Nissan Tekton SUV Review – Lots To Like, Little To Complain

Nissan Motor India seems extremely confident about the newly launched Tekton SUV. We say this because the media drives took place in some of the world’s toughest terrains covering 700 km from Chandigarh to Leh. Sure, the India Book Of Records and the media coverage on it worked out well, but organising a media drive for 3 days covering 700 km in some of world’s toughest terrains is no ordinary feat.

Spending three days and around 700 km with a vehicle across the Himalayas gives you a much better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. This move shows how confident Nissan is about the Tekton. After around 700 km with Tekton, we have concluded our thoughts where there is a lot to like and very little to complain about.

Nissan Tekton Review – Design & Aesthetics!

Launch price of Nissan Tekton is Rs 10.49 lakh (Ex-sh) for the base Visia variant with T160 6MT (1.0L Turbo engine) and it goes till Rs 18.59 lakh (Ex-sh) for the top-spec Tekna+ variant with T280 6DCT (1.3L Turbo engine). There are multiple single-tone and dual-tone colours to choose from. We sampled the Flare Garnet Red with Black roof, but we think Pearl White looks really good.

In terms of design, one might dismiss Nissan Tekton as a rebadged Renault Duster, like the Terrano used to be in the past. However, we think Nissan has done a fabulous job in setting Tekton apart from Duster with a unique fascia. Many (including us) think that Tekton looks better than Duster owing to its more sophisticated fascia and lighting elements, lending it a classy and elegant aesthetic. Not that Duster looks bad, Tekton just looks better.

We particularly liked the Red horizontal element used in front and rear which adds a dash of sportiness, suiting Tekton’s overall personality. Wheels are also unique with Tekton, retaining the 18-inch size, wrapped with 225-section tyres. Even at the rear, Nissan Tekton brings a distinct look with C-shaped connected LED tail light signature, C-shaped design on bumpers and large TEKTON badging, which looks slightly tacky (front one looks good, though).

Interiors, Equipment, Quality

Just like the exteriors, Nissan India has tried to create a distinction with Tekton on the inside as well. For starters, we get a Burgundy and White colour combination. While the White lends an airy and inviting feel, it is difficult to maintain in Indian conditions and we wished the Burgundy was Red, to match the Red exterior highlights. Speaking of highlights, Nissan has used Rose Gold, which adds a classy touch.

When compared to Duster, Tekton interior certainly has a wow factor with the colour themes and even the unique dashboard design. Centre console, 10.1-inch Google built-in infotainment, 10.25 inch instrumentation, steering wheel, all buttons and toggles inside the car are shared with Duster. UI for infotainment screen and instrumentation are unique to Tekton and we prefer the UI on Duster slightly more. Instrument cluster can show full-screen maps as well.

We loved the Google built-in infotainment screen, which negates Android Auto and we loved the reliable proximity based keyless go system. All switches, buttons and toggles feel exceptional and even the window controls are proper dual-stage ones. Fit and finish is excellent and we did not face any rattles even on rough terrains. There are soft touch plastics too, but not extensive enough.

Space & Comfort

While perceived space is higher in Tekton than Duster, actual space is just the same. For front occupants, there’s no complaint with space. Under-thigh support could have been better, while leg room, knee room and head room were more than sufficient. Both front seats are ventilated and powered with height adjustment and get manual lumbar adjustment too. Both front seats can go really very low, like in a hatchback.

Even at the lowest seat height, my 6-feet frame could see the bonnet, but we felt like window area was quite high, from this low seat position. Front seats hug you well and the side bolsters will keep you in place if you are driving enthusiastically. Sun visors for front occupants should have had an extension. Rear seats do not have as much space as a few rivals in this segment. It is usable, but not spacious.

There are rear AC vents, USB ports, three headrests and a centre armrest, a panoramic sunroof and reading lights. Rear window shades are absent. Boot space is exactly the same as Duster’s at up to 700L if you load it till the roof. We could fit two large check-in suitcases, two cabin suitcases and still had space to fit around 4-5 backpacks.

Powertrains & Performance

In terms of powertrains, there are just two Turbo Petrol engine options from Duster, spawning three possible combinations. We have the T160 engine which is a 1.0L 3-cyl Turbo Petrol engine, which only gets a 6-speed manual gearbox and then we have T280 engine which is a 1.3L 4-cyl Turbo Petrol engine, mated to either a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed wet DCT. We exclusively drove the T280 DCT across this epic 700 km drive from Chandigarh to Leh.

We were glad that we got DCT and not the manual, which we exclusively experienced during Duster drive in Dehradun. Manual gearbox has unpredictable clutch action and clutch bite point is not well calibrated. DCT is exponentially better and offers seamless shifts. This DCT does a good job of keeping the vehicle in the right gear and downshifts quickly when required.

When pushed hard, like we did in the Himalayas, gearbox takes some time to slot into the right gear, but eventually finds one. In Himalayas where air is thin, we found that the engine struggles a little and turbo lag gets more pronounced. Other than that, the T280’s 163 PS output is the highest in the segment, while the 6-speed wet DCT is also among the best transmissions we have experienced in this class. There is no Sport Mode and all of engine’s performance can be accessed in Comfort Mode.

Cabin insulation could have been better, as quite a bit of engine sound filters into the cabin. That said, we didn’t mind it much because the 1.3L turbo petrol sounds rather good. In fact, we think it is one of the best-sounding engines in the segment, with a satisfying intake howl under acceleration accompanied by noticeable turbo blow-off sounds.

Acceleration is brisk and 0-100 km/h sprint can be achieved in under 10 seconds. The engine is eager to be revved and does not hesitate to keep revving at higher speeds for longer durations.

Drive & Dynamics

Handling is where Nissan Tekton shines the most and drives exactly like Duster. There are two steering modes and we kept steering in Hard Mode at all times. It adds weight to steering feel, while steering precision remains the same. On the winding sections of the Himalayas, Nissan Tekton felt like a sporty hatchback than a high-riding SUV, which is a good thing, in our opinion. Braking is progressive, but needs a little more initial bite.

At the same time, suspension is also very absorptive and feels indestructible on broken paths, which were plenty in our route. Does it feel as robust as the B0 platform seen in the likes of my Renault Captur? No. But is it among the best in its segment? Yes, it is. Even when pushed hard, body control remains impressive, with Tekton holding its line confidently through corners.

The ride and handling balance Nissan Tekton has struck, is identical to Duster, but is commendable nonetheless. Tekton has Level-2 ADAS as well, which is active by default and is configurable. The system works quite well and we didn’t encounter any situations where it braked unnecessarily. Which is a good thing. You can fine tune what feature you want to keep on and then with the press of one button, all ADAS functions can be disabled too.

Should You Buy One?

After 700 km across some seriously demanding roads, Tekton left us with far more positives than negatives. Rear-seat space isn’t class-leading, the audio system could have been better and there are a few ergonomic annoyances. But these are relatively small complaints against an SUV that combines a strong 1.3L turbo petrol, excellent DCT, absorbent suspension and genuinely enjoyable handling.

If driving dynamics are high on your priority list, Duster and Tekton currently make particularly strong cases in this segment. Between the two, the underlying experience is remarkably similar. Tekton’s advantage is its more sophisticated exterior design and more distinctive cabin. Whether that’s enough to choose it over Duster will ultimately come down to pricing, styling preference and the ownership experience offered by Nissan.