Get going and the refinement is evident. We were in the hills on the outskirts of Kochi. The new four-cylinder diesel feels potent the moment you lift off the clutch. It feels nicely balanced and the power delivery is linear. It peaks at 3,750 rpm, with the torque kicking in firmly at 1,500 rpm and staying flat and strong until 2,750 rpm. With a slightly shorter first gear and that immense torque, the diesel muscles forward with authority. It pulls cleanly from low speed and sounds quite refined going about its speed-development business. The 1,300-kg weight is significantly more than any previous new sub-four-metre Tata car and this 1.5 Revotorq seems well-suited to its role.
The Nexon has a considerable 209 mm of ground clearance, making it easier to not be bothered about speed-humps and pot-holes. The ‘dual-path’ suspension places the wheels to the ground, feels set up on the stiffer side, and does a decent job while at it, making short work of what would be otherwise be bone-jarring rough roads. It also handles corners quite well, although, with that ride height, body roll is evident. The speed-sensitive power-steering unit, though, provides great response and also gives good feedback. Another big help on the move is the voice-control, that actually understands most accents, and helps take care of essentials commands on the move at the push of a steering-wheel-mounted button, rather than fumbling around with eyes off the road.
Convenience is furthered with the smart-key as well as a wearable device for the wrist, which can be used when you don’t want to carry a key around – similar to what Volvo offer with their 90 series of cars.
The Revotron petrol engine was another potent package. It feels refined and powerful – how I wish they pop this in the Tiago! – with its four-valves-per-cylinder working hard to fill its lungs and help it breathe well. The peak 170 Nm is best felt between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm where it must stay to keep the engine on the boil. The overdrive top three ratios meant I was in third for the most part. However, I did find myself changing gears a lot more than I would have liked.
Overall, the vision Tata Motors had has finally taken shape. The Nexon is exciting to look at, staying quite true to its concept form, and never failed to turn heads – young and old. It has the features and the equipment. It has all the essentials. What’s truly missing, and something that I hope we see very soon, is the proper integration. After all, integrity is what truly makes for a desirable package, isn’t it? Watch out for a detailed road-test review post its launch about a month ahead of the festive season.
