Earlier this month, EVW reader Nirvik Banerjee from Chhattisgarh shared how he managed to get a range of more than 250 km in his Tata Nexon EV. Now, EVW reader Ram from Belgaum has shared his initial ownership review of his Tata Nexon EV that he took delivery a few days ago.
Why you chose the Tata Nexon EV over the Nexon diesel or Nexon petrol?
First of all, I’m an auto enthusiast, and so, something new in the market is always interesting to me. Secondly, I already have an ICE model for the long drives, a Jeep Compass, and I was looking for something for the city. I saw the 312 km ARAI range of the Tata Nexon EV, and I thought it could do around 250 km realistically. It’s giving me a good range right now, after one week of ownership.
I chose the Tata Nexon EV because of the range and the new technology that Tata Motors has developed. Took the first test drive in February and booked it immediately. I was expecting my Tata Nexon EV delivery in March, but the Coronavirus lockdown caused a delay in that. I am going to reduce a lot of carbon footprint with this new electric car. I have a 125 kW solar system at my workplace, and I charge it using that.
Did you consider any other city car apart from the Tata Nexon EV?
I had made up my mind of buying an electric city car, and the best one I saw in the market was the Tata Nexon EV. I did not consider the MG ZS EV because it’s a Chinese product, and the Hyundai Kona Electric is not practical because the price is pretty high.
Price-wise, the Tata Nexon EV fits my budget very well. I wanted to replace my Maruti Ritz, which was for city driving, with an INR 10-12 lakh model. However, I did not mind spending another INR 3 lakh to go for an EV and experience the new technology. I was ready to take a risk, and I do not regret my decision after one week of ownership.
Have you done a long-distance drive yet?
I haven’t driven for long distances because I was pretty busy with my work. I have driven a lot in the city, though, and I’ve charged the car three times since I got it.
What is the range that you are getting?
It’s a mixed usage right now, as my friends and other people are also driving it. Right now, my Tata Nexon EV range is 180 km, which is pretty bad, but I know I can do better in a single-hand use.
Which is the variant of your Tata Nexon EV?
I own the Tata Nexon EV in its mid-range, XZ+ variant. I saw the top-end, XZ+ Lux variant but did not find it worth the price. The low-end, XM variant was quite basic and did not include all the equipment that I required. The XZ+ variant was perfect for me, and I think it is the most preferred variant among all buyers.
Will you ever go back to a petrol car?
For city driving, I would not look at a petrol car now. I am sure Tata Motors will introduce better technology in the future. I had an Indica long time ago, and after that when I’ve come back to a Tata Motors product. I can see the difference and how much technology has picked up and how much work is involved in this development.
How has been your driving experience with your Tata Nexon EV?
The Sport mode makes the car a rocket, and enthusiast friends love this feature. It fully utilises the available torque of the motor. Of course, it’s for a short while, and I do not use it full-time in the Sport mode. However, the driving experience in the Sport mode is what pushed me to book the Tata Nexon EV immediately. It is a good package overall, and I do not regret my purchase decision at all.
Where does most of the charging happen now?
Most of the charging happens at home at the moment, during the night. The cooler environment at night is an ideal time to charge the battery.
Do you own any other car apart from the Tata Nexon EV and the Jeep Compass?
Yes, I do. It’s a Honda Brio. I had a Maruti Ritz which I traded for the Nexon EV.
