Worthy replacement to our 2018 Tata Nexon under Rs 22 lakh

We test drove the Tata Harrier and were underwhelmed by the SUV's cabin noise levels and jittery rear suspension.

BHPian ryzen7@5800u recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Our 2018 Nexon XE Petrol will cross 1 lakh km by the end of the year, and we are facing a dilemma. Should we keep the car, and turn to the aftermarket to address the pain points or sell the car for something new?

The main problem in buying a new car is the reduced daily running. Dad's 50km commute is now 10 km at the most, which makes it less appealing to spend the big bucks to upgrade. The issue is worsened by the rapid increase in prices, such that a like-for-like replacement of our Nexon turbo-petrol base model costs close to 5 lakh more on the road than what we paid in 2018.

The main issue with the Nexon is the terrible rear seat comfort.

A slippery material, the excessively reclined backrest angle, lack of contouring, no grab handles, completely ineffective AC and the persistent bounciness over expansion joints make sitting in the rear a pain beyond 30 minutes. Even while wearing a seatbelt, sitting in the rear feels less like sitting in a car and more like riding a roller coaster. This makes our favourite pastime of Sunday morning long drives (150-200km) a chore for the rear-seat passenger.

The lack of an audio system is also a pain point, which is exacerbated by the lack of any phone charging system in the car.

Now that I am 19, I also share in the driving duties, and find the seat too low and the pedal box weirdly offset/cramped making driving the car stressful.

Apart from the music system, I don't think any of these problems can be fixed by aftermarket products.

Our budget is a net spend of 17-18 lakhs, which taking a 4 lakh exchange value of the Nexon brings the budget to 22 lakhs on the road maximum.

Dad wants "SUV"s only, and taking into mind the low daily running, a petrol is preferred. The car must have the same amount of power as the Nexon or more.

Mom and I want a more upright and supportive rear seat, and rear AC vents are a must too. Mom also wants some sort of blind spot monitoring to make longer journeys (1000km+) less stressful on her - as Dad can be quite inattentive at times.

We test drove the Harrier, and were underwhelmed by the cabin noise levels and jittery rear suspension - this completely derailed our hunt for a new car.

And - a quick long-term review of our Nexon - it has 97k on the odo right now, and has not let us down any time. We did not face any QC or other issues, touchwood! In fact, we are planning another Nagpur - Bangalore road trip next month!

One wheel bearing began to fail and was promptly replaced at 50k. A stone hit the radiator and caused a minor leak, this was noticed at 50k and is being fixed now. A weird electrical malady caused the car to not start when hot - this issue lasted for 2 years and fixed itself somehow.

All this in mind, we have never hesitated to just fill the tank, check the tyre pressure and head out onto the highway - completely assured of the car's dependability. Any replacement must have this quality too.

Any ideas on what we can consider next?

Here's what BHPian n:CorE had to say about the matter:

It's good to hear you have had a relatively trouble-free ownership experience on your 2018 Tata Nexon. However, I have highlighted words from the opening post that may suggest it's time for you to consider an upgrade.

Driving and owning both should be pleasant and joyful experiences. You have completed 1 lakh km in 6 years. Given your observations, I don't think any amount of parts/upgrades will significantly enhance your experience.

Consider the Hyundai Creta/Kia Seltos. Both are the same product underneath; it just boils down to badge and style preferences. Budget permitting, you can even go for the 1.5 turbo DCT option, fully loaded with all the features on your list and then some. It's a comfortable ride with ample space in the back. Reliability for these Korean marques is good, as are their ergonomics. Try both to see which the family likes more and bite the bullet.

VW Taigun/Skoda Kodiaq is also worth consideration, but the Korean twins are hard to beat in terms of outright value. We recently saw the addition of not one but two Cretas to our immediate family this year. It is an excellent, no-nonsense, all-rounder package.

Here's what BHPian Sensible_Speed had to say about the matter:

My responses to the different parts of your post may not be in order, but I hope will make sense to you as a whole.

I would first like to address the existing troubles with your Nexon.

Seat grip and comfort wean off over time with the material being susceptible to wear and tear. Buying a good quality seat cover can remedy this to a great extent. Similarly, due to the high running of your car in the realistically less-than-ideal conditions of Indian roads, the ride tends to loosen over time. For this, a suspension overhaul can bring your Nexon back to its original spec. As per my recollection, the original Nexon was one of the better riding cars of the time, and not much has changed since then. Audio and charging, along with a head unit are very simple after-market fixes and shouldn't be an issue at all.

I suspect you are suffering from the "upgrade bug", and getting tired of your current car. Given your car's age, it is a very normal experience. Given the reduced running and the cost factor you mentioned in the opening paragraph of your query, I would suggest you look at spending on some quality-of-life upgrades for your car. Save the money left over and buy a new car later on when you really need one. There are a lot more exciting newer models coming in the next two years. It could be worth your while to wait for them.

Alternatively, if you are insistent on upgrading right away, I would suggest looking at a Hyundai Creta or a Honda Elevate. They fit right into your budget and at that price point, offer automatic transmissions, ADAS and a lot more creature comforts. Their respective ride qualities are pretty good too. Furthermore, the Creta also comes with a turbo-petrol, which should make for an interesting drive on longer journeys without compromising ease of use in the city. If you pick the Elevate, you get the peace of mind that comes with Honda ownership and a greatly capable car for both the city and the occasional highway bout.

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say about the matter:

The upgrade bug has certainly bit you, and considering your requirements, I would suggest the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta, I have a 2023 Facelifted Seltos GTX+ Diesel AT myself, and I have absolutely no complaints, it's your money's worth, We foresaw the high running and decided to go with the Diesel as both the Diesel and the Turbo Petrol were priced at par. However, in your situation. I would recommend the Hyundai Creta, it has a slightly better rear bench and its suspension is slightly better tuned for our roads than the Seltos which still has a slightly firmer edge to it as compared to the Creta.

Taking into the fact that you are looking for an upgrade in the ballpark of up to 22 lakhs, I would recommend the Automatic or at least the IMT, Considering options, the Creta S(O) 1.5 Petrol IVT costs only 18.69 lakhs OTR, Nagpur (however it isn't as torquey as your Nexon with just 144 Nm of torque on tap), the S(O) Diesel AT is available but it costs around 20.89 lakhs OTR, Nagpur (it being a Diesel offers 114 bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque, so pulling power is not an issue).

On the flip side, if you are willing to consider an iMT (Clutchless Manual), then the Seltos iMT is available in both Diesel (114 bhp, 250 Nm) and Turbo Petrol (158 bhp and 253 Nm) which ranges from 18.14 lakhs to 21.95 lakhs OTR for the HTK Plus and HTX Plus Turbo Petrol iMT variants, and 20.29 lakhs to 22.60 lakhs for the HTX and HTX Plus Diesel iMT variants, However, if Automatic is your preferred choice, then the HTX 1.5 Diesel AT at 21.74 lakhs or the GTX Plus (S) Turbo Petrol DCT at 22.73 lakhs are good options.

However, if you are insistent on the thrill of driving a manual, then the Creta SX(O) Diesel MT at 22.58 lakhs OTR or SX Tech Diesel MT at 21.04 lakhs OTR are the best options out there.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.