Three days, 700km, and some of the most demanding roads in India are enough to expose a car's strengths and weaknesses. That is exactly what I got to experience with the new Nissan Tekton during our drive from Chandigarh to Leh. The route included everything from smooth expressways and fast mountain roads to broken tarmac, steep hairpin bends, high-altitude passes, and long hours behind the wheel with four occupants and luggage.
While our upcoming full review will explore every aspect of this new model, here are the three things that impressed me the most and the two areas where I believe Nissan still has some work to do.
Turbo petrol performance
The highlight of the Tekton is undoubtedly its 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine. It feels eager, refined, and always keen to build speed. Whether it was overtaking slower traffic on two-lane highways or climbing towards some of Himachal Pradesh’s highest mountain passes, the engine rarely felt strained.
What stood out even more was its flexibility. There is enough torque available across the rev range, making it easy to maintain momentum without constantly working the engine hard. Even after spending hours at high altitudes where engines often struggle, this turbocharged unit delivered strong performance. It gives the Tekton the kind of effortless character buyers expect from a compact SUV.
A genuinely practical boot
Long road trips are the ultimate test of practicality, and the Tekton did well here. Travelling with four adults usually means there are multiple suitcases, and although we had to plan while arranging the luggage, the boot swallowed everything we threw at it. There was enough room for multiple suitcases along with smaller bags.
Steering feel, handling and grip
Despite being a family SUV, the Tekton feels surprisingly fun around corners. The steering has a natural weight and communicates enough information to make you feel connected to the front wheels. This became especially apparent while driving through winding mountain roads. Combined with good body control, the steering and chassis make the Tekton genuinely enjoyable instead of merely competent.
What I didn't like
The biggest disappointment was the dual-clutch automatic gearbox in steep hairpin sections. It often felt hesitant when accelerating out of tight bends. More often than not, I had to floor the accelerator fully before the gearbox finally reacted. It is worth noting that the extreme altitude could have played a role here, so this is something I would like to evaluate further back home.
The second issue was interior space. While the cabin is well laid out, it doesn't feel as airy or spacious as some of its key rivals. After spending three full days with four adults on board, everyone agreed that the sense of space was lacking. It never felt cramped enough to become uncomfortable, but there wasn't the same feeling of openness that some rivals offer.
Overall, the Tekton made a strong first impression after a demanding 700km drive across virtually every kind of terrain imaginable. It combines an excellent engine, impressive boot, and engaging driving manners, although there are a couple of areas that deserve closer scrutiny. Stay tuned, because our comprehensive review of the Tekton will be coming soon.
