2017 Tata Nexon Review
Car Tested: 2017 Tata Nexon; Road Test No. 845; Test Location: Kochi
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 7.5 – 10.5 lakhs (Est.)
Tata Motors’ offering in the compact SUV segment has impressed us very much
Tata Motors has launched some cars in the past couple of years that have made everyone sit up and take notice. The Tiago, Tigor and Hexa are impressive products and the Nexon that we have here today is the 4th offering from Tata, that follows the IMPACT design philosophy. The Nexon is slotted in the compact SUV segment, rivalling the Maruti Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport. So without wasting time, let’s go and have a look at what the Nexon offers.
Motor Quest: The Tata Nexon was first showcased as a concept at the 2014 Auto Expo. It garnered a lot of attention from people and the company then went on to showcase the production version of the car at the 2016 Auto Expo and later at the Geneva Motor Show.
The funky styling of the Nexon looks very catchy
Exteriors – The styling of the Tata Nexon is pleasant. The front fascia looks attractive and the smart looking headlamps are flanked by a large grille. The centre part of the front bumper has been blackened to hide some of the bulk while the fog lamps get a unique dual tone housing. The side profile reveals the compact dimensions of the car and the design feels sporty. The design of the alloy wheels is youthful and the compact SUV gets 16-inch tyres. The rear looks radical and the smart diamond-shaped tail lights are connected by a white strip while the windscreen is rather small in size. The car also gets a dual tone paint scheme. Overall, the Nexon definitely looks attractive and it doesn’t feel boring or bland.
A very good design has been given to the dashboard
Interiors – The dashboard of the Tata Nexon is designed keeping practicality and ease-of-use in mind. The steering wheel feels good to hold and comes with controls for audio and phone. The centre console gets a floating 6.5-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto. You get other features like climate control, 8-speakers for the Harman Sound System, voice commands, 2 airbags and rear AC vents. A lot of parts on the inside have been borrowed from other Tata cars. The Nexon also gets a wearable key which can be useful when you go for jogs.
The seats offered on the Nexon are best-in-class
Tata has struck the right chord with the large & comfy seats better than rivals
The AC is excellent and even at blower speed 1, the throw of the air is extremely good. The doors open wide and the seats are set at a height, allowing easy ingress and egress. The front seats feel comfortable with good support for the lower back and under thigh. At the rear, it might get a bit difficult to fit 3 people, but nonetheless, both knee room and head space are very good. The front windows are large but the rear windows are set high up and there is no quarter panel, thus making short passengers feel claustrophobic. The cabin is also very practical with a number of storage spaces, including one in the centre console that has been inspired by premium cars. The boot is well-shaped and you can fold the rear seats flat to get a cargo capacity of 690-litres. Quality on the inside is good for most part but certain areas feel a bit cheap.
Two engines being offered – 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel
Performance – The Tata Nexon is offered with both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, Revotron unit churning out 110 horses and 170 Nm. It is a new engine with an aluminium block unlike the Zest which had an iron block. I was really looking forward to testing this engine but came out disappointed. The first thing that I noticed while driving in the city is that it lacks low-end power and the car just feels too unresponsive at the lower RPM spectrum. In fact, drivability in the city is so poor that you get tired revving and downshifting the car all the time. It is only after 2500 RPM that you feel some sort of power and that increases post 3500 RPM, with most of the action saved for the higher RPMs.
The petrol engine is a let down in power delivery
Both the engines get 3 driving modes – Eco, City & Sport, no AMT on offer
On the highways, if you want to just cruise down, you won’t complain much about the petrol engine but if you intend to drive aggressively, you better look elsewhere. On steep climbs, the car struggles to gain pace even in 1st gear. This engine is very refined though and hardly any vibrations creep inside the cabin. It gets a bit noisy after 3500 RPM though. On the fuel efficiency front, the MID on our car was showing 8 km/l after slight aggressive driving but you can expect 10-12 km/l under regular usage. There are 3 drive modes – City, Eco and Sport. The latter mode is good but again you just can’t feel that this is a 110 HP engine. In Eco mode, the car feels absolutely sluggish while City mode is just about average.
The diesel engine has good tuning on offer
The diesel engine is something that’s impressive. The 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder unit churns out 110 horses too, along with 260 Nm of twist. NVH and clatter isn’t all that bad at low RPMs and the engine gets noisy only after 3000 RPM or so. There is obviously some turbo lag below 1800 RPM but even then, the low-end is actually good, way better than the petrol engine. The mid-range has good power delivery till 4000 RPM but the turbo kick isn’t as strong and sudden as, say in the Maruti Vitara Brezza, but much more linear. The oil-burner also gets the same 3 driving modes, where Sport mode is the best one. Eco is pretty average while City mode will be sufficient for those drive sedately. Fuel efficiency ranges from 15-19 km/l and Eco mode gives you a very small rise in mileage, in fact driving in Sport mode also gets you pretty good efficiency. Both the engines are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The clutch is very light, as expected from a Tata car. The gear shifts aren’t very notchy but not the slickest either. The throws are very long and thus they rob off some driving pleasure. Tata Motors is expected to offer an AMT 2018 onwards.
Ride quality is splendid, very comfortable
Driving Dynamics – The Tata Nexon comes with a dual path suspension and we must mention that it has been tuned very nicely. The suspension attacks potholes and bad roads with ease, without causing discomfort to passengers. The car remains pretty much stable even while going on broken patches at slightly higher speeds. The 16-inch tyres also have good grip levels. The steering is light at low speeds and weighs up nicely on the highways. It has decent feedback on offer and is pretty direct. Body roll isn’t much and I actually found the Nexon to be fun to drive. Braking power is good and ABS is standard across all variants.
Dual airbags and ABS offered on all trims
Safety and After Sales Service – Tata Motors is offering dual front airbags and ABS with EBD on all variants. You also get a seat belt height adjuster standard on the Nexon. We all are pretty much familiar with the sales and service of the automaker. Sales outlets across the country are aplenty and service centres are also in abundance. While service quality levels may not be the best, Tata isn’t that bad either and the company is working their way up.
The Tata Nexon is going to shake up the segment and how!
Verdict – The Tata Nexon has impressed us and it now remains to be seen at what price does the automaker launch the car. The compact SUV comes across as a good looking product that is spacious, practical, comfortable, good to drive and feature loaded. It competes in the tough compact SUV segment, rivalling the Maruti Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport. After driving this car, we think it does have a lot than can give sleepless just nights to its rivals.
We wish the petrol engine was fun to drive
What’s Cool
* Styling is impressive, feels lively
* Good layout on the inside, space is well-managed
* Feature-loaded interiors
* Ride & handling balance is good
What’s Not So Cool
* Petrol engine has poor drivability
* Tata’s long-term reliability might be a concern
Alternatives: Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport
Tata is expected to price the car aggressively
Tata Nexon Specifications
* Engine: 1198cc, DOHC, 3-cylinders | 1497cc, DOHC, 4-cylinders
* Power: 110 PS @ 5000 RPM | 110 PS @ 3750 RPM
* Torque: 170 Nm @ 1750-4000 RPM | 260 Nm @ 1500-2750 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed MT
* Fuel Consumption: 10-12 km/l | 15-19 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Suspension: Independent, McPherson Dual Path Strut (Front), Semi-Independent Twist Beam (Rear)
* Tyres: 215/60/16
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Drums (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS, EBD
Tata Nexon Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3994 mm X 1811 mm X 1607 mm
* Boot Space: 350-690-litres
* Wheelbase: 2498 mm
* Ground Clearance: 209 mm
* Kerb Weight: 1237 kgs | 1305 kgs
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 44-litres
The Nexon will compete with the Vitara Brezza and EcoSport