Buying a Second Hand Tata Nexon - Things You Should Consider

The Tata Nexon was first launched in India in 2017. It had a unique style based on the concept car shown at the 2014 Auto Expo. The Nexon boasted stylish flowing lines and contrasting design elements which gave it a coupé SUV-like appearance. On paper, the Tata Nexon offered a number of features and a choice of petrol and diesel engines at launch. Later versions received automatic transmission choices, special editions such as Dark Editions, and even an all-electric version. Having registered strong sales, while also being on sale for less than a decade, it means that there are some seemingly great deals on used Tata Nexon models. The Nexon has become a bestseller over the past few years. The number of variants, special editions and multiple electric options has made sure that the Nexon is a prominent car in pretty much any city in India today.

Tata Nexon: Model Overview

The Nexon was Tata Motors’ first sub-4-metre compact SUV, positioned below the many larger SUVs the brand became known for, such as the Safari and Sumo. It is built on an evolution of the Tata Indica ‘X1’ platform and was indigenously developed and manufactured in Pune, India. This ensured easy parts availability and a widespread dealer network with the Tata brand name underscoring people’s confidence in the brand. The Tata Nexon delivered a stylish package with a long list of features at attractive price points; something that keeps its market value strong even today.

First Generation (2017-2020)

The Tata Nexon was introduced in 2017. It had a familiar ‘family face’ and offered a choice of turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines, which were called ‘Revotron’ and ‘Revotorq’ respectively. The affordable price tag, unique design, stylish interior and features found quite a few takers. What really brought the Tata Nexon in the spotlight was its performance in the 2018 crash tests by the Global NCAP. The Tata Nexon scored four stars for adult occupant safety in the first test, with two airbags. Following the installation of the seat belt reminder for front occupants as standard, the second test saw it score a full five stars for adult occupant safety and three stars for child occupant safety. The Tata Nexon was offered with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 109 bhp and 170 Nm, and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 109 bhp and 260 Nm. Both engines had a choice of 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT. The Tata Nexon was the only car in its segment offering these choices of fuel and transmission at the time. The made-in-India Nexon got off to a great start thanks to full localisation and a starting price of less than ₹ 8 lakh for the base XE variant.

The Tata Nexon EV was shown in December 2019 and ushered in the new styling that the facelift model would adopt when it arrived in January 2020. The Tata Nexon recorded more than 1.6 lakh sales until the facelift model was introduced.

First Facelift (2020-2023)

The facelifted Tata Nexon came by at the start of 2020. It featured new headlights and tail-lights and a narrower grille. It continued with the same 1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesel engines but the main addition was the all-electric model. The Nexon EV came with a 30.5-kWh battery pack and 95-kW (127-bhp) electric motor with 245 Nm of torque. The ARAI-rated range was 312 km. It retained the dimensions and offered similar amenities in the cabin with a few more digital additions including charge monitoring. In May 2022, Tata Motors expanded the Nexon EV range with a longer-range model with a 40.5-kWh battery, called the Nexon EV Max. It offered a higher 141 bhp and 250 Nm as well as an ARAI-rated range of 437 km. The standard model was renamed EV Prime. The special Dark edition with a black theme was introduced in April 2023. In just two years (2021-22), the Nexon sold over 1.75 lakh units in India.

Second Facelift (2023-present)

The second facelift for the Tata Nexon was introduced in September 2023. There were changes galore from the new exterior styling to the variant names. The LED lighting trend had taken over and the Nexon received LED daytime light strips where the headlights were earlier, and new main LED headlights were moved below to the bumper. The front apron also received a new out-sweeping design from top to down. What changed entirely was the variant list: Smart, Pure, Creative, Fearless, and Empowered were the main names with plus, (O) option, A (automatic) and S (sunroof) suffixes also present. The engines were updated to comply with BS6-II regulations. The 1.2 petrol was improved to deliver 118 bhp with the same 170 Nm. The 1.5 turbo-diesel received advanced emission control tech with a full selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system with diesel exhaust fluid replacing the NOx trap setup from before. The Nexon was reassessed for crash safety in 2024 and secured a five-star overall rating once again.

The Tata Nexon i-CNG was also introduced with twin tanks in the rear load floor freeing up 321 litres of boot capacity. It became the first car to run a turbo-petrol engine which could also use CNG. Peak power is 99 bhp with the same 170 Nm of torque.

The Nexon EV also received new powertrain upgrades, with three motor output levels, all with 215 Nm of torque. There is even a visual charge indicator in the form of a light bar across the front grille. The new larger 45-kWh battery pack is available in five higher variants with a rated range of 489 km. The updated Nexon EV improved the power output to 148 bhp. The features upgraded in the compact SUV include a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charger, and a customisable digital driver information console. The Nexon EV also features vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging. The top model is the Nexon EV Empowered+ 45 Red Dark.

Maintenance and Service Costs of the Tata Nexon

The service cost is one of the main factors to consider when buying a second hand Tata Nexon because of its impact on overall cost of ownership. Tata Motors have a number of dealerships and service centres and local manufacturing ensures that parts are readily available. Here is the average service cost for the first five years of service for the Tata Nexon.

The parts for the Nexon are easily available as it is a bestselling car from the Tata Motors stable with a widespread dealer and service network across India. Finding a Tata Motors service centre is easy, and getting your Tata Nexon serviced on time should help keep it running.

Apart from the periodic service schedule, a second hand Tata Nexon with high mileage on the odometer will require a major service after 50,000 km or so. That means replacement of parts such as spark plugs, brake pads, gaskets and even the clutch plate. The following are the costs that may be involved:

Brakes: Check and replace the brake pads at around 35,000-40,000 km. The Tata Nexon disc rotors and pad front and rear cost ₹2,600-3,000.

Under the Bonnet: A high-mileage used Tata Nexon will need a thorough check under the bonnet to keep things going. The Tata Nexon petrol’s spark plugs cost ₹570-600, the timing chain costs ₹2,800.

Clutch: A car’s clutch will last for a long time with normal driving but the Nexon’s may need replacement at anywhere between 30,000-50,000 km depending on wear. The clutch plate replacement cost for Tata Nexon is approximately ₹4,000, with the clutch and pressure plate plus consumables going up to around ₹13,000.

Resale Value of the Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is one of the most popular cars in India and a high-selling SUV. It is also highly localised, and therefore has a good resale value. On an average, even a seven-year old used Tata Nexon retains about 45% of its original purchase value, whereas a one-year old Tata Nexon retains over 75% of its value. Because of consistently increasing new car prices, a used Tata Nexon may just be a car for someone looking for a car with a high safety rating on a budget. The resale value does, however, depend upon several factors such as:

Model Year: Newer car models have a higher resale value than older models.

Variant: Higher variants like XZ or Fearless or the automatic diesel or i-CNG and electric models are more expensive when new and thus have higher resale value because of their long list of features.

Condition: A well-maintained Tata Nexon which has been regularly serviced and which has a well maintained service history will hold its value.

Mileage: A more sparingly used car with a lower kilometre reading will have a higher resale value.

Common Problems with a Tata Nexon

1. Ergonomics:
   The on-paper features tempt many buyers but the real-world usability is not what they may expect. The door arm rest panel is upswept to make room for an umbrella holder. This umbrella holder only holds special small umbrellas and cannot hold a regular umbrella. The door pocket design is not ergonomical.. The centre console storage in older models is also very narrow, as is the storage section in the lower front part of the console. Even the mirror position adjuster is located on the bottom of the A-pillar making it hard to reach.
    
2. Space:
   The actual cabin space is not particularly generous. The rear foot room is also tight thanks to the provisional ‘cup-holder’ which is circular space at the outer edge of the rear seats. 
    
3. Fit-and-finish:
   A big issue is inconsistencies in quality, with some parts and panels disintegrating from the rest of the car with regular use. This could be attributed to poor supplier quality.
    
4. Electronics:
   Non-working switches or malfunctioning infotainment and rear parking camera feed are common problems with many Tata vehicles.
    

Specifications of the Tata Nexon (2023–present)

Here are all the specifications you need for the current versions of the Tata Nexon in India.

Conclusion

The Tata Nexon is a compact SUV with a high safety rating. It offers more than 50 variants to choose from including petrol, petrol+CNG, diesel and electric with a number of transmission options as well. It is locally produced and spare parts are easily available. It is popular in cities as well as rural areas because of widespread availability, choice of engines, and the Tata Motors brand name. The high level of equipment makes it an attractive car for many, and a well maintained used Nexon can be a great option as well.