Nexon EV Max Review: New Performance Features Tested — Is Electric SUV Worth The Money?

While you can drive the Nexon EV MAX in city mode but we found even the eco mode to be sufficient for the city.

Tata Nexon EV Max

New Delhi: If anything, it has been Tata Motors which has shaped the EV industry in India and has successfully given EVs to the buyer at a price point which is affordable. Tata makes the most affordable EV in India and its Nexon EV is also the best selling one. To keep that lead going, the car-maker recently launched the Nexon EV Max and that addresses what all we wanted more from the Nexon EV anyways. More in terms of range and a few crucial new features.

The Nexon EV Max is exactly that and the headline news is that the battery pack is now much larger at 40.5 kWh which means more power with 143PS/250 Nm along with a claimed range of 437km. Do keep in mind that the standard Nexon EV has a 30.2kWh battery pack along with a 312km range. The effect of that is clearly seen in the way the Nexon EV MAX drives as the extra power is seen with the effortless performance. It is not that the standard Nexon EV is slow but the EV MAX sure feels a lot quicker. There are three drive modes and if put in Sport, the car moves ahead at a shocking pace which is associated with EVs.

You can drive the Nexon EV MAX in city mode but we found even the eco mode to be sufficient for the city. The power delivery feels smoother and like with all EVs, a simple tap at the accelerator is enough to access performance. Unlike a petrol or diesel car, there is no need to build revs or anything, since there is no engine and all the torque is served right up. We also have to say that with the presence of ESC, wheelspin is now controlled and the Nexon EV is now much better at putting down the power.

Of course, everyone wants to know about the range above everything else and here the actual figure is different from the ARAI figure of 437km. The standard Nexon EV gets you 200km plus in the real world and for the Nexon EV Max, the figure has jumped to nearly 300km! Our tests had standard driving (in the city) with AC on plus regular use of all drive modes. The range that you get will differ due to how many passengers you have, road or even weather conditions. But with eco mode, you can easily reach 280/300km and drive one way for a road trip with ease- something you could not have done with the standard Nexon EV.

Like all EVs and unlike the standard Nexon EV, the EV Max gets adjustable regenerative braking where you can change the level of regen. This helps increase the range in the city and at the highest level, you can do one-pedal driving with no need to use the brake pedal. You can turn it off also. The larger battery pack means more weight and while ground clearance has reduced a bit, there is no change in the driving experience and we even took it for mild off-roading with the underbody not touching. Even the boot space has not been reduced and remains at 350 litres.

Other things? There is a new Intensi-Teal colour with dual-tone options along with new dual-tone alloy wheels. The interiors get a more plush looking beige upholstery while blue highlights are also there on the cabin. Feature updates include a powered hand brake with auto hold, wireless charging, air purifier, cruise control, cooled seats and more features with the connected car technology. There is a new gear selector too and we did notice that there is some lag between engaging reverse to drive or to neutral. We also think the touchscreen is a bit small.

However, nothing takes away from the fact that the EV Max is the best version of the Nexon EV and easily makes sense to spend more on the standard version. This is also the best EV in India In terms of value with prices starting at Rs 17.74 lakh to the top-end Lux trim being priced at Rs 18.74 lakh. The EV Max also supports fast charging but practically, for home or office use, an optional 7.2kW AC charger reduces charging time to just 5 hours. In short, this will tempt many to go electric!

What we like - Range, performance, added features, value.

What we do not like - Small touch screen, gear selector has a lag.