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In the current scenario of the government promoting electric cars, we spend a few days driving around in the Tata Nexon EV to see how it is to live with

- Sarmad Kadiri

IN INDIA, who doesn’t lIke SUVs? and to prove this theory, a mere glance at the sales charts is sufficient. Let’s go a step further and add — if it’s electric, staying in sync with the call for zero-emission — it becomes a perfect match. Yes, we are talking about the Tata Nexon EV which fits this bill perfectly. And what makes this homegrown model even better is the attractive price tag it’s being offered at. So, it just made sense to spend a few days driving around in the electric vehicle to see how easy it is to live with.

The conventional Nexon had received a five-star safety rating in the GNCAP crash test a little while ago and the EV is based on that. It’s reassuring to know that this model is built on a strong foundation. Not surprisingly, the EV strongly resembles the internal combustion (IC) version, apart from the stylish front grille carrying the tri-arrow theme and the electric blue highlights. The bonnet is also raised slightly, hinting at the car’s compliance with the pedestrian protection norms. It would have received our five-star rating for the build as well if only the panel gaps were more consistent.

As you step inside, there’s some more of the signature tri-arrows and the electric blue highlights all around the cabin too. The space is pretty decent for a sub-four-metre car, but what surprised us the most was the low floorboard which gives the EV a similar cabin room to the IC Nexon. The 30.2kWh battery pack has been concealed so well within. That’s why my family members on the rear seat were pleased with the decent knee- and headroom. Plus, I had a very usable 350 liters of boot space to stow laptop bags, tennis rackets, and even some grocery bags.