The Tata Nexon is probably the first product from the Tata Motors stable that generated so much hype, after the Nano. When displayed in more or less production form at the 2016 Auto Expo, it looked properly cool. And the actual car that has gone on the road is just that. We recently got the keys to our long term Tata Nexon, powered by the all new diesel 1.5 litre four-cylinder diesel engine. Making a healthy 108bhp, it has enough power to make the Nexon sprightly in the city and not run out of steam on the highway.
“The generous amount of torque allows you to amble along in a higher gear without much trouble”
It’s been a busy month for the Tata Nexon since it arrived in our garage, clocking over 3,000 kilometres. Abhishek made a trip from Pune to Bengaluru and came back very happy with the highway manners and practicality of this compact SUV. He was all praise for the super sorted ride, especially as the speeds went up. It made sure he was fatigue free despite the long drive. I have been using it for my regular commutes in town, while making a few runs between Mumbai and Pune, preferring it over some more compact options in our garage largely for the amazing sound quality of the stereo. It makes sure that an otherwise boring commute turns into something more interesting as you enjoy your music on the way. The slick shifting gears are another favourite along with the clutch, which is well-weighted, making the driving experience even better.
“Abhishek made a trip from Pune to Bengaluru and came back very happy with the highway manners and practicality of this compact SUV”
The generous amount of torque allows you to amble along in a higher gear without much trouble, as it can pull away cleanly from as low as 1,000rpm. This is an absolute boon in traffic. The three drive modes are actually nicely calibrated and you could use the ‘Eco’ on your daily drive, without feeling the urge to switch to City or Sport modes. This is probably the reason I’ve been getting some great fuel efficiency numbers from our long term Tata Nexon, with the figure barely ever dipping below 20kmpl. Add to that the generous 40-plus litre tank means you can get a real world cruising range of around 800 kilometres on a tankful.
“The smooth engine has linear power delivery that makes the Nexon easy to drive”
Having spent some time with the Tata Nexon, I’m slowly beginning to realise why it won our Car of the Year. Our long termer came to us with over 10,000 kilometres on the clock, but it has shown very few signs of wear. There was a turbo vacuum pipe that came loose after we got the car, but a quick visit to the Tata workshop sorted the problem and the car returned to us in top shape in no time.
Date acquired: April 2018 Duration of test: 2 months Total mileage: 13,864km Mileage this month: 3,150km Overall kmpl: 20.2kmpl Costs this month: Nil