2023 Tata Nexon.EV Facelift in CarToq’s first drive review [Video]
Days after driving the new Nexon facelift, we took the driver’s seat in the Nexon EV facelift. We took the car for a spin in Pune, covering over 130 km to see how the updates work. You can also watch the video below.
Just like the regular Nexon, the EV also sports sharp looks. Tata has added a few extras. There is a different bumper design that sets the Nexon EV apart from the regular Nexon. You also get a new lightbar at the front that connects both the DRLs. This light bar is now similar to what the rear of the car gets. Additionally, the lightbar plays welcome and goodbye animations whenever you lock or unlock the car. It sure looks like a futuristic gadget.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500
The rear remains similar to the Tata Nexon facelift powered by an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). The bumpers are updated though. Apart from the EV badging, everything else remains the same on the profile.
The cabin of the new Nexon also gets the same updates as the ICE version. But the color theme is new and different. The Nexon EV gets a beige theme and a few additional features. The most prominent one is the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, which is even bigger than the one you get with the updated Nexon.
The infotainment system is high definition and high quality. It gets an additional Arcade.EV feature that allows you to download and install various apps using your phone’s wifi. You can watch YouTube or listen to podcasts directly through Arcade.EV. The system plays through a 9-speaker set-up from JBL, and it sounds immersive.
Another change compared to the ICE Nexon is the Electronic Parking System (EPS). It gets a small electronic parking brake that continues to be available from the previous model. It frees up a lot of space in the center console and complements the new minimalistic design of the cabin. The rotary dial to select the drive mode is gone as well. It has been replaced with a new gear shifter that is similar to the one in the ICE Nexon. There are capacitive climate control and USB-C ports like the regular Nexon. However, Tata now offers 45W power in the USB-C type chargers, which means you can charge your laptop on the go!
The two-spoke steering wheel with multi-function buttons and a fully digital instrument cluster remain the same. The front two seats also get cooling vents. However, it misses out on co-driver height adjustment and an accurate tire pressure monitoring system. The system in the Nexon does not show the actual tire pressure; instead, it shows if the air pressure status is adequate or not.
We drove the new Tata Nexon EV from Pune to Chakan and did a return journey, covering a total distance of about 130 km. Tata has updated the electric motor in the new Nexon.EV, but the 40.5 kW battery pack remains the same. We only had the long-range version of the car to drive.
The new motor produces a maximum power of 106.5 kW, which roughly translates to 145 PS. There is 215 Nm of peak torque. The new Nexon is also quicker than before. It did 0-100 km/h in about 9 seconds on a wet road, similar to what Tata claims.
We drove the vehicle through city traffic and on the highway as well. But we enjoyed one-pedal driving inside the city limits with the level-3 regeneration. It was strong enough to slow down the car. We also encountered slow-moving traffic, and the crawl mode works brilliantly in such situations. You can change the regeneration level using the paddle shifters behind the two-spoke steering wheel.
There are three power modes – Eco, City, and Sport. There are power output differences in these three modes. We kept the car mostly in City mode but did try the behavior in Sport mode and Eco mode as well. There is ample power even in Eco mode, but we loved the power delivery and the quickness in Sport mode.
Since the batteries are mounted on the floor, it lowers the center of gravity and makes the Nexon EV a fun car to drive. We took some high-speed turns to confirm the same, but the low-resistance tires do not inspire much confidence. While the Nexon.EV gets ESP as standard, the low-resistance tires could not find enough grip when we took the car onto wet grass. Since there is ample torque, we didn’t get stuck though. The steering feedback is sharp, and enthusiasts will love driving the Nexon.EV.
Well, this is the only choice for now. The other choice, the Mahindra XUV400, looks really outdated, especially the cabin. The Nexon EV looks premium and high-end. The price of the Nexon.EV will be launched on September 14, and it will be interesting to see how high the price is compared to the previous model. A price that’s too high will force buyers to look for EVs in the upper segment, but Tata has always been highly competitive when it comes to pricing and it is likely to remain the same.
Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered