Tata Nexon EV: A Thorough Analysis of the Old and New Model

In recent years, the Indian car market has witnessed a significant shift in customer preferences towards electric vehicles or EVs. What was once considered a niche segment has become a more cost-effective commute option for environmentally conscious car buyers. Leading carmakers are introducing advanced EV models and EV versions of their bestselling cars. The Tata Nexon EV is one such well-planned initiative from Tata Motors to make a mark in the affordable EV market. 

The Nexon EV debuted in 2020 as the brand's first EV model. Its performance, range, and affordable price bracket quickly made it famous. The Nexon EV has received a significant upgrade with the launch of the facelift version on 14 September 2023. The new Nexon EV has a completely redesigned exterior design language, advanced infotainment features, and powertrain configurations. 

This article compares the design, powertrain, pricing, variants, and features of the old and new Nexon EVs.

Design and Exterior

The new Nexon EV's exterior design elements and interior amenities have significantly changed. While it carries forward the signature style that made its older iteration famous, the new Nexon EV is even more appealing. In the following sections, we will compare the design and exterior features of the old and new Tata Nexon EV. 

Old Tata Nexon EV

Tata designed the original Nexon EV using its IMPACT 2.0 philosophy. It featured a unique Tri-arrow design aesthetic, including projector headlamps with Tr-arrow DRLs at the front and signature tail lamps. Additionally, it included 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels for added style and stability. 

The electric blue accents in the humanity line, side beltline, and X-factor were vital features. The body-coloured door handles added harmony, while the electric sunroof with tilt function offered stunning skyward views. The floating roof effect (dual tone) with a shark fin antenna and roof rails completed the look.

The old Nexon EV measured 3993mm in length, 1811mm in width, and 1606mm in height. Its wheelbase was 2498mm. The old Nexon EV was available in Signature Teal Blue and Glacier White. 

New Tata Nexon EV

The facelift of Nexon EV's front fascia, with split LED headlamps, is sleek and futuristic. The new Nexon EV has smart digital DRLs with a welcome and goodbye sequence. The iconic X factor with a welcome and goodbye sequence at the back offers a distinct digital appearance. The spoiler hides the rear wiper. Aero inserts adorn the R16 alloy wheels. The Nexon EV badging appears on the front doors and the tailgate.

It measures 3994mm in length, 1811mm in width and 1616mm in height. The wheelbase is 2498mm. The new Nexon EV has seven colour options: Flame Red, Fearless Purple, Daytona Grey, Empowered Oxide, Pristine White, Intense Teal, and Creative Ocean.

Comparison of the Old and New Designs

The new Nexon EV is 1mm longer and 10mm taller. The base silhouette is the same, but the design is more contemporary. Vertical struts replace the Tri-arrow design theme on the bumper. The new Nexon EV comes with split LED headlamps as a first. The 16-inch alloy wheels also have a changed design. The most noticeable change is the replacement of the blue accents with the Nexon—EV badging. The new Nexon EV looks modern and minimal. 

Read more: Tata Nexon EV Dimensions

Interior and Comfort

This section will explore the interior design and comfort amenities of the old and new Tata Nexon EV. 

Old Tata Nexon EV

The old Nexon EV had a subtle and Twi-arrow-themed interior space. The dashboard had a layered dual-tone finish with electric blue accents. The leatherette-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel offered a smooth and firm grip. The seats came in premium fabric or leatherette upholstery designed for comfort. The dashboard had a 7-inch TFT digital instrument cluster with a full graphic display and an infotainment system. 

It had a grand central console with a front armrest and sliding tambour door. Storage spaces included umbrella holders in front doors, bottle holders in all doors, and cup holders. It had a multi-utility cooled and illuminated glove box. The rear seats had 100% flip and flat fold functions. 

Comfort amenities include fully automatic temperature control, height adjustable driver seat,  height adjustable front seatbelts, rear AC vents, a Smart key with push button start, a fast USB port at the front, 12V front and rear power outlets and a boot lamp. The boot space capacity was 350 litres.

New Tata Nexon EV

The new Nexon EV features a digital dashboard that enhances the cabin experience. The grand centre console catches the eye. The rear seats, which have a 60:40 folding function, come with a centre armrest. The seats are dual-tone and bolstered for comfort. These ventilated seats allow optimal seating during long drives. There is also a front armrest. 

A stylish two-spoke black-lit steering wheel adds to the style. The intelligent digital shifter looks straight out of a sci-fi film and offers a quick response. It has an air purifier, rear AC vents, a Type-C USB charger at the front and back, and a cooled and illuminated glovebox. The boot space capacity is 350 litres. 

Comparison of The Old and New Interiors

Regarding the interiors, the new Nexon EV focuses on what is essential: comfort and features. There is a slight change in terms of style. But the comfort amenities are upgraded with the latest features. The dashboard's general layout is still the same. Notably, there are new screens, control surfaces, and trims.

The conventional unit has replaced the old EV's rotary gear selector, and touch-sensitive controls are now on the centre console. Additionally, the Nexon EV boasts a redesigned two-spoke steering wheel with the Tata logo in the middle.

Another notable change is eliminating the blue design elements from the previous Nexon EV. Although a rotary dial is still present, it now functions to switch between drive modes. Furthermore, the dual-tone design and modified padding have replaced the previous beige upholstery with fresh stitching.

Check out: Tata Nexon EV Interior

Performance and Handling 

The following sections analyse the performance and ride quality of the old and new Nexon EV regarding battery capacity, range, and transmission. 

Old Tata Nexon EV

The old Nexon EV had a 30.2-kWh high-energy-density Lithium-ion battery pack paired with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. The battery generated 127.24 bhp and 245 Nm of torque. The gearbox was a single-speed transmission with an automatic-like drive. It had two drive modes: Drive and Sport. 

The car could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds. The advanced Ziptron technology and dual-path suspension guaranteed comfortable ride and handling. The regular charging time from 10 to 90% from any 15A plug point was 8.5 hours. The fast-charging time was 10 to 80% and was 60 minutes. The battery variants were named Prime and Max. The range was 312 km to 437 km. 

New Tata Nexon EV

The new Nexon has a Lithium-ion battery and a Permanent Magnet Synchronous AC Motor. It has a long-range and a medium-range option. The Long-Range variant has a 40.5-kWh battery, and the Medium-Range variant has a 30-kWh battery. The new Nexon EV generates a max power of 127.39bhp and 215 Nm torque for the medium-range variants. The range is 325 km. 

The long-range variants generate the same torque but at a higher power of 142.68 bhp, which offers a range of 465 km. The 7.2 kW AC charging time from 10 to 100% is 6 hours. The 50 kW DC fast charging time from 10 to 80% is 56 minutes. It takes 15 hours to charge from 10 to 100% with a 15A plug point. The transmission is a one-speed automatic gearbox. It has three drive modes: Eco, City and Sport. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. 

Comparison of The Old and New Performance

The new Nexon EV offers an impressive battery pack configuration with better range and performance. The 'Prime' and 'Max' are no longer part of the new model's naming. The new Nexon EV gets medium-range (MR) and long-range (LR) versions. The electric motors on the Nexon EV are another modification. 

The upgraded Nexon EV has new second-generation units. The power output is nearly unchanged compared to the outgoing model, but the range has significantly increased. The new Nexon EVs' powertrain supports vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-load charging and acts as a power source to run external appliances or charge another vehicle.

Read More: Tata Nexon EV All Specifications

Safety and Technology

This section will compare the safety and infotainment features of the old and new Nexon EV.

Old Tata Nexon EV

The old Nexon EV had driver and co-driver airbags, ABS with EBD, Corner Stability Control, Driver seat belt with pretensioners, puncture repair kit, child safety rear door locks, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, and camera reverse park assist. Advanced safety tech includes intrusion alerts, stolen vehicle tracking, panic notification, remote immobilisation, and location-based services like time fencing, geo-fencing, finding my car, and finding the nearest charging station. There were 20+ vehicle care alerts,  trip analytics, and driver behaviour score readings. 

The old Nexon EV had a 7-inch ConnectNext Infotainment system by Harman for the base and a ConnectNext floating Dash top touchscreen infotainment system by Harman for the higher specs. It also had an 8-speaker sound system by Harman, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and steering-mounted audio and voice controls. The onboard car tech was the Tata Motors ZConnect Mobile App with over 35 innovative connect features. 

New Tata Nexon EV

The new Nexon EV comes with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Hill Descent Control and Hill Assist. It also gets a front parking sensor, all disc brakes, auto hold, and a blind spot view monitor. The SOS call is an emergency in-cabin assistance button. There is also a 360-degree surround-view camera system and auto-dimming IRVM as well. It has a 5-star safety rating from BNCAP. 

The critical infotainment system is the 12.3-inch cinematic touchscreen by Harman for the top spec. The mid variant gets a 10.25-inch screen, and the base variant gets a 7-inch screen. The JBL cinematic sound system offers spatial 3D surround sound with nine high-quality speakers. There are also multiple audio modes. 

The new Nexon EV supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, showing maps on the cluster's multi-dial view for a safe driving experience. It also comes with the Arcade, a trustworthy app suite that you can use to download music, games, videos, and apps. Additionally, it offers OTA updates.

Comparison of the Old and New Safety And Technology Features

The new Nexon EV's safety and tech features are unparalleled. It gets the latest amenities regarding larger screens, screen quality, and connected tech. The connected tech is more advanced, as is the Arcade.EV is a true infotainment suite. The JBL speakers are a welcome upgrade. It also gets more advanced sensors and tech-integrated safety features. The airbags are also more. The new Nexon EV is genuinely a new-age EV. 

Price and Value

The following sections will provide a price and variant-wise value for the money quotient sent for the new and old Nexon EVs. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom Delhi prices. 

Old Tata Nexon EV

The earlier Tata Nexon EV had a price range of ₹14.49 lakhs to ₹17.50 lakhs. It came in three main variants: XM, XZ+, and XZ+ Lux, each with features. Additionally, there were six variants based on powertrain combinations. The XZ+ variant in the middle provided the best value for money. 

New Tata Nexon EV

The new Tata Nexon EV has a price range of ₹14.49 lakhs to ₹19.29 lakhs. It has three broad variants, Creative, Fearless, and Empowered, and ten variants based on powertrain combinations. Each variant provides ample offerings and distinct additions. 

Comparison of the Old and New Pricing And Value

Comparing the prices, the old and new Nexon EV base models have the same price. The top models differ from the new Nexon EV, priced higher by almost two lakhs. However, the new Nexon EV offers more variants, giving customers more options that make the new Nexon EV equally cost-effective as the old one. 

The table below presents the price-wise differences between the old and new Nexon EVs based on the top and base models.

Check out: Tata Nexon EV Variants

Conclusion

The Tata Nexon EV was a massive success when it launched in 2020. The new Nexon EV, despite significant changes, is equally successful. It is more stylish, feature-rich, and mighty battery and range. With extensive variants and comfort features, the new Nexon EV is a promising choice for car lovers who prefer stylish, powerful, eco-friendly commuting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions and their answers related to Tata Nexon EV

Which is best, old Nexon or new Nexon EV?

The old Nexon EV was a powerful sub-compact SUV equipped with ample features. The new Nexon EV is the most feature-loaded, futuristic SUV in its segment in India. 

What is the boot space of the new Nexon EV?

The Tata Nexon EV has a boot space of 350 litres.

Is Tata Nexon EV successful?

Yes. It is the highest-selling EV in India. 

How many years does the Nexon EV battery last?

The Tata Nexon EV battery has a warranty of eight years or 1.6 lakh kilometres, whichever comes first.

What is the ground clearance of the Nexon EV?

The Nexon EV has a ground clearance of up to 205mm.

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