First Drive: Tata Nexon EV SUV facelift is fun to drive

Tata Motors, India’s largest automaker by revenues, has pulled off a coup of sorts with its popular updated Nexon EV, which comes in the medium-range (MR) and long-range (LR) variants.

In fact, this India’s bestselling electric SUV gets a comprehensive facelift with a totally new design, a new electric motor, and a refurbished interior.

While the Mahindra XUV400 is a direct rival, the Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV are a segment above.

I took the Nexon EV for a long spin to check if it ticked all the boxes as it faces competition from the existing and upcoming electric cars from the rival automakers in the country.

The Exterior

At first sight, you notice a complete revamp of the exterior design so much that it appears not a facelift but an all-new model. The new design communicates an electric modernity with an iconic look. The car has taken on a new digital design approach, where the core character of the car is innovative, tech-forward and aspirational.

The car has got a completely redesigned face and rear. It gets split headlamps up front, with DRLs up top and headlamps in the bumper. The EV gets specific elements like a light bar and a different bumper design. The light bar in the front and rear has a little flourish on startup and power down.

The tail lamps have also been given a redesign and it gets a faux-skid plate to differentiate it from the ICE Nexon. The Nexon EV looks neatly futuristic and attractive.

The Interior

Step inside the cabin and you notice two big screens that are exclusive to the EV and the stylish new steering in front of you. One is the 10.25-inch instrument cluster unit to let you choose different layouts and display all sorts of relevant information, including navigation. The other infotainment touchscreen is high resolution and larger at 12.3 inches and both screens are slick, bright and easy to operate. It marks a huge, attractive change for the brand as a whole. The new 360-degree camera is great while parking. The screen also doubles up as a display for the sharp, new 360-degree camera and blind spot monitor.

There is also something the company calls Arcade.EV, essentially an app drawer that has music streaming apps, podcast streaming apps and even video apps like Prime, Hotstar and YouTube — something to pass the time while you are charging the car. This is complemented by a great JBL sound system. It gets wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and much more for the tech-savvy.

The car also gets ventilated front seats, a wireless charger, onboard air purifier, connected car tech, a sunroof, and a superb-sounding JBL audio system. It is also equipped with six airbags and ESC as standard, front and rear parking sensors, an electronic parking brake, hill descent and ascent control, and rear disc brakes.

The Drive Experience

The overall drive experience with Tata Nexon EV facelift Long Range was smooth, and comfortable with oodles of confidence. The car has a good grip of the road and even at corners and the ride is firm both at slower speeds, as well as when you step up to enjoy the ride. It absorbs smoothly the tough and rough terrains and pots and bumps along the way. As you pick up speed, the ride smoothes out and it is quite comfortable to hit the breeze. The steering is light and gives you confidence to drive at all speeds. The brakes are superb and give the driver much confidence to control the vehicle in any situation.

The company has equipped the Tata Nexon EV facelift with the new, gen. 2 electric motor which is more compact, and 20kg lighter than the older unit. It also uses 30 percent fewer rare-earth materials and spins at a higher 16,000rpm – compared to the older unit’s 12,000rpm – without compromising on NVH. Because of these changes, the Long Range produces 143hp and churns of 215Nm of torque.

The Nexon EV facelift, which comes in three drive modes such as Eco, City, and Sport delivers its power in a more linear manner and it can accelerate from 0-100kph in 8.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 150kmph. I liked the Sport mode as the Nexon EV feels more energetic and you can easily overtake cars cautiously on the highways. The Eco mode gives you a much more relaxed and laidback drive experience and the City mode strikes a good balance between the two.

The Nexon EV Long Range facelift is equipped with the 40.5kWh battery pack offering a claimed range of 465km, as per ARAI. The company provides a substantial 8 year/1,60,000km warranty on the battery and motor.

Tata Motors says the Nexon EV can now power electrical appliances and even charge other EVs. This means that the Nexon EV can now be used as a power source to charge up electronic devices and provide AC connection for a picnic tent by the lake or other EVs, via a separate cable that is sold as an accessory. One has to really do it to get to know how it actually works. The car comes with a 7.2kW AC charger and supports DC fast charging up to 30kW. The SUV can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 56 minutes using a fast charger.

Should I buy One?

Overall, the Nexon EV is a great package in terms of head-turning stylish design, interiors, tech features, and the driving experience in a mid-life cycle facelift. Tata Motors has done such a comprehensive overhaul that this EV comes as an all-new model. With a starting price tag of Rs 14.74 lakh, the Nexon EV facelift, which comes as a premium car, is sure to tempt you to open your purse.