Tata Nexon Variants Explained: Petrol, Diesel, CNG & EV — Which One Should You Buy?

This guide draws on V3Cars' Tata Nexon — Best Value Variant & All Prices, Nexon Petrol Variants Explained, Nexon Diesel Variants Explained, and Nexon EV Variants Explained coverage.

The Tata Nexon has long been a segment leader on crash safety, and the current line-up spans four distinct powertrain families — petrol, diesel, CNG and fully electric — making it one of the most flexible sub-4m SUVs on sale. A recent update has also made it a genuine headline-grabber: the Nexon now offers a panoramic sunroof for under Rs. 10 lakh, undercutting the Kia Syros to become the most affordable car in India with the feature. Here's how to navigate the range.

Nexon Price & Variant Overview

The petrol/diesel/CNG Nexon starts at Rs. 7.37 lakh and runs up to Rs. 14.32 lakh (ex-showroom) across the range, while the separate Nexon EV line-up spans Rs. 12.49 lakh to Rs. 17.19 lakh.

Nexon Petrol: Which Variant to Buy

The petrol-manual range starts at Rs. 8.0 lakh with the Smart (O) trim, which V3Cars flags as the effective new base variant worth considering — the true entry Smart trim below it misses too many expected features. From Creative trim upward, buyers can also opt for a 7-speed DCT automatic for roughly a Rs. 1.20 lakh premium over the equivalent manual, with DCT prices running from Rs. 12.30 lakh to Rs. 14.80 lakh.

One structural point worth knowing: Tata's Nexon variant-and-feature communication has historically been inconsistent, with features shuffled between updates — always cross-check the exact current feature list for your specific trim rather than relying on an older review.

Nexon Diesel: Which Variant to Buy

The diesel range runs Rs. 9.90 lakh to Rs. 13.75 lakh, with the diesel-automatic available on 5 of 7 variants at a flat Rs. 65,000 premium over the equivalent diesel-manual. Diesel variants themselves cost around Rs. 1.30 lakh more than the comparable petrol-manual — to recoup that gap purely on fuel savings, you'd typically need to drive the diesel-manual roughly 1,00,000 km, so the diesel only makes clear financial sense for genuinely high-mileage buyers.

Nexon CNG: Which Variant to Buy

The Nexon CNG uses a 1.2L turbocharged engine paired with a 6-speed manual, starting from Rs. 8.99 lakh, and is offered with Tata's twin-cylinder underbody tank layout — meaning, unlike older single-tank CNG setups, you don't lose most of your boot space. A panoramic sunroof is also available on select CNG trims, a rare combination in this segment.

The Cheapest Sunroof SUV in India: Pure Plus PS

Tata's newest addition to the range, the Pure Plus PS variant, starts at Rs. 9.59 lakh and currently holds the title of the most affordable car in India — across any body style — offering a panoramic sunroof. If a sunroof is high on your priority list and budget is tight, this variant is worth shortlisting specifically for that reason.

Nexon EV: Which Variant to Buy

The Nexon EV is sold in 6 variants — Creative Plus, Fearless, Fearless Plus, Fearless Plus S, Empowered and Empowered Plus — split across two charging/range configurations: a medium-range version with a 3.3kW AC charger (Rs. 14.49-17.49 lakh band) and a long-range version with a faster 7.2kW AC charger commanding a premium over the equivalent medium-range trim.

A few honest caveats worth knowing before buying the Nexon EV, per V3Cars' analysis: feature distribution is uneven across the range — the front armrest is only available from Fearless Plus upward, and the rear armrest only on the top variant — while the base variant misses a rear parcel tray, rear defogger, split rear seats and projector headlamps. It's also worth noting that unless you have dedicated space for home charging, relying heavily on public charging infrastructure may not deliver the fuel-cost savings buyers often expect, and shouldn't be the sole reason to choose the EV over petrol/diesel/CNG.

Which Tata Nexon Should You Buy?

  • Tight budget, petrol: Smart (O) — the real starting point once the barebones base trim is skipped.
  • Want a sunroof without a big budget: Pure Plus PS — currently the cheapest sunroof car in India.
  • High highway mileage: Diesel, but only if you're confident about crossing ~1,00,000 km to recoup the upfront premium.
  • High city mileage, low running cost: CNG, especially with the twin-cylinder tank preserving boot space.
  • Want to go electric, can charge at home: Nexon EV, ideally Fearless Plus or higher to avoid the base variant's feature gaps.

Final Word

The Nexon's biggest strength in 2026 is genuine powertrain choice combined with segment-leading value on features like the panoramic sunroof — but the flip side is a genuinely complex variant matrix that requires careful cross-checking before you commit. Whichever powertrain you land on, confirm the exact current feature list for your target trim, since Tata has revised the line-up more than once in recent years.

Further Reading & Tools on V3Cars

Prices, variants and features are subject to change by Tata Motors without prior notice. Always confirm current ex-showroom and on-road pricing with your nearest Tata Motors dealership.

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