Review: Tata Nexon EV review, road test

India might still be warming up to the concept of electric vehicles, but Tata Motors has already got a head start, with the Nexon EV having already captured 74 percent of EV sales. This made-in-India, all-electric SUV has caught the fancy of over 2,200 eco-conscious buyers across the country. What has worked in its favour, besides its SUV appeal, are its sorted fundamentals and a value-for-money price tag that undercuts other EVs by over Rs 7 lakh.

Over the past few months, Tata Motors has tweaked certain aspects of the vehicle after analysing the driving behavior of several EV users, and incorporated relevant customer feedback in its latest software update to make the Nexon EV’s drive experience smoother and the car more user friendly. We put the current iteration of the Nexon EV through its paces, and here’s how it held up.

The Tata Nexon EV’s ARAI-certified range stands at 312km on a single charge, which is calculated using fixed parameters under urban driving conditions. In our tests, it achieved 208km in a mixed city-highway driving cycle. A higher degree of regeneration while driving in the city resulted in an urban range of 216km, whereas on freer roads with the motor constantly working with less regeneration, the highway range stood at 201km on a full charge.

Graph represents the real-time driving pattern – the flatter the graph, the more efficient the drive.

It must be noted that there is no regeneration between 100-95 percent charge levels, so the fall in range will be the quickest here, and once the charge falls below 15 percent, the motor’s torque diminishes and the air-con stops functioning in an effort to maximise range.

To quickly adapt to an EV-friendly driving style, users would do well to keep an eye on the MID, which features a graphical representation of the driving pattern based on acceleration and deceleration. The objective is to achieve a smooth graph, and what this eventually does is encourage you to drive in a more measured, range-enhancing manner.

Tata provides a 3.3kWh portable charger with every Nexon EV. This charger can be used with any 15 ampere AC charging socket and it will replenish the battery’s charge from 20 to100 percent in around nine hours, roughly 10 percent every hour. Using one of the few DC fast chargers, its battery can be recharged up to 80 percent in approximately one hour. As is the case with any lithium-ion battery, the last 10 percent, irrespective of whether you’re using an AC or DC charger, is the slowest to recharge, in an attempt to preserve the battery’s life.

It supports, both, regular AC charging as well as DC fast charging.

As an introductory offer, Nexon EV users can avail of charging facilities (including fast charging) at all the Tata Power locations listed in the ‘Tata Power EZ Charge’ mobile application, free of charge.

Its battery can be charged up to 80 percent in about 60 minutes using a DC fast charger.

 

While it is based on the standard Nexon, the SUV’s dynamics have been completely re-engineered to accommodate several modifications to its structure and account for the heavy battery pack beneath the cabin floor. So, while the Nexon EV tips the scales at 1,400kg, the good news is there’s a lot to like about its handling. Tata engineers have managed to achieve a 50:50 weight distribution, resulting in a good sense of balance from behind the wheel. Its centre of gravity is low due to the battery placement, and the stiffened suspension and wide 215mm tyres get credit for negligible body roll and impressive grip levels. What adds to its overall engaging feel is a sharp, precise steering, making this Nexon positively sporty to drive.

Stiffer suspension than ICE version, but the EV’s ride still very nice and absorbent.

While the suspension has been stiffened, ride quality hasn’t suffered to a great extent. Sure, it feels a bit stiffer than the ICE Nexon, especially at low speeds, but this EV still flattens rough sections of the road and absorbs shocks from the sharper potholes very competently. Even at cruising speeds, the EV offers a planted, secure feel.

The Nexon EV’s brakes are strong and these perform in a fuss-free manner under panic braking too. However, because of the added weight, in a panic braking test from 80kph, the EV came to a full halt in 27.34 metres, over 2 metres more than the ICE version, which is pretty significant.

Several state governments are incentivising electric cars with a 100 percent waiver of road tax, and some states are also providing additional monetary subsidies. Delhi provides a subsidy of Rs 1.50 lakh to EV buyers, whereas Maharashtra is offering a Rs 1 lakh rebate to the first 10,000 EV buyers. In addition, owners can also avail of a Rs 1.50 lakh benefit on the interest on a loan taken for the purchase of EVs under Income Tax section 80EEB. FAME subsidies, however, aren’t applicable on the Nexon EV as those are for commercial vehicles only, and Tata has restricted the sale of the Nexon EV to private users for the time being.

The second aspect is the running costs. While the per-unit cost of electricity differs across service providers and household consumption slabs, even at a fairly high Rs 8 per unit, it takes roughly 30 units to charge the EV’s 30.2kWh battery using a 15-ampere wall socket. So a charge from 0-100 percent will cost approximately Rs 240, resulting in a cost of roughly Rs 1.2-1.5 per km, which is nearly a fourth of what diesel compact SUV owners would spend on fuel.

Tata has hit the ball out of the park with the Nexon EV. This one is undeniably the smoothest and most refined car to wear a Tata badge. It is zippy and very user friendly, and those who enjoy driving will love its sprinting abilities and its sporty driving manners. It has other strengths too, like a mature ride, and it aces space, comfort and practicality. While this electric vehicle commands a hefty premium over the ICE versions, factor in the government subsidies and its extremely low running costs and it will begin to make financial sense. With an ability to travel approximately 216km on a full charge in the city, this EV’s range is pretty respectable, but nowhere close to its advertised 312km. As an urban runabout, the Nexon EV is as good as it gets, and if your usage is restricted to intra-city commutes and you can arrange for a charging provision, the Nexon EV could be right up your alley.