Tata Nexon CNG Review: A Convincing Diesel Alternative?

The Nexon is a car which is available with everything including electric to diesel while now getting a CNG option as well. It is the first turbocharged petrol CNG option while coming in eight variants

CNG cars have increased in availability over the years and it has come out to be an alternative to a diesel since it brings in the lesser running costs but it is eco friendly as well. Plus at the below 15 lakh segment, diesel has slowly evaporated in terms of choices and CNG with factory fitted options have grown in popularity. The Nexon is a car which is available with everything including electric to diesel while now getting a CNG option as well. It is the first turbocharged petrol CNG option while coming in eight variants as well which means you can get a fully loaded Nexon CNG.

In CNG mode there is 100 bhp and 170Nm which means it may be down on power but the torque is the same. You have a direct start option in CNG mode too with a single ECU while first impressions indicate that you will not be reaching out to shift to petrol mode due to lack of power. Typically CNG cars are much slower but here it is not so much the case with the torque especially coming in handy during city stop go traffic. It is easy to drive and has plenty of power. Yes, compared to the petrol engine, some of the power delivery is toned down but it is enough for city driving or even in the highway. I did not turn on the petrol mode at all. The official efficiency figure is 24km/kg too. The Nexon CNG only comes with a manual but we think an AMT would have been nicer as the manual has a slightly long throw. The clutch is light though. Being available with the top-end trim means that the Nexon CNG comes with all of the features including twin 10.25 inch screens, ventilated seats, a 360 degree camera, an air purifier and most importantly a new panoramic sunroof. This is a big addition with the panoramic sunroof making the cabin feel airy.

Another crucial change is the boot space which gets two 30l tanks beneath the boot floor and it is 321l which is just 21l down from the regular model. The spare wheel though is placed beneath the car. The Nexon CNG is around Rs 1 lakh more than the petrol model and is for those who have a higher running to require having lower costs. In that case a CNG makes sense and the Nexon is the best equipped CNG car right now too along with being the most powerful. 

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