August 2022 - Tata Nexon Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Updated: A few months ago, Tata Motors added some more Tata Nexon variants to make the buying decision quite complex for the buyers. They also removed the XZ variant and shuffled some features. This Tata Nexon petrol variants explained article includes the latest August 2022 prices along with updated buying recommendations for all variants.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Tata Nexon Petrol Variants?

The pros and cons of Tata Nexon petrol are:

• Great torque and power output from the turbo petrol engine
• A fairly wide and tall body gives it a great road presence
• Best-in-class ground clearance of 209mm
• Best-in-class 5-star Global NCAP adult safety rating
• The XE variant doesn’t instantly come across as the base variant from the outside because of the projector headlamps, LED DRLs and LED tail lamp cluster
• Gets option of manual and AMT automatic transmissions with the option of automatic in all variants except the base model
• Gets a good number of features for its class in the top variant
• One of the most affordable cars with a sunroof - and an SUV at that

The Tata Nexon variants have the following shortcomings or problems:

• Expensive XM variant
• Under-equipped XE, XM, XM (S) and XM Plus (S) variants lack several must-have features such as a day/night inside mirror, front and rear armrests, auto AC, split rear seatback, height-adjustable driver seat, Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity, rear camera, rear defogger, rear washer wiper and tyre pressure sensors
• Missing features like puddle lamps, 360-degree camera, side thorax and curtain airbags
• The base XE variant doesn’t get a standard slot for aftermarket music systems
• AMT automatic is a bit expensive and carries a premium of Rs. 65,000 over the manual transmission; the typical industry standard is Rs. 50,000 for AMT automatic
• The 6-month service interval is too short; a 10,000km per year interval is the industry standard

You can also watch the Tata Nexon variants explained breakdown in Hindi in the video below:

What Is The Price Of Tata Nexon Petrol Variants?

The Tata Nexon petrol is available in a total of 8 main variants with prices starting from Rs. 7.60 lakh and going up to Rs. 12.45 lakh (ex-showroom). The petrol-manual range costs between Rs. 7.60 lakh and Rs. 11.80 lakh. The Nexon petrol automatic is available in 7 of the 8 variants with prices ranging from Rs. 9.25 lakh and going up to Rs. 12.45 lakh. It carries a flat premium of Rs. 65,000 over the comparable manual variants.

In addition to these main variants, there are also cosmetic options like Dark Edition and Kaziranga. These are also based on some standard and best Tata Nexon variants and offer some style features for an additional price.

Note: Check Nexon On Road Price

Tata Nexon Petrol XE - Base Model Features & Review

The base XE variant of the Tata Nexon petrol costs Rs. 7.60 lakh (ex-showroom). It has the following notable standard features:

• Halogen projector headlamps
• LED DRLs
• LED tail lamps
• 16-inch steel wheels
• 3 drive modes
• Front power windows
• Tilt steering
• Traction control
• Electronic stability control
• Hill start
• Umbrella holder in front doors
• 1.0L bottle holders in all doors
• Body-coloured bumpers
• Black door handles and outside mirrors
• Digital instrument cluster

The base variant skips all the functional features in favour of the safety kit. It even wins in the style department as the base variant also gets projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED tail lamps, all of which take the style quotient to the next level for a base variant.

Tata have clearly defined themselves as the Volvo of India with top-notch safety ratings for their cars. However, we’d not recommend it to most buyers as it doesn't have enough features to offer a decent ownership experience. Some of the features you might miss in the XE are:

• Remote central locking
• Rear camera
• Music system
• Steering-mounted controls
• Rear power windows
• Day/night inside mirror
• Rear power windows
• Power mirrors
• Wheel covers

The XE variant is certainly worth buying but only for those who can’t stretch their budget further. Our recommendation is to upgrade to a higher variant.

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car Loan EMI Calculator

Tata Nexon Petrol XE vs XM Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XM variant of the Tata Nexon petrol costs Rs. 8.60 lakh with the manual transmission, which is Rs. 1.0 lakh more than the base XE variant. This variant is also available with an AMT automatic transmission or an additional Rs. 65,000 and costs Rs. 9.25 lakh (ex-showroom). For this additional sum, you get the following notable features:

• Music system
• 4x speakers
• Power mirrors with auto power folding
• Rear power windows
• Remote central locking
• Follow-me headlamps
• Wheel covers
• Roof rails
• Boot lamp

It’s worth noting that the XM variant gets some must-have features, which aren’t available in the base model. It also gets some of the must-have features. However, the asking price is too high considering the additional features. So, we’d rather suggest you consider one of the higher variants or buy the XE variant and accessorise it as per your needs. The XM variant of the Nexon petrol is not a value for money option and not worth buying.

This is the most affordable option for Nexon petrol-automatic buyers. You should buy this only if you can’t stretch your budget any further. If you can afford a higher variant, then we strongly suggest doing so.

Tata Nexon Petrol XM vs XM (S) Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XM (S) variant of the Nexon petrol is also available with a manual and automatic transmission. It costs Rs. 9.20 lakh with the manual and 9.85 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are exactly Rs. 60,000 more than the XM variant. The XM (S) variant of the Nexon petrol gets the following notable features:

• Steering-mounted controls
• Auto headlamps
• Auto wipers
• Sunroof

Except for the steering-mounted controls, everything else in this list is a good-to-have feature. What’s good here is that the XM (S) variant of the Nexon is a fairly affordable car with a sunroof. For style conscious buyers, the Nexon XM (S) is a great option as you can just add alloy wheels and your Nexon will look like a top variant from the outside. For budget buyers too, the XM (S) variant is worth considering because it’s a better value for money option than the XM variant. 

Although, it still doesn’t get several must-have features such as:

• A touchscreen
• Front and rear armrests
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Day/night inside mirror
• Auto AC

However, it’s an undeniably better value-for-money option than the lower XM variant. So, for petrol-manual and automatic buyers, this is the lowest variant we’ll recommend — at least from a value standpoint.

Tata Nexon Petrol XM (S) vs XM Plus (S) Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XM Plus (S) variant of the Nexon costs Rs. 9.75 lakh with the manual and Rs. 10.40 lakh with the automatic. These prices are Rs. 55,000 higher than the XM (S) trim. It adds the following important features to the car:

• Cooled glovebox
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Voice commands
• Rear AC vents

The XM Plus (S) variant adds some important features but still doesn’t add must-have features such as:

• Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Day/night inside mirror
• Front and rear armrests
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Rear washer wiper
• Rear defogger
• Tyre pressure sensors (TPMS)
• Auto AC

Because of these missing figures, we’ll suggest getting the lower XM (S) variant for better value for money. If you can stretch your budget, then you should pick a higher variant for a balanced set of features and a better ownership experience. Read continue for more Tata Nexon petrol variants comparison.

Tata Nexon Petrol XM Plus (S) vs XZ Plus Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XZ Plus variant of the Nexon petrol costs Rs. 10.30 lakh with the manual and Rs. 10.95 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are Rs. 55,000 higher than the lower XM Plus (S) variant’s. Following are the notable features of the Nexon petrol XZ Plus variant are:

• Rear defogger
• Auto AC
• 60-40 split rear seatback
• Front and rear armrests
• Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• 16-inch machined alloy wheels
• Adjustable rear headrests
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Day/night inside mirror
• 4x tweeters
• Rear camera
• Fog lamps

Even this variant doesn’t get some features we expect from a car at this price such as tyre pressure sensors (TPMS) and cruise control.

Compared to the XM (S), the XZ Plus doesn’t justify its asking price, but it has a good mix of functional and style features for a far better and balanced ownership experience. It is our top recommendation for Nexon petrol buyers. However, if your state has significantly higher taxes on cars above Rs. 10.0 lakh ex-showroom price, then petrol-manual buyers should consider a higher variant.

Tata Nexon Petrol XZ Plus vs XZ Plus (HS) Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XZ Plus (HS) variant of the Nexon petrol costs Rs. 11.05 lakh with the manual and Rs. 11.70 lakh with the automatic transmission. It carries an incremental cost of Rs. 75,000 over the XZ Plus variant. It adds the following notable features over the lower XZ Plus variant:

• Tyre pressure sensors
• Auto headlamps
• Auto wipers
• Cruise control
• Sunroof

The cruise control and sunroof are the high-value items on the list. If you don’t mind buying the Nexon without these features, then the XZ Plus is a better option for you. TPMS is a feature, which is easy to install and you can add later. Otherwise, from a value perspective, this variant is worth upgrading especially if the on-road price difference from XZ Plus to XZ Plus (HS) is less than Rs. 70,000.

Tata Nexon Petrol XZ Plus (HS) vs XZ Plus (O) Variant - Price, Features Comparison

The XZ Plus (O) variant of the Nexon petrol costs Rs. 11.30 lakh with the manual and Rs. 11.95 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are Rs. 25,000 more than the lower XZ Plus (HS) variant. It adds the following additional features to the mix:

• Telematics (connected car tech)
• Live vehicle diagnosis
• In-built navigation with what3words

We don’t find the variant lucratively priced. So, you should skip this variant and buy the top model for better features.

Tata Nexon Petrol XZ Plus (O) vs XZ Plus (P) Variant - Price, Features Comparison

We’re finally with the top-spec XZ Plus (P) variant of the Nexon petrol, which costs Rs. 11.80 lakh with the manual and Rs. 12.45 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are Rs. 50,000 more than the lower XZ Plus (O) variant. It offers the following notable extra features:

• Air purifier
• Ventilated front seats
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Leather upholstery

For a premium, upmarket ownership experience, the XZ Plus (P) makes more sense than the lower XZ Plus (O). You can buy this variant if you want these figures. Value-wise, it’s a decent pick. However, even in the top model, you might miss features such as:

• 360-degree camera
• Front side thorax and curtain airbags
• Puddle lamps

Which Variant Of The Tata Nexon Petrol Should You Buy?

The Nexon’s base variant lacks several must-have features to offer a decent ownership experience. So, we can’t recommend this variant to most Nexon buyers. You should only buy it if you want the Nexon for its safety and body style.

The XM variant is also quite expensive for the features it adds. So, you should buy the XM (S) variant instead of the XM and the XM Plus (S) variants. The XM (S) also doesn’t get many must-have features but the inclusion of sunroof helps this variant better justify the asking price. So, even for budget buyers, XM (S) is the minimum variant we’ll recommend.

The XZ Plus offers a better balance of functional features although it offers a poor value for money. For a good ownership experience, the XZ Plus variant of the Tata Nexon earns our top recommendation despite a lower value score. If the on-road price difference between the XZ Plus and the XZ Plus (HS) is less than Rs. 70,000, then we’ll suggest upgrading to the HS trim for better value because of expensive features like sunroof and cruise control. The XZ Plus (O) doesn’t offer enough compelling features or a better value for money. So, if you want a more feature-rich car, then you should skip it and go for the XZ Plus (P) trim instead. It offers a good value and is worth upgrading.

For the Nexon petrol-automatic buyers also, the XZ Plus is our top pick while the XZ Plus (HS) is our 2nd favourite option. For budget buyers, the XM (S) is a decent option because of the sunroof, which is a high-value feature. For a premium and upmarket ownership experience, you can go with the XZ Plus (P) variant, which offers valuable features like leather upholstery and ventilated front seats.

For buyers interested in the Dark, dual-tone or Kaziranga editions, we’ll have to leave it up to you to decide because these are cosmetic upgrades only over regular Nexon variants. After the detailed Tata Nexon variants comparison, you can decide which Nexon model is best for you.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Tata Nexon Petrol?

Compared to other turbo petrol B2-segment SUVs, the Nexon’s power and torque output are acceptable and towards the top of the class. However, it’s worth noting that the Nexon has the lowest torque-to-weight ratio among its turbo-petrol rivals. It also has acceptable but relatively lower mileage figures for its class while the Magnite and Kiger offer the segment-best mileage figures of 20kmpl.

*Estimated

Compared to the non-turbo petrol engines of the B2-segment SUVs, the Nexon turbo petrol has a better power and torque output. So, you can expect it to offer better drivability than non-turbo petrol engine SUVs. But the segment-best mileage figure stands around 20kmpl here as well.

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how much any Petrol, Diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

What Are The Dimensions Of The Tata Nexon?

In terms of dimensions, the Nexon is amongst the widest cars in its class and it also has the best-in-class ground clearance of 209mm. Its 350-litre boot space is also good enough for a sub-4m SUV. It offers 16-inch wheels as standard on all variants but higher variants get alloys with a slightly wider contact patch.

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

What Are The Colour Options Of The Tata Nexon Petrol?

The 2022 Nexon petrol is available in the following 7 colours:

• Blue
• Green
• White
• Red
• Grey
• Black (available with Dark edition only)
• Beige (available with Kaziranga edition only)

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we classify cars based on their size.