of these cars while cornering as well as on the straights at speeds above the ton. Braking performance has also improved compared to the regular variants and so has the grip from the tyres because these cars come with 185 section Apollo Alnac rubber.