Nissan Tekton

We spent four days and close to 700 kilometres with the Nissan Tekton, driving it across some of the most demanding terrain in the country. From Chandigarh up through Manali, over the Shinku La pass, into Zanskar and on to Leh. Having spent most of time inside the car, getting to know it better, it left me clear answers to two questions most buyers are likely to ask.

First: is the Tekton worth buying? Yes. The package is fundamentally sorted and leaves very little room for complaints. Read here in our launch story to understand what it offers.

Second: is it very different from the Renault Duster? No. Save for the visual package, the product is identical. You’re simply choosing between whatever you like looking at.

What Nissan has done, however, is give the Duster’s capable package a more premium, more distinctive personality. It will have to stand out, because the competition it’s up against has some heavy hitters. Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Victoris, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Tata Curvv, Tata Sierra, MG Astor, Honda Elevate all bring something unique to the table. 

In this review I will walk through everything you get, where it shines and where it falls a little short, so you can decide whether it deserves a place on your shortlist.

This is where I think the Tekton pulls ahead of its Duster twin. The overall shape and footprint are identical, but the detailing feels a notch classier and more upmarket. Nissan has made changes only to the ‘soft panels’, meaning only the bumpers and lights have visual differences. All the metal panels, including the doors, tailgate and roof are identical to it Renault sibling. 

Nissan has made a sincere attempt to connect the Tekton to its global SUV lineage, particularly the Nissan Patrol. The wide grille, and sharp DRLs give the Tekton a confident stance. A small bit of differentiation: the twin strips on the grille are finished in red if you pick the larger engine. The rest of the design is clean and fuss-free, with a chunky bumper with a large skid plate and a muscular bonnet that gives the Tekton solid road presence.

From the side, you see the Tekton’s raised stance, with a flat and tall-set bonnet . The top-end variants ride on 18-inch wheels, which fill the arches well. Lower variants get 17-inch wheels which look size appropriate too.

There are two small touches that complete the picture: a T160 or T280 badge on the fender that tells you which engine sits under the bonnet, and a subtle Himalayan-inspired motif on the door. 

The rear has today’s basics done right, connected lighting, LED elements and the model name spelled out on the tail gate. A large rear bumper and skid plate round it off quite well. 

Colour options on the Nissan Tekton include (explore the colours each variant comes in here): Pearl White, Flare Garnet Red, Indigo Blue, Blade Silver, Moonbow Gray, and Onyx Black. In the top-spec Tekna+ variant, all colour options are available with a dual-tone scheme as well, paired with a black roof.

Overall, the Tekton’s design comes across as macho, premium and classy in the right measure. It is a design that should age well. Click here and you will be redirected to our image gallery, where you can decode the design of Tekton in images.

Design and Quality

The cabin has a clearly driver-focused layout. The twin displays are angled towards the driver to create a sporty, cockpit-like feel, but Nissan has balanced that sportiness with some genuinely premium touches and clever use of colour. Depending on the variant you get a few interior colour themes, including a neutral beige-black and a sporty all-black theme. However, the one that really stands out mixes purple with light beige and golden-bronze accents. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it is unmistakably unique and it lifts the whole cabin.

Material quality is of the rough-and-tough variety, rather than the absolute best in the segment. The plastics are hard, and while Nissan has offered different textures I feel the quality could have been better in places. It will not feel as rich and premium as a Seltos or a Sierra, but the overall fitment is consistent and feels like it's built-to-last.

Front Seats

The front seats are wide and accommodating — if you are on the larger side, you will be perfectly comfortable here. There’s adequate support for the shoulder and lower back and the thick side bolsters hold you in place well too. I liked that the cushioning is on the firmer side. Even on days where I spent over 5 hours in the driver’s seat, I didn’t feel tired nor did I have aches or pains. 

Both seats can be adjusted electrically (no memory function, sadly), and have manual lumbar adjustment.

Dialling in a good driving position is quick and easy. Even with the seat dropped to its lowest setting, the position is tall and high, giving you a full view of the bonnet. If the Tekton is your first large SUV, that clear sense of the car’s edges will make you feel at home right away.

Rear Seats

Rear space is adequate rather than best-in-class. With the driver’s seat set for my 5’11” hefty frame, I had no issues with foot room, underthigh support and headroom. My knees just about grazed the front seats, but in no manner was I uncomfortable. I could very easily spend a few hours here if needed. Do note that the seatback is set slightly upright, a slight recline would have felt more comfortable for longer journeys. 

Also, the cabin isn’t particularly wide, making seating three in the rear a squeeze. Slim occupants might still manage, but the heavy contours on the seat for the outboard occupants takes away the comfort for anyone sitting in the middle. The central tunnel also takes away footroom. I would treat the Tekton as a very comfortable four-seater. Used that way, you also get to enjoy the central armrest.

For families who do occasionally carry a fifth passenger, it is reassuring that the centre position gets a proper three-point seatbelt and a headrest. The one thing I missed back here was a rear sunblind. Otherwise, for a small family, the rear-seat experience is good — not the roomiest in the segment, but perfectly comfortable.

Practicality and Charging Options

Up front, the door pads are on the smaller side, so you’re forced to use smaller bottles to squeeze the larger ones in.

There’s more storage with the deep glovebox, central tunnel, front armrest storage and twin cupholders. If you pick the automatic, you get better space in the floor console up front.

Practicality holds up well in the second row. The rear door pads comfortably swallow one-litre bottles, there are seatback pockets behind the front seats, and the armrest adds a couple of cupholders and a phone holder. 

On the charging front, there is a 12V socket up front along with two Type-C USB ports for the front occupants.

Rear passengers get their own pair of Type-C USB ports, so devices stay topped up on long drives. Between the front and rear, storage and charging are genuinely well sorted throughout the cabin.

Boot Space

The boot is one of Tekton's highlights: you get 700 litres measured up to the roof, and 518-litres up to the parcel tray. In real terms that means two to three large suitcases go in easily, or four to five cabin-sized trolleys with room to spare. Just as importantly, the boot floor is flat, and the space is wide and deep making this one of the best bootspaces in the class.

The rear seats split 60:40 to free up extra room, and there is a power tailgate to make loading effortless — though there is no gesture-open function.

Nissan has left very little off the equipment list. The segment staples have been covered comprehensively. They include: 

• Passive Keyless Entry

• Push-button Start/Stop

• Auto Up/Down For All Four Windows

• Automatic Headlamps

• Automatic Wipers

• Auto-dimming IRVM

• Panoramic Sunroof

• Front Seat Ventilation

• Wireless Charging

• Powered Tailgate

Infotainment duties are handled by a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has great graphics, a crisp resolution and an easy to understand tab-like interface. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well. That said, since the screen runs Google natively, you might not need to connect your phone to the system at all. You have access to the PlayStore, which means Google Maps, Spotify etc. can run directly on the infotainment. Nissan has also unlocked AI-assistance in the vehicle, giving you access to Gemini on the go. 

I liked that the volume up and down keys sit along the top of the screen, within easy reach of the front passenger too.

The screen is paired with a six-speaker system; the audio quality is not particularly impressive. If you enjoy good quality music, an upgrade is recommended. 

A 10.25-inch screen serves as the digital instrument cluster (lower variants get a 7-inch display).

This screen has a minimal interface and multiple views including a full-screen Google Maps view. It can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel. 

The Tekton also features a 360-degree camera, but this is a weak spot. The feed looks a little low-res, there is some lag and the occasional frame drop. Output in low light is strictly average, the rivals do a much better job. 

Safety features on the Nissan Tekton include

• Six Airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Electronic Stability Control

• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts

• Level 2 ADAS

Safety is strong right from the base variant. The Tekton carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating and comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control and a tyre-pressure monitoring system as standard fitment on the safety front.

The top variant adds ADAS. The suite is not as extensive as what you get in a Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, but the features it does have including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and autonomous emergency braking are genuinely useful. The calibration is not intrusive either.

Engine and Performance

The Tekton is offered with two turbo-petrol engines: a 1.0-litre turbo and a 1.3-litre turbo. Here’s a quick look at the specifications:  

Do not miss our guide, if you want to know which variant gets what powertrain option. 

Nissan Tekton 1.0 Turbo Review

Do not be put off by the 1.0-litre badge. Performance in the same ballpark as the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine options you get in the Creta, Seltos and Grand Vitara. The power output is similar but there’s more torque available. Nissan claims a 0-100kmph time of 12.46 seconds, which points towards the rather relaxed nature of this engine. 

The manual itself is well judged: the clutch is light, the throw and travel are fine, and shifts are smooth. The one thing to keep in mind is that you have to stay in the right gear for the right speed. Where a larger engine might let you drive along in third gear at 20 km/h, this one prefers a downshift. On inclines too, I found myself downshifting to first gear. Make no mistake, the performance is there, you just have to be in the correct gear to extract it. 

On the highway it cruises comfortably at 80–120 km/h. However, overtaking here too will require a downshift. As a relaxed cruiser, the 1.0-litre turbo does the job completely, and it will cover 99% of what most buyers need.

From a fuel efficiency standpoint, you can expect 12-14kmpl in city conditions, and 16-18kmpl on the highway. Claimed fuel efficiency for the 1.0 Turbo engine is rated at 19.54kmpl. 

Nissan Tekton 1.3 Turbo Review

If you love driving and want more punch, the 1.3-litre turbo is the answer. It is the same engine we have enjoyed in the Duster, with all the same fun-to-drive character. It’s an engine that genuinely encourages you to drive hard. 0-100kmph is dealt with in under 10 seconds, 9.51 seconds for the manual and 9.89 seconds for the DCT as claimed by Nissan. It feels genuinely quick and eager from behind the wheel too. 

Despite being a four-cylinder motor, the engine has some vibrations and a rather pleasant thrummy engine note. The turbo lag on the engine is noticeable under 2000rpm. This will feel prominent in the manual where you’ll be forced to shuffle between first and second gear often. The heavy clutch and gear throws will take some time getting used to as well. The pick with the larger engine is the quick DCT. It’s not as smooth as Volkswagen’s DSG, and it feels a little confused at lower speeds, but it gets the job done brilliantly. A little more polish in its operation would better the overall experience. 

While Nissan claims a fuel efficiency of 17.8kmpl (MT) and 18.5kmpl (DCT) for this engine, you can expect 10-12kmpl in the city and 14-16kmpl on the highway. 

My advice: if your driving is roughly 70% city and 30% highway, the 1.0-litre turbo is all you need. However, if the use case is flipped with 70% highway and 30% city, step up to the 1.3-litre turbo. The one genuine gap in the line-up is a proper automatic with the smaller engine. Nissan already pairs a 1.0-litre turbo with a CVT in the Magnite, and that combination is reportedly under consideration for the Tekton: it would round out the range nicely.

Ride & Handling

The Tekton’s platform and suspension were developed jointly by Renault and Nissan, and it shows. I have no hesitation in calling this one of the most comfortable small SUVs you can buy. Good road or bad, very little of it makes its way into the cabin — the suspension soaks up broken surfaces with minimal body movement, and it does so quietly, so there is little of the thudding and crashing you sometimes get on rough roads.

212mm of ground clearance means you can genuinely not think twice before driving it over bad roads. 

On the highway I really liked its stability. At 100 or 120kmph, wherever the limits allowed, it stays rock steady. It's exactly what you’d appreciate for long family road trips, and it inspires real confidence. 

There’s a good deal of driving pleasure to be extracted too. The Tekton turns in quickly and is happy to hold its line even when pushed hard into a corner. Body roll isn’t excessive and there’s impressive grip that gives you the confidence to explore the limits of the car. 

The Nissan Tekton is available in a total of seven variants (click here to explore each one in detail): Visia, Visia Plus, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna Plus. 

The Tekton is critical for Nissan. With the package they’ve delivered Nissan has solidified its intention to stay, understand this market and bring products that people actually want to put their money on.

As a package, there are no major flaws here. Yes, the interior quality could have been a shade better, and you do not get the big-car sense of occasion that a Creta or Seltos offers. But if you want an SUV with real road presence, one that is genuinely fun to drive and stays comfortable over a variety of surfaces — all backed by Nissan’s brand and legacy — the Tekton absolutely deserves a place on your list. 

Other Options To Consider

Renault Duster

Reasons To Consider (Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster comparison)

• Minor extra features over the Tekton
• Wider sales and service network

Reasons To Ignore

• Darker interior does not feel as airy
• 1-litre engine not available in top-end

Kia Seltos (Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Bigger size

• Feels more premium

• Option of a diesel engine

Reasons To Ignore

• More expensive

• Not so rugged looking

Hyundai Creta (Nissan Tekton vs Hyundai Creta comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Gets a more premium cabin

• Has an option of a diesel engine

Reasons To Ignore

• Top-spec crosses Rs 20 lakh

• Polarising design splits opinions

Tata Sierra (Nissan Tekton vs Tata Sierra Comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Gets a diesel engine

• More features including triple screens

Reasons To Ignore

• Significantly more expensive

• Screens are prone to glitches

Maruti Victoris (Nissan Tekton vs Maruti Victoris comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Comes with AWD and a strong hybrid powertrain

• Similar features that work well

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as powerful

• Cabin quality is not so premium

Maruti Grand Vitara (Nissan Tekton vs Maruti Grand Vitara comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Multiple powertrain options include hybrid and AWD

• Fuel efficient NA petrol and hybrid

Reasons To Ignore 

• Interior quality is not its strong forte

Note: These reasons are also applicable to the Toyota Hyryder (Nissan Tekton vs Toyota Hyryder comparison)

Honda Elevate (Nissan Tekton vs Honda Elevate comparison)

Reasons To Consider 

• Refined petrol engine

• Comfortable ride quality 

• Good interior quality

Reasons To Ignore 

• Performance with a full-load is not the best

• Misses out on niceties

MG Astor (Nissan Tekton vs MG Astor comparison)

Reasons To Consider

• Premium interior

• Top variant is significantly more affordable 

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as fun to drive

• Misses feel-good features like ventilated seats

Volkswagen Taigun (Nissan Tekton vs VW Taigun compared)

Reasons To Consider 

• A fun to drive alternative 

• Sporty looking design 

Reasons To Avoid 

• Cabin best suited for 4 adults 

• A size smaller than the Tekton

Skoda Kushaq (Nissan Tekton vs Skoda Kushaq compared)

Reasons To Consider 

• Sophisticated elegant-looking design

• Great alternative for those who love to drive

Reasons To Avoid

• Smaller in size 

• Rear seats best for two occupants