Tata Nexon EV

It’s amazing how Tata’s managed to give the Nexon a brand new personality for 2020, even though the cosmetic tweaks introduced are minor. Oh yes, the Nexon is a more mature and handsome looking SUV. In fact, we’d go so far as to say it’s the best looking sub-4 metre SUV today! The flatter bonnet and sharper styling for the halogen projector headlamps make it look like a downsized Range Rover Evoque.

The side profile reveals a classier set of 16-inch alloy wheels that look particularly striking on the move. But the rear? Well, it sure looks more unique but to truly appreciate the Spider-Man-eyes-like treatment the new LED tail lights receive, you have to check out the Nexon EV at night!

Interestingly, even with all these changes, the dimensions remain unaffected by even a millimetre. However, the ground clearance in the Nexon EV does see a minor 4mm drop (due to the floor pan integrated battery pack). Still with 205mm of clearance, it’s hardly low-slung.

But can you tell the Nexon EV apart from the standard Nexon? In design, no. However, the fog lamps, front grilles, shoulder line and even rear get a healthy dose of blue highlights to make the EV more distinctive. Of course, there’s also a Ziptron badge at the rear aside from the ‘EV’ badges all around to denote the electric vehicle technology that powers this SUV.

Inside, Tata has yet again introduced minor changes to give the cabin a new flavour. The dashboard’s plastic panel is now finished in black. Contrasted by the Nexon EV’s blue highlights, it does make the cabin feel better than before. We also found the materials used feel a tad better to the touch, though the XUV300 and Venue still feel slightly better when it comes to trim quality.

Most of the cabin remains unchanged which means you still get features like auto AC, rear AC vents, push-button start and 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. What’s new is the addition of goodies like auto headlamps, auto wipers & white leatherette upholstery. Oh yes, the Nexon EV has a sunroof too.

Additionally, both the steering wheel and instrument cluster are now shared with the Tata Altroz. So, the driver information system is now a 7-inch screen. By the way, all your electric powertrain related data (range, charge, energy flow animation and power flow histogram) is displayed here.

Is that all? Nope. The Nexon EV also gets connected car tech. Through the ZConnect app, you can now view car health data, control the air conditioner, manage the door locks, set up a geo-fence or even track/immobilise your Nexon remotely.

Tech aside, the experience in the Nexon is familiar. It’s still a very comfortable cabin to seat four adults, with generously cushioned seats pleasing your lazy side. Nope, the battery pack hasn’t raised the cabin’s entry point so ingress is still easy as before. Yes, even the 350-litre boot space stays unaffected, so there’s no trade-off in practicality or usability vs the Nexon you’re familiar with. 

Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX are offered as standard in the Nexon EV. It also features hill-hold and hill-descent assist and gets features like cornering fog lamps, rear parking sensors and a rear camera. While the standard Nexon gets a 5-star rating for safety from Global NCAP, the Nexon EV receives some structural reinforcements up front and will undergo a crash test independent from the standard Nexon. Tata is expecting another 5-star result here too.  

The Tigor EV is something of a starting point for Tata’s mainstream electric vehicle range but it doesn’t make EVs desirable. Not the case with the Nexon EV. It’s based on a different EV architecture and has a healthy 129PS/245Nm available. Even at 80-100kmph, you’re in the Eco zone of the graph and it feels as relaxed at 100kmph as it does at 30kmph. 

The Nexon EV is everything we’d hoped it would be to drive. Smooth? Sure. Silent? Of course, but what really stands out is its usability. The relationship between throttle dialed in and speed gained is very direct. Above all else, the torque delivery, while instant, is very easy to manage even for someone who has never driven an electric car before. Combine that with a single speed automatic transmission and your drive experience is as hassle free as can be. Interestingly, the gear selector is a dial, similar to the one used to select the drive modes in the petrol/diesel Nexon.

Cruising or overtaking, be it in the city or the highway, is extremely easy. The behaviour is, simply put, intuitive, as long as you’re using the standard D (Drive) mode. Slip it into Sport and it can be a bit of a handful. Here, the throttle response is more sensitive and you can find yourself getting on the brakes quicker since the car accelerates more impatiently. Even on the highway, this mode isn’t something you need, just something that you can engage, to get a more exciting experience.

Of course, that is the mode we used for our 0-100kmph tests! Tata claims a 0-100kmph time of 9.9 seconds. With our VBOX connected, we actually managed a recorded time of 9.48 seconds. And that’s with two people and some luggage on board. So while we can’t officially declare this as our final tested 0-100kmph time, it certainly gives us ample reason to be optimistic. That said, there is a catch. To preserve the battery’s life as well as range, the top speed is limited to 120kmph. So while it’ll reach 120kmph with ease, it cannot go any further. That said, you can sit at 120kmph all day long as the Nexon EV doesn’t feel stressed at that speed. 

Charging

• Option 1: DC fast charging which takes 1 hour to charge the battery from 0-80 per cent. Our test showed us that dropping the battery to 0 is no easy task, so with some charge left over, realistically you should be looking at a time of 30-40mins.

• Option 2: AC home charging (3.3kW charger) which takes 8 hours for a 20 per cent to 100 per cent charge.

The Nexon EV is a package that makes a lot of sense. While the claimed range of 312km may be hard to reach, driving with even a little patience should get you 200-250km of range on a full charge. It’s also an SUV that combines refreshingly sharp styling with performance that’s always usable and exciting when you want it to be.

To top it off, the Nexon EV is just as family friendly as the petrol/diesel Nexon and presents itself as a very good all rounder when it comes to daily usability. The main limitation it has is highway usage: It’s very easy to drive at high speeds but will lose range quite quickly.