Team-BHP > Electric Cars


Reply
  Search this Thread
1,014,504 views
Old 17th May 2022, 09:00   #1
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 17,689
Thanked: 76,305 Times
Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Tata Nexon EV Max Review


Tata Nexon EV Max Pros



• A solidly built & good-looking electric car
• Zero tailpipe emissions & green image will appeal to the environmentally-conscious
• Increased driving range is adequate for city commutes & inter-city travel to nearby destinations
• Stupendously cheap fuel cost of 1 rupee / km (if you charge at home)
• Fast performance! 0-100 km/h in ~9 seconds is enjoyable
• Sorted road manners & solid high-speed stability due to the lower center of gravity & firmer suspension
• Smooth drive, no gears, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car
• Nice, spacious cabin with comfortable seats. You get a practical 350-liter boot too
• Loads of features over the standard Nexon EV such as faster charging, ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, Sport & Eco modes, multi-mode regen, cruise control, air purifier, wireless smartphone charging, sunroof and more
• Safety kit includes disc brakes all-round, ESP, traction control, TPMS, electronic parking brake, auto hold etc.
• Low running costs & cheaper long-term maintenance (as is the case with all EVs)

Tata Nexon EV Max Cons



• Considerably more expensive than the Petrol / Diesel Nexon. You're paying for the tech & being an early adopter
• Needs a charging point installed at your home parking spot. This is not doable for many people
• Lack of charging infrastructure limits long-distance / highway usability
• Long “full tank” charging times in comparison with an ICE car. Overnight charging is best
• Top speed is restricted to 140 km/h
• Ride is compliant, but not plush. Firmness at lower speeds means you feel the big potholes
• Only 3 dual-tone colour options to pick from. No single tone colour options available. Boring colour palette = just white, grey & blue
• Fit, finish & interior quality don’t match up to the 20-lakh on-road price of the XZ+ Lux
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• It's a brand-new technology, so there will be issues & niggles
• Petrol / Diesel Nexon carry a 5-star GNCAP rating. Nexon EV is still unrated

This review has been jointly compiled with Blackwasp. Thanks to him for the expert observations!


Introduction



Tata has been proudly selling India's most affordable "proper" electric car, the Nexon EV for a while now. The company has put more than 25,000 EVs on Indian roads, out of which over 19,000 are Nexon EVs. Tata Motors has an overall commanding market share of 87% (FY 2022) and now with the Nexon EV Max, the company plans to further strengthen its position in the EV space.

While the Nexon EV has been the highest-selling electric car in India, its use has been limited to city running mainly due to its relatively small battery pack. Tata Motors has solved this issue to an extent with the introduction of the Nexon EV Max.

The 2022 Nexon EV Max is based on the Nexon EV, which is in turn, based on the 2020 Nexon facelift. It is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous AC motor that puts out 141 BHP & 250 Nm (14 BHP & 5 Nm more than the regular Nexon EV) and has a 40.5 kWh battery pack, which is 10.3 kWh more than the regular Nexon EV. The car has an ARAI-certified range of 437 km (125 km more than the regular Nexon EV). You can expect a real-world range of 250 - 300 km. The Max also gets a 7.2 kWh charging option.

The Nexon EV Max is offered in 2 trims: XZ+ and XZ+ Lux. Both variants come in 3 dual-tone colour options: Intensi-Teal Blue (our test car), Daytona Grey and Pristine White.

Tata Nexon EV Max Price & Brochure


The Nexon EV Max has been launched at the following prices: XZ+ (with 3.3 kW charger) - Rs 17.74 lakh, XZ+ (with 7.2 kW AC charger) - Rs 18.24 lakh, XZ+ Lux (with 3.3 kW charger) - Rs 18.74 lakh and XZ+ Lux (with 7.2 kW AC charger) - Rs 19.24 lakh (ex-showroom). Compare these prices with the equivalent variants of the regular Nexon EV and there’s a difference of Rs 1.54 lakh. The price difference to the equivalent petrol AMT variant is a whopping 6.84 lakh (Rs. 5.54 lakh for diesel AMT)! Essentially, with the Nexon EV Max, you are paying the premium for electric technology and being an early adopter of the same. Still, at this price, the Nexon EV Max appears to be much better value for money compared to the MG ZS EV that doesn't offer a number of features that the Tata does.

You can download the 2022 Tata Nexon EV Max brochure here: Tata Nexon EV Max Brochure

Incentives



Apart from the central government's incentives, states are offering additional perks to promote the use of electric vehicles. In Maharashtra and Delhi, registration and road tax have been waived off on all EVs. Furthermore, individuals can avail of income tax benefits under section 80EEB (only applicable for vehicles registered by individuals) - click here to read a detailed article on the same.

Running Costs



EVs have come to be known for the magical number of "1 rupee per km". With the Nexon EV Max, Tata has increased the battery capacity from 30.2 kWh to 40.5 kWh. This means it will need ~40 units of electricity for a 100% charge. The per-unit cost of electricity depends on the slab that you are in & your location, but on average, it’s about Rs. 8 per unit. This translates to Rs. 320 for a full charge. Tata claims a range of 437 km on a full charge and in the real world, if one drives conservatively, 250 - 300 km seem obtainable. Translated, you’ll be paying just Rs. 1.07 per km which is an incredibly sweet figure.

Want to know more about EVs?



Read GTO's excellent article (Electric Cars...through the eyes of a diehard petrol-head) on the topic.

Exterior





Design & Styling



The Nexon, since it received a facelift, has been a good-looking crossover and there are a few design elements to differentiate the EV variant. For a start, the signature 'Intensi-Teal Blue' paint shade and grey roof are exclusive for the Nexon EV Max. Then, multiple blue accents at different locations and the 'EV' badges, further remind you that it’s an electric vehicle. The Max also gets new dual-tone five-spoke alloy wheels. The best part for owners will be the green number plate, which many wear as a badge of honour!

Build Quality, Fit & Finish



The build is solid and the car doesn’t feel flimsy at all, with the doors and bonnet feeling quite heavy. The sheet metal is thick and doesn't flex much when you try to push any panel with your thumb.

Fit & finish has improved over time. Panel gaps are consistent all over the car. The paint is of good quality and has a nice, glossy finish.

Wheels & Tyres



The top variant of the regular Nexon is offered with 16" alloy wheels wrapped with 215/60 section rubber. The Nexon EV Max too comes with 16" alloy wheels & 215/60 section tyres. Our test car was shod with MRF Wanderer Street tyres, which have low rolling resistance and are specifically designed for efficiency. The spare is a 16" steel wheel with a full-size tyre.

The Nexon EV Max is around 100 kg heavier than the regular car. The recommended pressure for the tyres is 34 psi (36 psi with a full load).

Ground Clearance



To bear the additional weight, Tata has made changes to the suspension as well. As a result, the Nexon EV Max has an unladen ground clearance of 190 mm.

Standard & Extended Warranty



The Nexon EV Max is offered with a standard warranty of 3 years / 125,000 km. Details of the extended warranty haven’t been revealed yet, but you must make an entry in your to-do list and take it. You also get an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty on the battery pack and electric motor as standard.

Maintenance



The Nexon EV Max has a service interval of 6 months / 7,500 km. EV maintenance is far simpler than ICE cars as there are no oil & filter changes to carry out.

Safety



The Nexon has been awarded a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP crash tests. While the electric version has not been tested, we expect it to perform similarly. The car comes with a fortified cabin, dual airbags, ABS + EBD + corner stability control, ESP with i-VBAC (intelligent – Vacuum-less Boost & Active Control), TPMS, electronic parking brake with auto hold, all 4 disc brakes, disc brake wiping, hydraulic fading compensation, panic brake alert, after impact braking, rollover mitigation, reverse parking camera and sensors, hill descent control, hill ascent assist and ISOFIX child seat anchors. Apart from this, the battery pack and motor get an IP67 rating, which means they are dustproof & waterproof.

Interior




Cabin Design & Quality



Nothing has changed on the inside, except for a small handful of cosmetic bits and feature additions. The Nexon EV Max gets an exclusive dual-tone black & beige dashboard with lots of piano black on the centre fascia. Changes include a deep blue insert with tri-arrow detailing on the dashboard, blue accents on the air-con vents and the new seat upholstery.

Unique & Noteworthy Features



The Nexon EV Max comes with almost all the features you’d expect and more. These include an analogue-digital instrument cluster, leatherette upholstery, a sunroof, ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, air purifier, auto headlamps and wipers, cooled glovebox, cruise control, wireless smartphone charging pad, a 7-inch Harman touchscreen head-unit with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, smartwatch integration, drive modes and multi-mode regen. You also get ZConnect connected technology, which offers features like intrusion alert, remote immobilization, geofencing, time fencing, remote door lock/unlock, remote cooling, remote vehicle diagnostics, trip analytics etc.

Boot Space



Since the battery pack is placed ahead of the rear axle, the boot space is unaffected and remains identical to the regular Nexon's 350-litres. The boot is large enough to carry a family's weekend luggage. The 60:40 split rear seats can be folded down to increase cargo space.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Tata Nexon EV Max Brochure.pdf (4.02 MB, 1747 views)

Last edited by Aditya : 9th July 2022 at 19:28.
Aditya is offline   (55) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 09:00   #2
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 17,689
Thanked: 76,305 Times

Driving the Tata Nexon EV Max


The Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor puts out 141 BHP & 250 Nm of torque. Compared to the regular Nexon EV, the Max makes 14 BHP and 5 Nm more:


Before we get to the driving part, let’s get the basics right. There are 3 main components in an EV: the battery, the motor and the controller/charger. The battery is what stores the energy and the motor is what uses that energy to move the car. The controller/charger converts the energy from the battery into a usable form to power the motor. In more technical terms, the power grid from your house or a charging station is usually an AC. The lithium-ion battery can store electric energy in DC form. So while charging, there’s usually an AC/DC converter that will convert the power grid's AC into DC and store it in the car’s battery. The DC fast chargers that you see, usually have the AC/DC converter inbuilt, which is how they can charge the car’s battery faster. The controller typically sits on top of the motor.

Driving an EV is quite a unique experience and recent EVs have all been impressive. Push the engine start button with your foot on the brake pedal and you'll hear nothing, although the car is "alive" now. There are four transmission modes to choose from: P, D, R and N. Turn the rotary dial to engage D, lift your foot off the brake pedal and the car crawls forward. This will be highly appreciated in heavy traffic conditions where you can drive with just the brake pedal.

Driving in the city is a pleasant experience. The accelerator pedal's response is linear and not snappy (especially in 'Eco' mode). Passengers will appreciate how smooth the drive feels, without any jerks caused by gearshifts or any engine sounds. It is an incredibly refined experience.

Floor the accelerator pedal and you'll be greeted with instant power / acceleration. This is the beauty of powerful electric motors. The car is quick and has abundant torque right from the get-go. Tata claims a 0-100 km/h time of ~9 seconds (0.9 seconds quicker than the regular Nexon EV) and we believe that. To put that number into perspective, the acceleration is in the vicinity of the Slavia 1.5 TSI & faster than a Honda City. On the move, you will not only be keeping up with traffic, but also overtaking other cars easily. Other road users will be surprised by the pep of this "green number-plate" car .

Out on the highway, the Nexon EV Max is fantastic. An advantage of a powerful electric motor is that if you need to perform a quick overtake, there's no need to wait for a downshift or being in the engine's powerband. Just bury the accelerator pedal and you're off! You'll hit silly speeds with ease and not even realise it due to the lack of drama (engine noise etc.). That being said, single-gear EVs don't have that higher-end punch that geared turbo-petrol cars do. Keep in mind that if you drive hard, the range drops drastically. This is also why you will see EVs that are driving long distances, stick to the middle lane and cruise at 80-100 km/h (which is the best cruising speed for the current lot of EVs). We already told you that the Nexon EV Max has a realistic range of 250 - 300 km. Get aggressive with the A-pedal and you'll see the range drop significantly. This sensitivity to driving style is more like turbo-petrols rather than turbo-diesels which are so forgiving.

Getting up to cruising speeds is an easy affair and the absence of any sound means you will reach triple-digit speeds without realising it (it's only when the speed warning chimes sound that you know you're doing 80 km/h and 120 km/h).

There are 3 driving modes to choose. They're mapped specifically for different driving styles.

• City Mode: The default mode. The car always restarts in this mode, no matter what mode you last drove in. It's great for driving in the city as well as on the highway. Strikes a good balance between power and economy.

• Eco Mode: The mode to engage when you want the maximum range. Throttle response is dumbed down, which actually results in a smoother drive in the city (less of that "torque-pull" effect). Power comes in more gradually when you ask for it. While there's enough grunt for day-to-day driving or cruising on the expressway, when you need to pull off a quick overtaking manoeuvre, you will want to engage one of the other modes.

• Sport Mode: The mode when you really want to have fun. Floor the A-pedal in Sport mode and watch the traction control warning light flash in the instrument cluster. In this mode, throttle response is sharper and the car just feels more eager to get a move on. However, it can feel too peaky for city driving and also eats up the battery faster. Use "Sport" when you're looking for fun on expressway runs.

Different driving modes are depicted by different colours on the gear selector. Blue for city mode...


...green for Eco mode...


...and red for Sport mode:


Regenerative Braking



There are 3 levels of regenerative braking - we absolutely love adjustable regen settings as we can tune it to suit our mood. At levels 1 and 2, there's obviously lesser resistance when you lift off the accelerator pedal. Driving on level 3 enables maximum regeneration. Engine braking lovers will appreciate driving with regen at the maximum level. You can also do one-pedal driving in many situations. Unlike the MG ZS EV that we drove earlier this year, the regen function can be switched off as well. This allows the car to coast without any resistance.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)



There is no engine noise at all. The only sound coming is a faint whine from the electric motor at high revs. With no gearshifts & minimal mechanical parts, there are no jerks or vibrations. On the highway, tyre noise starts creeping into the cabin at 80 km/h. You'll hear it more because there is no engine sound to drown some of it out. Around 90 km/h, we could hear some wind noise as well. Again, more noticeable because there is no engine sound.

Range



Tata claims a range of 437 km with the new 40.5 kWh battery pack. However, these numbers are very subjective and the real-life range solely depends on how you drive the car. 250 - 300 km should be doable IMHO. Can go lower, depending on how you use the accelerator. We await real-life reports from BHPian owners of this car.

Charging



The Nexon EV Max gets the industry-standard CCS 2 charging port. A 7.2 kW home charger which can be installed at your home or office, can charge the 40.5 kWh battery pack from 0-100% in 6.5 hours. If you're travelling somewhere, you can use the portable charger in the boot to charge the car from any 15 Amp socket (the larger 3-pin sockets used for ACs and fridges), which would take about 15 hours to charge from 10-100%. In comparison, the 30.2 kWh battery of the regular Nexon EV takes 10 hours to charge with a 3.3 kW AC charger. Do note that in all EVs, the initial 0 - 80% charging happens quicker...the final 81 - 100% takes more time. The last option is the 50 kW DC fast chargers that you will find at some of the charging stations. This would fill up your car's battery from 0-80% in 56 minutes. GTO thinks a 15A charger is all that 99% of owners will need - his article on the same.

Tata Motors has been working with its sister company, Tata Power, to improve the charging infrastructure. The Tata Power EZ Charge app helps you locate nearby charging stations and book a slot.

Besides, there are plenty of charging stations popping up everywhere, which ought to reduce range anxiety. There are many apps and websites like pulseenergy.io, plugshare.com, etc. that list out all the charging stations near you. End of the day though, remember the golden rule = EVs are best charged where they are parked (either at your office or home).

The charging sockets are placed under the fuel flap:


Socket for the regular charger on the top and one for the fast charger below:


The 15A charger that you get with the car takes ~15 hours to charge the batteries from 10-100%. Best to charge it overnight (at home) or when parked at the office (during the day):


7.2 kW AC charger can charge the battery pack from 0-100% in 6.5 hours. It comes with an RFID card for quick charging authorisation and LED illumination:


To charge the Nexon EV Max, you’ll have to install the Tata EZ Charge app. The app displays all the charging stations close to you. When you tap on a particular station, it will show the type of charging ports available at the station. Once you have selected the station, you can choose the type of charging – amount, units of charge, time for a charge & percentage of the charge. The app will then show the amount you have to pay. You can plug in the charger and wait. The overall process is quite easy and even a first-time user won’t have any issues navigating through the app:


Suspension




Ride Comfort



The car gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a twist-beam with dual path strut suspension at the rear. It rides on 16" alloy wheels that are shod with 215/60 section tyres. The recommended tyre pressure is 34 PSI. Like most fossil-fuel cars converted to electric, the Nexon EV Max's suspension has been stiffened up to cope with the 100 kilos of extra weight due to the heavy battery pack and other equipment.

At low speeds, the ride is firm, but not harsh. Smaller bumps are not felt, but the larger ones and deeper potholes do make their presence felt in the cabin. As speeds increase, the ride improves significantly. Overall, we will say that the ride of the Nexon EV Max is compliant, but not plush.

Handling & Dynamics



The Nexon EV Max's straight-line stability is very good and the car doesn't feel nervous even when the speedometer crosses 100 km/h. Undulations on the road and bumps do not affect its composure. The stiffer suspension and 50:50 weight distribution have endowed the car with good handling characteristics. Its center of gravity is low and body roll is well controlled. The grip from the MRF Wanderers is more than adequate and the car holds its line well when hustled through a series of fast corners.

Steering



The electric power steering is one of the nicer units around. It is light at city speeds and weighs up sufficiently as the speed increases. The EPS isn't lifeless and does give you some feel of what the front wheels are up to. At higher speeds, it inspires confidence.

Braking



While the Nexon EV comes with disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear, the Nexon EV Max gets an all-wheel disc brake setup. This provides excellent stopping power. Emergency braking situations are handled well and the car is brought to a halt from high speeds effectively. Besides, the car is equipped with ABS + EBD, corner stability control, disc brake wiping, hydraulic fading compensation, panic brake alert and after-impact braking.

Last edited by GTO : 19th May 2022 at 18:15.
Aditya is offline   (50) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 09:00   #3
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 17,689
Thanked: 76,305 Times

Tata Nexon EV Max Exterior Images


The Nexon EV Max is based on the Nexon EV, which in turn, is based on the Nexon Facelift. It gets a few changes to the exterior that announces it as an electric car. Changes to the front include a different grille and air dam design:


The rear hasn’t changed much even from the original Nexon. Changes include redesigned tail lamps, a tweaked bumper & no tailpipe:


Viewed from the side, the only changes are the redesigned 16" alloy wheels, glossy black ORVMs and reworked roof rails:


The Nexon EV Max measures 3,993 mm in length, 1,811 mm in width and 1,616 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,498 mm. This makes it 10 mm taller than the regular Nexon EV:


While many find the rear styling too busy, it has grown on me over time:


Restyled headlamp clusters have LED daytime running lights (DRLs) & halogen low-beam projectors. Notice the chrome insert:


Tri-arrow LED DRLs are bright and grab the attention of other road users:


Sides of the headlamp clusters feature glossy black inserts with the letter "NEXON" inscribed on them:


The front grille gets a thick gloss black insert with a blue EV badge and a blue "humanity line" underneath. The bumper gets a large air dam with tri-arrow detailing, some of which is finished in blue and a faux silver skid plate:


Fog lamp housings get blue inserts as well:


Healthy amount of underbody protection at the front. The battery pack stretches ahead all the way to the plastic protection:


ORVM covers are finished in glossy black:


A thick blue strip runs along the window line:


Plenty of EV badging to let you know this Nexon is electric:


Redesigned 16" dual-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels look smart. They are shod with 215/60 section MRF Wanderer Street LRR tyres. Disc brakes have been provided at the rear as well:


Silver roof rails have been redesigned:


No panoramic sunroof here; just a regular unit. It appears a size too small for the car:


Detailing of the tail lamp clusters has been reworked:


Tail lamps have a panic brake alert feature in which the hazard lamps come on when the driver brakes hard. They also get an auto brake lamp feature which turns on the brake lights once a certain level of regen is exceeded:


“X-Factor” is finished in blue. Ziptron and EV badges have been provided on the hatch:


Rear bumper features a faux silver skid plate and reflectors with blue inserts on both ends:


40.5 kWh high energy density lithium-ion battery pack sits below the floor of the car, just ahead of the rear axle:


These orange high voltage cables are a sore sight. In road conditions like ours, these wires should definitely have been better protected & concealed:

Last edited by Aditya : 17th May 2022 at 09:02.
Aditya is offline   (35) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 09:00   #4
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 17,689
Thanked: 76,305 Times

Tata Nexon EV Max Interior Images


While the interiors are largely similar to the standard Nexon, there are a few "EV" touches in the cabin. The dashboard is black and beige with a thick blue insert in the middle and blue and glossy black inserts at various places:


Zooming in to show the tri-arrow detailing on the insert on the dashboard:


A piece of faux leather that covers up the ugly gap between the dashboard & steering console was sticking out from the side. We expect better finishing in a car costing almost Rs 20 lakhs:


Leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel with gloss black inserts is superbly thick and has a fantastic design too. The steering is lovely to hold and comes with contours for your thumbs and contrast blue stitching:


Buttons for the infotainment system, telephony and voice commands are placed on the left spoke. A useful mute function has been provided (long press to mute). Cruise control and MID buttons are placed on the right:


The instrument cluster gets a blue border around it and the cluster consists of an analogue speedometer and a 7" LCD screen with a digital MID. The digital meter on the left shows how much power is being used (dependent on the accelerator input, similar to an ICE-car's rpm counter) and the regen meter. There is a battery level indicator on the top left along with the range available and at the bottom left is a regen level indicator. The selected gear and drive mode are displayed to the left of the MID:


The instrument cluster changes colour according to the drive mode selected - blue for City, green for Eco and red for Sport. The range indicated changes according to the drive mode and the regen level selected:


As you drive along, next to the regen level indicator, between the red and white lines, a graph appears showing your driving pattern. Only in Sport mode can you rev the motor all the way to the top. Here you can also see the regen meter in action:


MID shows the flow of energy through the drivetrain, two trip meters, average power consumption, time, outside temperature and the odometer. You can also access various settings through it:


You can reset the TPMS or adjust the illumination of the instrument cluster:


Rain sensing wipers and auto headlamps are standard on the Nexon EV Max:


Door pads are identical in design to the regular Nexon. However, they sport different detailing with a thick glossy back insert running in the middle:


Door pads get a big, soft leatherette insert with tri-arrow detailing. The area where one will rest his / her elbow is soft:


Seats are upholstered in Makarana light beige leatherette with perforation and tri-arrow detailing. They are comfortable and offer satisfactory support, both - lateral as well as under-thigh, for a person of a medium build and height. The headrests are adjustable and soft. Even the seat cushion is on the softer side:


One of the most significant feature additions in the Nexon EV Max is ventilated front seats. Perforation is a necessity for this feature:


Switch to operate the seat ventilation is located on the side:


Center armrest gets contrast blue stitching:


The footwell is wide and the pedals are well spaced out. A wide and useable dead pedal has been provided:


Nexon EV branded floor mats. Good to see the "fuel" flap release lever marked properly:


New IRVM covers the entire rear windshield:


Auto-dimming IRVM is available only on the XZ+ Lux variant:


Center fascia is identical in design to the regular Nexon:


The 7-inch Harman touchscreen is basic, yet packs all the features that you would need from a touchscreen. The home screen gets a split display and the touchscreen overall is pretty convenient to use, with very little lag. The car gets 4 speakers and 4 tweeters which have the usual audio adjustments. The sound quality is good by compact crossover standards. You also have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity:


Another feature added in the Nexon EV Max is an air purifier:


The reversing camera gets blue guidelines instead of the yellow ones seen in the regular Nexon:


The Nexon EV Max offers ZConnect connected car technology with 48 features like smartwatch integration, intrusion alert, remote immobilization, geofencing, time fencing, remote door lock/unlock, remote cooling, remote vehicle diagnostics, trip analytics etc:


Air-con vents get a blue border on the sides and bottom. The physical buttons used to control the touchscreen have been replaced by chrome "NEXON" lettering:


The button next to the foglamp switch is to lock the charger (to prevent theft). Say you are charging the car overnight in the parking lot, pressing the button locks/unlocks the charger from the port. The button to engage hill descent control is located on the extreme left:


12V power socket and USB port are located at the base of the centre fascia. However, the AUX port, which was present in Nexon originally, has disappeared:


Jewelled control knob for selecting gears gets a digital display on the top. Switches to engage Sport and Eco driving modes are placed on the right. Notice the blue insert ahead of the control knob:


The electronic parking brake and auto hold switch are placed just behind the gear selector. The toggle switch for adjusting the regen sits on the left:


With the traditional handbrake gone, space in the centre console has been freed for a pen holder (with tri-arrow detailing) and a wireless charging pad. Notice how the glossy black and beige plastics around the centre console are not properly aligned:


The storage compartment below the centre armrest is still deep, but much smaller than before thanks to the addition of the wireless charging pad:


The roof bezel now houses the switches for the sunroof. The small storage compartment has disappeared:


Sunroof gets a manually operated cover:


Sunroof is rather small for the size of the cabin. No cabin light for the rear passengers to use:


Recommended pressure for the tyres is 34 psi (36 psi with a full load):


Like the front, the rear door pads get a dual-tone theme. There is a stylish glossy black grab handle and soft leatherette insert on the rear door as well, but it does not extend to the area where one will rest his/her elbow. A tweeter & speaker on each door:


Rear seats get identical upholstery to the front units:


They are identical in shape and functions to the regular Nexon. However, due to the bigger battery pack, the floor height has been raised and one sits with their knees a little higher compared to the the regular Nexon:


The rear blower unit no longer gets an air volume regulator:


Since the battery pack is located ahead of the rear axle, the spare tyre is carried in the well below the boot floor. At 350-litres, the boot space is unaffected:


Like other Tata cars, the Nexon EV Max comes with a puncture repair kit that can be strapped in the corner of the boot:


Spare is a full-size tyre (215/60 R16) on a steel wheel:

Last edited by Aditya : 18th May 2022 at 19:34.
Aditya is offline   (89) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 09:00   #5
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 17,689
Thanked: 76,305 Times

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

Last edited by Aditya : 17th May 2022 at 09:03.
Aditya is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 09:22   #6
BHPian
 
Excommunicado's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Nashik
Posts: 79
Thanked: 458 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Great compilation Aditya

I think the duopoly of Nexon EV and ZS EV forced Ford to drop any plans regarding their own EVs in India. It was never going to be easy for any OEM to compete with good quality Indian and stubborn British/Chinese manufacturer. Although Ford is clearly superior but they won't be able to match the price. Tata rules the EV market for now.
Excommunicado is offline   (5) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 10:14   #7
BHPian
 
charanreddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 728
Thanked: 2,189 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

It’s a very compelling proposition. With ever rising fuel prices and high traffic / longer commute times this will find many takers. The extension of usable range to 300 kms removes some range anxiety, though it’s not ideal yet(400 kms is a good number).

I wish Tata gets into the Creta / Duster segment soon and brings us a EV with better boot space and slightly longer range but priced below MG ZS by 3 lakhs.
charanreddy is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 10:14   #8
BHPian
 
Chrome6Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chennai
Posts: 394
Thanked: 1,027 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Great review!

Tata has come up with a compelling package. You got to wonder if this is the MG ZS EV killer, especially the upcoming Excite model which will be approximately 2 lakhs more expensive than the Nexon.

If Tata can improve their production capacity and reduce the waiting period I think the cars will be flying off the shelves. They were also really sensible in keeping the original EV as well to cater to the city only customers at a lower price. Making the 7 KW charger optional was also really smart unlike MG and Hyundai.

I hope this pays off for Tata to bring in cars with usable features at good prices.
Chrome6Boy is offline   (5) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 10:17   #9
BHPian
 
rkmunjuluri's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 43
Thanked: 290 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Thanks Aditya and Blackwasp.

During the review and also during your interactions with the Tata Motors team what was your take on tentative start of delivery for EV max?

On a personal front I had booked an Astor on 23rd Feb and made a booking for EV Max on 23rd March. Astor waiting period is hit hard by the Chip shortage as it is techloaded and now EV max getting more tech, do you think it is also getting to impact delivery? All this waiting is killing me and every day I am contemplating a car which can be delivered much quickly. Any suggestions on should I wait for one of these or pick a different one altogether?

Last edited by Aditya : 17th May 2022 at 11:59. Reason: Corrected
rkmunjuluri is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:13   #10
Senior - BHPian
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: EU - Nordic
Posts: 2,049
Thanked: 3,015 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aditya View Post

Charging



The Nexon EV Max gets the industry-standard CCS 2 charging port. A 7.2 kW home charger which can be installed at your home or office
Is there confirmation about the charging capabilities of both versions of the EV Max? Do both versions (with and without 7.2kW charger) come with 7.2kW on-board charger? Do both versions support 50kW DC charging?
StarrySky is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:21   #11
Senior - BHPian
 
padmrajravi's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Kozhikode
Posts: 1,222
Thanked: 5,487 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Great review. Tata has fixed almost all of the shortcomings of the original Nexon EV. The adjustable regen levels and different drive modes mean there are many parameters to play around with to get the maximum range now. And Nexon just looks so natural compared to other EVs like ZS and Kona.

I am not happy about the safety aspects, though. A car costing 20L on road should by default have six airbags. There are no two ways about it. I understand it is because the original Nexon was never designed to include six airbags, but this is the only area where ZS has an edge now. Nexon EV is not yet tested, so I won't allow it to boast any additional safety credentials over the Creta twins. And for this simple reason, many will be forced to choose Creta/Seltos over this.

Last edited by padmrajravi : 17th May 2022 at 11:24.
padmrajravi is offline   (3) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:33   #12
BHPian
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Here and there
Posts: 379
Thanked: 1,421 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by padmrajravi View Post
Nexon EV is not yet tested, so I won't allow it to boast any additional safety credentials over the Creta twins. And for this simple reason, many will be forced to choose Creta/Seltos over this.
Agree with everything in your post but this. The reason for choosing the EV Max over Seltos/Creta can not be just perceived safety of the Nexon model alone. They're targeting completely different customers. Just because they're in the "roughly ~20L" ballpark doesn't mean everybody buying a car in that range will be interested in both. For one, running costs will be DRASTICALLY different. So someone from a lower segment might be interested in the EV Max but not the Korean twins. That aside, this is still not a reliable highway muncher whereas a Diesel AT Seltos/Creta would be your best companion on long, long highways.

I'm not saying either of the two is better than the other, just that they both have respective markets for beyond just safety reasons. They cater to different driving needs.

Edit: With all that said, I should definitely say the EV Max is a very tempting offering by Tata. It has almost everything for those who don't suffer with range anxiety. Very well written review by T-Bhp as always!
RoadMonkey is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:39   #13
Senior - BHPian
 
S2!!!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 1,918
Thanked: 10,064 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Hello Aditya and Team,

A real world 300km range doesn't seem probable unless someone is really driving for range, based on the media reports and on speaking with others who have driven the car. Could you please tell me for how many kilometers did you drive the car over the course of this review and what was the range drop? Obviously there will be multiple tests that you may have conducted throughout the day, so the range/consumption might not be accurate, but it would be nice to know numbers.

Also, any comments on the iVBAC function?

P.S. Ground clearance is wrongly stated. It is 190mm, 15mm lower than the standard Nexon EV!
S2!!! is offline   (7) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:47   #14
BHPian
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Hyderbad
Posts: 993
Thanked: 3,502 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

That's a great review. I have an idea for the TATA power app (could be an idea for all the charging apps I guess). Along with the type of charger, time, bill amount etc., it would be great if the app can give real time pics of the port's surroundings. The user will know how many are in line to get their cars charged. It should be fairly easy for TATA to do this too. Just add a cam to their charging location and integrate it to the app on the mobile. With the charge time usually being so high, I don't think any user would want to get into a charging area where there is waiting period. It would literally ruin their holiday!
Raghu M is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 17th May 2022, 11:53   #15
Senior - BHPian
 
Maky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bombay
Posts: 1,289
Thanked: 1,665 Times
Re: Tata Nexon EV Max Review

Thank you for the in-depth review as always T-Bhp.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aditya View Post
• Considerably more expensive than the Petrol / Diesel Nexon. You're paying for the tech & being an early adopter
This is where It still bothers me, we are still very clearly paying a premium for the EV factor and nothing else.

An interesting question, When will EVs reach price parity with their internal combustion counterparts?
Maky is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks