Tata Nexon: Five Things We Would’ve Liked

The Nexon is a promising offering, but these would have made it a real all-rounder

Tata’s entry into the sub-4m SUV segment was long overdue. And back in September 2017 the Nexon was launched at a starting price of just Rs 5.85 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). The Tata Nexon undercut all its main rivals back then. Now, prices for the base variant of the Nexon have gone up to Rs 6.23 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi) and it still manages to undercut the opposition. What’s more, it is offered with the strongest diesel engine in the segment, refreshing looks and it is the first Tata car in the sub-Rs 10 lakh bracket that has dual airbags and ABS as standard across all its variants. Actually, it stands second only to its larger sibling, the Hexa, that has these basic safety features on all variants.

All that is great and the Nexon has shook up the segment to capture a decent share for itself. But when you look closely, the chinks in its armour come to the fore. Here are five things that we would’ve liked on Tata’s baby SUV.

Proper Rear AC Vents: Yes. The Tata Nexon does have dedicated AC vents for rear passengers, but they don’t really work as they should. The correct way to engineer those vents is to feed cool air from the air conditioning system directly and most of the cars do the same. However, in the Nexon, the rear AC vents suck in air from the cabin and divert it towards the rear passengers. That means, if you have the rear AC vents open, the cabin will take a lot longer to cool down than it would otherwise.

Better Touchscreen Response: Unlike any other car from Tata Motors, the Nexon gets a new 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is mounted on top of the dashboard. While it looks cool and makes the interiors look fresh, there’s quite some lag. Sure, you can use the rotary knobs mounted below the central AC vents to operate any of the features on the system. But the experience of pairing a Bluetooth device or setting the navigation system would have been a lot better if the screen responded better.

Smoother Gearshifts: We had the opportunity to drive the Nexon way before it was launched. During our time with it, we noticed that the 6-speed manual transmission isn’t very slick. No matter which engine option you choose, the gearshifts do take a while to get used to and aren’t the smoothest.

Better Ergonomics: There are a few niggles in the cabin which could’ve been avoided as well. Starting with the placement of the USB and AUX ports for the music system. Both are tucked away in a cubby behind the gearbox. They are tough to reach and tougher to slot a vable into. Then, there is the weird shape of the gear knob. It just doesn’t feel comfortable to hold. But the biggest issue is how the tambour door opens up to a world of ergonomic issues. The narrow, but deep, space has been carved out for two cup holders, but placing or taking out any kind of cup won’t be easy. Instead, the space should be have been used to as a mobile phone holder with the USB/AUX ports.

More Features: The Nexon does have an extensive feature list but it does miss out on a few important ones. For instance, even in the top-spec version, there is no sunroof. The Honda WR-V has it. Similarly, there is no cruise control, automatic headlamps or automatic rain sensing wipers, all of which can be found on both of its primary rivals - the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport.

Also Read: 

• Tata Nexon: First Drive Review
• Is The Tata Nexon Priced Right?
• Tata Nexon: Variants Explained
• Tata Nexon To Get A 6-Speed AMT Before April 2018
• Tata Nexon Vs Ford EcoSport Vs Maruti Vitara Brezza - Specs Compared

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