Bookings have opened for the Tata Nexon AMT (automated-manual transmission) variant, which was recently unveiled in Mumbai. Prices for this variant are likely to be announced in early May, and will be more expensive, about Rs 50,000 more, compared to the manual-transmission model.
With this model, the Tata Nexon holds the unique distinction of being the only diesel automatic on offer in its price segment. Ford offers the EcoSport with a six-speed automatic transmission only on the petrol variant. The Tata Nexon is priced between Rs 5.85 lakh and Rs 9.44 lakh across its 10 manual variants (five petrol and five diesel).
Buyers looking for a compact SUV with an automatic transmission under Rs 12 lakh, now only have the Ford EcoSport and Tata Nexon to contend with. However, both of these offer vastly different technologies.
Ford has mated a 1.5 litre, three-cylinder (Dragon Series) petrol engine that puts out 123 PS of power and 150 Nm of torque with a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. It is equipped with paddle-shifts behind the steering wheel for sporty shifting. The diesel variant only comes with a five-speed manual.
Tata is offering its 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with the Nexon mated to a six-speed automated-manual transmission (AMT). The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol in the Nexon puts out 110PS of power and 170 Nm of torque.
To the driver, an AMT feels like an automatic only, as it does not have a clutch or the need to shift gears. It does it all automatically, with hardware built on top of the existing manual transmission. This keeps the technology simple and costs low.
The diesel variant of the Tata Nexon also gets the same six-speed automated manual transmission – making it the only diesel automatic compact SUV in that price segment. The diesel Nexon comes with a 1.5-litre diesel engine that puts out 110PS of power and 260 Nm of torque.
Ford offers only a five-speed manual with its 1.5 litre diesel engine, which puts out 100PS of power and 215 Nm of torque. What’s interesting is that Tata also offers different drive modes – Eco, City and Sport – on both the petrol and diesel Nexon. In addition, the automatic gets hill-hold control and a kick-down mode, mimicking much more expensive automatic cars.
With prices out soon, it will be an interesting space to watch out for. Clearly, there is untapped demand for a diesel-automatic compact SUV – something that other players haven’t addressed yet.
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