The long-range Tata Nexon EV Max that was launched a year ago now gets the dark treatment and gets a new 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Nexon EV Max Dark has been priced at ₹19.04 lakh (ex-showroom) for the XZ+ Lux and ₹19.54 lakh (ex-showroom) for the XZ+ Lux with 7.2kW charger.
While all the previous versions of the Nexon – Dark, Red Dark, Kaziranga and Jet – have received cosmetic updates, the Dark version of the Nexon EV Max has added a few features.
The highlight is the new touchscreen, which is a leap forward from the one found on the regular Nexon EV Max. It is sleek with fluid transitions and gestures and feels more fluid than the Kia Sonet.
Tata’s new touchscreen is now the largest in the segment at 10.25 inches – at par with the Sonet. Features include an integrated voice assistant, an upgraded reverse camera, a special EV display theme as well as wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Tata has also integrated voice command which recognizes six languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi.
Notably, this touchscreen is the same unit that was offered on the Red Dark editions of the Harrier and Safari SUVs launched in February, but not the Nexon Red Dark edition. While the Harrier and the Safari got the ADAS feature with the new touchscreen, the Nexon EV Max Dark did not get the ADAS feature with this new touchscreen. The facelifted Tata Nexon is expected to go on sale by August. Along with the Dark Edition, Tata is previewing the new infotainment system for the future Nexon.
In all other Nexon models, the touchscreen is mounted on top of the dashboard, like a tablet affixed. However, in the Nexon EV Max Dark variant, the infotainment system is a freestanding unit similar to the Harrier and Safari. It is placed just above the AC vents, which brings it closer to the driver and passenger. It is ergonomically better as it is within reach of the driver.
The interior receives the same treatment as the other Dark Edition models – an all-black, interior accented by the EV’s tri-arrow pattern and blue highlights around the AC vents. Even the seats are finished in black with blue stitching, and “#dark” stitching on the head restraints.
Nexon EV Max Dark Features
Key features of the Nexon EV Max Dark include a sunroof, an air purifier with AQI display, cruise control, wireless smartphone charger, cooled glove box, rear air-conditioning vents and more. All other features remain the same as the XZ+ Lux variant of the regular Nexon EV Max. It also gets the same semi-digital instrument cluster with 7-inch MID and knurled drive selector with its own nifty display in the centre.
Safety equipment on the Nexon EV Max Dark variant includes two airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS and more. While the Nexon EV Max is yet to be tested by Global NCAP, the ICE-powered Nexon has scored a 5-star rating under previous testing protocols.
The exterior is similar to the other Dark Edition models by Tata: you get Midnight Black paint with Satin Gray accents around the windows and under the grille. While the exterior accents in the standard Nexon EV Max are finished in blue, on the Dark variant, only the front and rear fog lamp surrounds – along with the EV badge – are finished in blue. Additionally, while the regular model gets 16-inch diamond cut alloys, this one gets a charcoal gray finish.
Not much has changed under the hood and you still get the 40.5kWh battery feeding power to the electric motor. It produces 143hp and 250Nm of torque, which drives the front wheels. The Nexon EV Max Dark has an ARAI claimed range of 453km, but our real-world range testing revealed that it might average around 266km.
You also get the same drive modes – City, Eco and Sport. In the first two, power is limited to 97hp and 170Nm.
The Nexon EV Max Dark gets two chargers as standard – a 3.3kW and a 7.2kW charger. Using the former, the battery can be charged from 10-100% in 15 hours, while with the latter, it takes 6.5 hours (claimed) to charge from 0-100%. The Nexon EV Max Dark is also capable of supporting 50kW DC fast charging, which according to Tata fills the battery from 0-80% in 56 minutes.
While most Dark Edition models are priced at a premium of ₹20,000, this one comes at a premium of ₹55,000 over the standard Nexon EV Max as it gets a new touchscreen. The regular XZ+ Lux and XZ+ Lux with 7.2kW Charger trims are priced at Rs 18.49 lakh and Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively.
Tata is offering an eight-year/1,00,000 km warranty on the battery of the Nexon EV Max Dark Edition. It will directly compete with the newly launched Mahindra XUV400, which is priced between ₹ 15.99 lakh and ₹ 8.99 lakh (ex-showroom).