Tata Nexon EV review, road test

Generating power from a 30.2kWh liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery, the Nexon EV’s permanent magnet synchronous motor churns out 129hp and 245Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. Tata has equipped the Nexon EV with two drive modes, namely ‘D’ and ’S’, with the latter representing Sport Mode.

In ‘D’, the motor is working at merely 60 percent of its full potential, generating around 150Nm of torque. On-tap responses are instantaneous and power flows in a beautifully linear manner. With a mere flex of your right foot, the Nexon EV effortlessly scoots forward to take advantage of gaps in traffic, or execute quick overtakes. Interestingly, since our first drive in January 2020, Tata has dulled the throttle responsiveness with its latest software update. That also explains why it takes 16.14 seconds to reach 100kph from rest in ‘D’ mode, which is 2.39 seconds slower than the car we tested earlier in 2020 in the same mode.

The intensity of regeneration (or the energy recuperation while decelerating) isn’t adjustable like in the MG ZS EV or Hyundai Kona Electric, and just like the responsiveness, Tata has also reduced the intensity of regeneration. What’s nice is that it feels quite natural in its behavior and is very easy to get accustomed to. The reduction in speed when you lift off the accelerator isn’t overly aggressive, and instead it is comparable to an ICE car’s behavior while engine braking.

Rotate the drive selector knob clockwise to engage ‘Sport’ mode and the performance improvement is so noticeable that the Nexon EV feels like it has been freed from its shackles at the simple flick of a dial. This car pulls in an extremely strong manner. Under full throttle, the front wheels often struggle for grip, and since there is no traction control or ESP, firm hands are needed to keep a check on its line. In Sport mode, the Nexon EV sprints from 0-100kph in 9.30 seconds, and will hit its limited top speed of 120kph in just 16.12 seconds. The regeneration function is noticeably weaker in this mode, resulting in a steeper reduction of driving range.