Top Dogs

Two cars at opposite ends of the spectrum demonstrate just how incredible current gen EVs are

- Afzal Rawuther

Every year, World Environment Day comes and goes with a whole bunch of empty platitudes whipped up by marketing teams. That got me thinking; at least for a few of the carmakers that I cover, the tall claims and lofty numbers aren't just for show. Cutting across segments, driven by sheer economic sense (for electric scooters and affordable EVs) and pure thrills (at the other end of the spectrum; case in point the Rimac Nevera), the fact that EVs could very well be our future is becoming clearer by the day.

Forget about the future, EVs have a lot to offer right now. Sure, there is a debate to be had about the lifecycle emissions and footprint of an EV versus a fossil fuel-powered automobile, but much of the evidence we have in 2023 points towards EVs being kinder to the planet. Considering this, I wondered what it would feel like to put two starkly different EVs to test, as I tried to live with them over the course of a week and a half. To be clear, this isn't a comparison; It is a celebration of two of my favourite cars right now, and the potential they hold for the future of automobiles.

TATA NEXON EV MAX

The newer Max variant looks identical to the regular Nexon EV, which isn't a bad thing at all. As with a lot of modern Tata cars, this example's bodywork straddles the line between conventional and edgy. That means straight lines, a conventional silhouette (for a hatchback), but with enough design flourishes to keep things interesting.

On the inside, there's some updates. The centre console is redone, there is now a dial to cycle between the gears (with an illuminated display on top) and Tata have finally brought in a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The usual suspects - ventilated seats, auto dimming IRVM, an air purifier, and cruise control - are all present.