Reva NXR driving impression

Mike Boxwell, of the Reva Car Club, drove the Reva NXR in Frankfurt and came away quite impressed with the car

Mike Boxwell of the Reva Car Club had an opportunity to test drive the Reva NXR electric car and he came away quite impressed with RECC’s new vehicle. The Bangalore-based RECC is expected to launch the NXR in India in 2010 and electric vehicle enthusiasts are waiting for the car quite eagerly. So, here are some excerpts from what Boxwell has to say about this vehicle:

The NXR really is a fantastic car. Don't think of it as an improved G-Wiz, it is a completely new vehicle which really takes Reva into the mainstream market. The styling looks terrific and the car is certainly very eye-catching when you see it in the flesh. Also, it’s a proper car with twin airbags and M1 certified safety features throughout.

The Reva NXR is definitely more spacious than the Ford Ka [Boxwell used the Ford Ka, which is about the same size and cost as the NXR, as a reference point for this driving impression]. The fit and finish of the interior was as good as the Ka and the choice of materials and switchgear was better - the steering wheel, indicator stalks, the buttons and the gearknob felt like Volkswagen quality rather than the cheaper feel to the Ford equivalents.

The car has a digital dashboard – it is nicely laid out with all the information clearly laid out and easy to read. I have to say I liked it. In an electric car where you may want to display all sorts of different information at different times, a digital dashboard really does make sense.

You can easily get four adults comfortably inside the Reva and getting into and out of the car’s rear seats is no more difficult than it is in a Ford Ka or Fiat 500. From the driver’s seat, all-around visibility is excellent. Performance from a standing start was very brisk, the car accelerating very quietly and smoothly. The NXR absorbs bumps very well and is very easy to drive quickly without any dramas. I drove around a tight 90° bend at around 60km/h without any problems at all – if I'd have tried that in my G-Wiz I think I'd have crashed it!

Brakes are also strong and progressive and the car feels solid and unstressed at all times. The steering feels very balanced and you can turn the car around very easily in a very small amount of space. I came away feeling very impressed – Reva has produced an electric car that really can be compared favourably with a car from a mainstream manufacturer: ignoring the environmental credentials, the Reva NXR can be compared to a similarly priced Ford Ka and make a strong case for itself.

As you can see, Boxwell seems to be quite impressed with the car. Now, we just hope the NXR really is every bit as good as Boxwell says it is. Also, we hope the car is reasonably priced when it’s launched in India next year!

Source: AutoblogGreen