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The Nexon has been a huge hit and even more so with the launch of the updated model last year. That sent it straight to the top tier of the sales charts but along with that, Tata Motors made some key changes. With the new Nexon, the interior along with the exterior gained a sharper new look but the DCA dual clutch gearbox has been a bigger change. Hence, with a vast price range of Rs 8-15 lakh, the Nexon appeals to different segments as well so we decided to live with the DCA version and see for ourselves, whether it is any good or not.
Performance
The 120 bhp turbo petrol gains some tweaks but the new addition is the DCA 7-speed dual clutch automatic. It is a wet clutch and that is for better durability too. The driving experience clearly has improved massively and so have the refinement levels. There is only a small amount of vibration now and the gearbox is well combined with the engine.
It is smooth and easy to drive with being a vast change over the AMT which still carries on. Power delivery is linear but the engine overall has smoother power delivery with gradual build up of power. There are drive modes as well with city being the best bet as Sport has too much of an edgy throttle response. At stop-go traffic and in the city, driving it is a breeze and on the highway, the switch to Sport mode brings a livelier response plus those lovely metal paddles help too even though downshifts were not very quick. It is a capable cruiser and fits the brief of a compact SUV well while this new gearbox makes it a much better car befitting the price.
The ride and the suspension continue to be a highlight with an excellent 208mm ground clearance plus a sense of toughness. Sure, there is some low-speed firmness, but it gets better at higher speeds and handles bad roads with the poise of a much larger SUV. Hence, this is a tough compact SUV which can take over bad roads. Efficiency during our two week drive hovered around 11-12 kmpl with a sportier driving style.
Features and interiors
This is where the new Nexon scores with a new interior which honestly looks more premium than rivals especially that bold purple interior colour. Quality has gone up with soft touch bits and the new digital interface plus the faux carbon look. The touch panel might be a fingerprint magnet but looks cool when lit up while the same goes for the digital steering logo.
The 10.25-inch screen also left little to complain with its slick interface along with a fantastic 360 degree camera display. Other features I liked included the brilliant JBL audio with various modes along with the Xpress cool function which preps the cabin to instantly make it cool. The digital driver display linked with maps makes it convenient while again having a premium car feature. I would have liked a powered drivers seat though and the ventilated seat button is oddly located too.
Storage at the centre also could have been better since the wireless charging pad can barely hold large phones. That said, the cabin feels rich and well put together while space is decent too despite a low roof.
Verdict
This top-end Nexon DCA is Rs 15 lakh but it does feel like it with the sportier looks along with the head-turning purple colour similar to a supercar while the interior is also suitably premium. Importantly the driving experience is much better with this DCA variant and is the best Nexon to buy even if it is the most expensive in the Nexon range.
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