Tata Nexon EV

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Tata Nexon EV is a fully electric version of the facelifted Nexon installed with Ziptron electric power-train tech and was debuted in the country in December 2019. In August 2020, Tata launched a subscription plan for the Nexon EV. In 2020, the Nexon EV was reported to be the best-selling electric vehicle in India. Tata is offering it a high voltage system and fast charging facility with extended battery life and other safety features. Let’s dive in to know the Nexon EV in detail.

Tata Nexon EV Design and Style

Based on the facelift version of the Nexon, you might see a lot of it when looking at the new Tata Nexon EV, but there are still some tweaks that are added by the homegrown automaker. Tata Nexon EV has a flatter bonnet and sharper styling for halogen projector headlamps. The side looks classy with the 16-inch alloy wheels that look striking as they move. The new LED tail lights have a red-coloured treatment that might remind you of a comic hero. Dimensions remain the same for the most part except for the 4mm minor drop in ground clearance in the Tata Nexon EV. The design might not differ greatly from the standard Nexon but there are some added styling tweaks particularly the fog lamp, front grille and rear gets a touch of blue highlights to make the Nexon EV more distinctive. The Ziptron and EV badges at the rear denote the transformation of the fuel run machine into an electrical powerhouse.

Tata Nexon EV Engine and Gearbox

The heart of the new Nexon EV houses a Zero tailpipe emission, permanent magnet synchronous motor, liquid-cooled thermal management system, and electric drivetrain that generates a max power of 129 HP and a max torque of 245 Nm. They coupled the motor with a single-speed transmission for Automatic Like Drive which features multi-drive modes (Drive & Sport). The IP67 30.2 kWh Li-ion battery will take 8 hours to charge from 20% to 100% with a 3.3 kW AC home charger and 60 minutes to charge 0 to 80% with a DC fast charger. The claimed range of the car is 312 km but it is no simple task to bring down the battery to 0, realistically with a low battery percentage, you should at least have 30-40 minutes of drive left.

Tata Nexon EV Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

The independent MacPherson strut handles the suspension duties of the new Tata Nexon EV with coil spring in the front and twist-beam with dual path strut in the rear. The Nexon EV front brakes are disc while the rear brakes installed are drum and the smart regenerating braking system aids it. As for the wheels, it has diamond-cut 16-inch alloy wheels with front and rear tyre sections of 215/60 LRR.

Interior and Instrument Console of Tata Nexon EV

The interior receives minor changes as well, the dashboard’s plastic panel is black finished, they highlighted the cabin with the EV’s trademark blue, which makes the cabin look even cooler than before. The touchscreen infotainment system by HarmanTM, push-button start, auto AC and rear AC remain the same as in the Tata Nexon. Auto headlamps, auto wipers and white leatherette upholstery are some of the fresh additions to the EV, and it also gets a sunroof as well. A 7-inch screen displays information like range, charge, energy flow histogram, etc. It comes with the Z-Connect app that enables you to get your EV data to be displayed on the smartphone and also provides functions like AC control, door lock management, setting up a geo-fence or track/immobilise your Nexon remotely. The cabin is very comfortable and can house four adults with generously cushioned seats. The boot space of 350 litres stays unaffected by placing the battery pack.

Key Features of Tata Nexon EV

2023 Tata Nexon EV is a feature-rich addition to the Tata portfolio and includes ABS, EBD, CSC, driver & co-driver airbags, child-safety rear door locks, ISOFIX anchorage, roof rails, dual-tone roof, automatic temperature control, smart key with push-button start, power windows, electric tailgate release, tri-arrow themed interior, flat-bottom steering wheel, ConnectNext 7-inch floating dash-top touchscreen infotainment by Harman, 8 speaker system, AM/FM with RDS, Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted audio, phone and voice controls, diamond-cut alloy wheels, electric sunroof with tilt function, rain-sensing wipers and 35 smart features with Tata Z-Connect App.

Performance, Top Speed and Range of Tata Nexon EV

In terms of performance the new Tata Nexon can speed up from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and 0 to 60 km/h in 4.6 seconds, with instant availability of 245 Nm torque and a 60% increase in the peak torque in Sport Mode. The top speed of the Tata Nexon EV is around 120 km/h and the range is claimed to be around 312 km with 8 years or 1.6 lakh km battery and motor warranty.

Tata Nexon EV Colour Options

Tata is offering 2023 Nexon EV in six different colours; Glacier White, Signature Teal Blue, Pristine White, Intensi-Teal, Midnight Black, and Daytona Grey.

Tata Nexon EV Competitors

There are few rivals for the new Tata Nexon EV as there are not many pure electric power-train cars in the Indian market. Hyundai Kona and MG ZS EV along with the Tata Nexon EV Max are some similar cars that can hold their ground with the Tata Nexon EV.

Conclusion

2023 Tata Nexon EV offers a lot of features and is a powerful electrically driven machine, although the 312 km range seems unachievable with a little patience one can easily reach 200-250 km on a full charge. The Nexon EV is very well designed and has safety features adopted from the Nexon variant. GNCAP has not tested the EV model, but if the fuel-driven model can be the testament, then surely it has to be of the same safety standard, if not better. The major limitation that one might find in the Nexon EV is that it is not built for the highways, easy to handle at its max speed, but it will lose its range quickly. If you’re looking to transition into an EV car and wish to drive through cities without the constant need to rush through wind, then this could be a good option to start your EV journey.