Re: Mahindra Nuvo-Sport AMT Drive Review
Performance of Mahindra Nuvo-Sport.
On this front, the AMT left me with mixed feelings. In the Auto Mode, the car is outright a below-average performer and in manual mode its performance in comparison is still much acceptable. To begin with upon cranking this 3 pot diesel mill, the idle NVH is also noticeable as at slight revving you'll hear the engine noise inside the cabin.
On paper, its a 100 bhp and 240 Nm torque producing mill but the driving manners in Auto mode are actually very much questionable. The acceleration is sluggish and this Nuvo Sport lacks punch in auto mode. As always, I kept the driving speed in range of 70-80 km/h even in that much of speed the Auto mode lacked in performance but in same speed range the manual mode appeared comparatively better. So seeing this substantial difference of performance, I kept driving it in manual mode and that is where it began to perform bit acceptably. In low revv range of 1300-1800 rpm you'll be able to hear engine and I took it today to 4500 rpm so it was howling like wolf. Sheer shame. This SUV looses its steam once you take it beyond 4000 rpm. So it wont be wrong to say,
It has poor top-end torque. I would say, this AMT transmission has made it a average product along with the mediocre engine. Absolutely incompetent transmission. We went through an underpass and on the incline at 30-50 km/h in 3rd gear (auto mode) with AC it was an uphill task for us. We were 2 guys and once I drove, I made the TD coordinator also drive it in Auto and Manual mode and even he was saying, there is big difference in Auto and Manual mode performance. The one thing you'll find pleasing in manual mode is the smooth acceleration. The pulling power in Auto mode is questionable but in manual mode, you can still live with it if you are considering just a A-to-B Commute. The 240 Nm of torque is best felt in Manual mode where in the Nuvosport decently drove out of the busy streets of Noida. So, in traffic it won't leave you much hassled provided you are in manual mode.
Do not expect a A-grade performance from this engine. It at best can be termed as a "lazy work-horse". Coming to NVH, as stated, idle NVH is noticeable, even after many types of insulation the noise filters in the cabin and that is a bit unacceptable for a car that costs Ex-showroom 10 Lacs as top variant. Once you roll up the windows the noise mellows down but still not 100% gone.
The NVH levels in my view could have been much better keeping the segment standards in mind. Many enthusiastic forums say TATA's NVH is poor, would request them to drive this one. I am not taking sides but honestly, a spade needs to called a spade and one has to be unbiased. This 1.5L diesel mill, as I told in my TUV-3OO test drive also, is
kaam chalau. Coming to the transmission, from the time I drove TUV3OO manual and later on the AMT too, this AMT transmission is a tad bit more smooth than my earlier stint. However, the gear lever vibrates quite a bit and you'll soon realize what's under the hood. My observation on the gear lever was also accepted by 2 more gentlemen who had come to TD the Nuvosport. They went unhappy with the performance.
. The AMT to me appears a half heart-ed move. Coming to the ride, though it has new chassis but from it's rivals, the Nuvo Sport lacks behind by miles. Too much of body roll and bumpy feel on undulated roads. At a speed of 30-40 km/h try making a sharp turn, you'll surely feel it. As I gradually increased the speed, I could feel there is lot of vibration inside the cabin which shows how poor R&D makes a product a metal wreck. As a passenger, I sat in the rear seat and it felt bouncy on potholes too which made me totally loose my interest and badly curse the suspension. A thorough re-work needed here. Coming to braking, the brakes aren't as accurate as needed. The car took time to stop from 40 km/h as the coordinator was driving. Coming to the steering, the unit is not precise and feels a quite weak. The steering feedback at a speed range of 80-100 km/h today on DND Flyway was not much confidence inspiring. Very mediocre high speed manner I must add. Finally, talk of the Tyre(s), my TD Car had Apollo 215 Section Tyre with 16" 10 Spoke Silver alloys. The alloy design was good and the grip of these Tyre(s) was good. But, on giving a closer look after ending the TD, I found the cladding in rear wheel arcs to be missing and this confirmed the reason why road noise was filtering inside the cabin and the NVH levels rising while in drive.
Nuvosport Engine Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGv7qsuLik