Cars
Tata Motors

TATA Nexon EV MAX review

To the max and beyond

from ₹ 17,74,000

(ex-showroom)

Sambit Satpathy 17 May 2022 09:54 AM

Calling the Tata Nexon EV popular among buyers in India would be an understatement. Since its launch, the electric SUV has sold faster than freshly baked bread from a bakery. So one can only imagine the excitement and curiosity when Tata Motors announced an upgraded Nexon. 
The new Tata Nexon EV Max sounds similar to the iPhone naming scheme, and there's a good reason it is called ‘Max’. From longer range and higher output to a boatload of new features, there’s a lot on offer on this car. Having spent a day driving the car, here’s our Tata Nexon EV Max review.

Design

If you get a sense of déjà vu when looking at the Nexon EV Max, you’re not alone. In terms of the overall design, Tata hasn’t changed anything, unless you count the slightly tweaked alloy wheels. 
If you look at the car under the microscope, you’ll notice a 10mm reduction in ground clearance when compared to the older Nexon EV. Keep them side-by-side, and it will feel like a reunion of long-lost twins. The design is so similar in fact that there’s not even a badge onboard to tell anyone that the car you’re driving is the Nexon EV Max. Good luck showing off your new car to the neighbours.

But it’s when you step inside that you notice where Tata’s designers have spent their working hours. You’re greeted by dual-tone interiors that not only look good, but also make the car feel roomier. The beige seats look premium and have good lumbar and under-thigh support. But the light colour tends to attract dust and grime quicker than a child playing outdoors. 
The designers have done a commendable job at mixing the glossy and matte trim panels with just the right amount of hard plastics. The interiors are quite clearly a step up from the older generation.

Tech bits

The Nexon’s feature list gets quite the upgrade, and it all starts with front ventilated seats. Is there any feature that is as convenient as ventilated seats? The feature feels like a blessing, especially when shooting outdoors in this ongoing heatwave and it works as advertised, but we wish the buttons were more ergonomically located. Trying to cool your underside requires some Braille-work, hunting for the buttons on the side of the seat.

There’s also a wireless charging pad that’s conveniently placed on the left of the driver seat, where you’d usually find the handbrake. Instead of the manual lever, the Nexon EV Max gets an electronic parking brake with auto hold functionality.

Another new feature, which is clearly inspired from the Koreans, is a built-in air purifier. While the jury is out on exactly how effective an air purifier is in a car, it still offers a peace of mind seeing the AQI levels falling, and hoping that you’re breathing clean air.

Tata has retained the 7in infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard. While it’s feature-packed with support for (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the resolution is still low and touch response is not so snappy. It honestly feels a bit dated when compared to what we see in cars in this price range.

For audio, there is an eight-speaker system by Harman, which includes four mid/bass drivers and four tweeters. Output levels can get quite loud – helped by low NVH levels of an EV – but the sound lacks refinement. Even after adjusting the equaliser, the crucial midrange where voices tend to hang around, sounded a bit harsh and lacked depth.

As is the trend these days, the Nexon EV Max comes with a companion app that lets you remotely access the car’s features. The pre-cool feature is again a boon in these days of global warming, and so is the map showing the closest charging stations. 
Tata has added smartwatch support, which remains a gimmick at best. There’s also support for voice commands, but the functionality is limited to basic tasks like making calls, changing AC temperatures, and so on.

Driving

In addition to all the tech and features, Tata has also added more power under the hood, and it is easily noticeable when driving in sports mode. While the car has matured, it still goes like a Rottweiler off the leash, when you put the foot down. With a 0-100kmph time of less than 10 seconds, it is a lot of fun to leave ICE vehicles behind when racing off the signal. 
But eventually, karma catches up and every sadistic smile brings with the anxiety of a considerable drop in range. To manage the range, you can switch between City and Eco modes, which reduce the power, torque, and the fun factor. Eco mode is best saved for worst case scenarios, since driving in this mode feels more boring than cycling to your destination.

There are three levels of regenerative braking, which can be switched with a flick of a button. Even at its highest setting, the braking is not too harsh, and only feels like an unseen entity is gently applying the brakes for you. While it is good for someone experiencing EVs for the first time, it doesn’t quite allow complete one-pedal driving.

Tata has again opted for a rotary drive selector knob, which gets a big boost in quality. It now gets a premium knurled texture, and a digital display on top to show the modes. It looks great, feels nice to touch, and there’s a satisfying click on every mode. But switching between modes is still painfully slow, and that lag feels like an eternity when doing a three-point turn on a busy street.

Battery

The Nexon EV Max gets a bump in its battery capacity, which has a positive effect on the range. There’s now a 40.5 kWh Lithium ion battery pack under the hood, and Tata says it offers a range of over 400km. But in reality, the range is somewhere close to the 350km mark. That is still a considerable boost, and you can, in theory, do a Mumbai-Pune road trip on a single charge – as long as you don’t touch Roadrunner-like speeds. 
When it comes to charging, one can choose from two options. A 15A charger takes about 15 hours to fully charge the battery, while a 7.2kW AC fast charger will take about 6.5 hours, but it will cost you ₹50,000 more. Then there’s the 50kW DC fast charger, which feels like an F1 pit stop in comparison. It can charge from zero to 80% in less than an hour.

Verdict

The new Nexon EV may look the same as the older Nexon EV, but it is quite the upgrade, and justifies the ‘Max’ tag in every way. The bump in the features list, range, and power will no doubt appeal to buyers. 
All these however come at a price. A starting price of ₹17.74 lakh (ex-showroom) is close to a ₹3 lakh bump on the older generation. Having said that, it remains the most affordable, feature-packed, and fun-to-drive EV available in India.

Stuff Says

A bump in specs, features and price tag make the Nexon EV Max a worthy upgrade over the Nexon EV
Good stuff
Bad stuff

  1. Long-ish range

  1. Features list

  1. Ventilated seats

  1. Driving dynamics

  1. Drive selector lags

  1. Sound system lacks refinement

Specifications
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous AC
Power: 140hp
Torque: 250 Nm
Drive modes: Eco, City, Sport
Battery pack: 40.5 kWh Lithium ion
Acceleration: 0-100 kmph in 9 seconds
Wheelbase: 2,498 mm
Ground clearance: 190 mm
Boot space: 350 litres