Nissan Tekton 1.3 Turbo DCT: First Drive Impressions

With a fair bit of anticipation surrounding the Nissan Tekton, I finally got the chance to take the 1.3-litre Turbo Petrol DCT (Tekna variant) out for a comprehensive spin. 

Navigating a mix of congested city traffic in Udyog Vihar, open speedways, and the twisty curves of the Gurgaon-Faridabad road gave me a clear picture of what this new SUV brings to the table. 

Here are my detailed observations from behind the wheel.

Exterior Design 

This was the first time I had seen the Tekton in the flesh, and after looking at its front fascia, I immediately understood why Nissan are calling it the Baby Patrol.

The bold, upright stance, the prominent grille split by a strip, the sculpted bonnet, and the C-shaped lighting signature all combine to give it a strong family resemblance to its flagship sibling. The full-width light bar and the muscular lower bumper with its silver skid-plate detailing and fog lamps add to that purposeful, imposing look that belies the car’s compact dimensions.

Seeing the Tekton's side profile, I could instantly draw parallels with the Duster. Though, Nissan have made certain design changes to help differentiate it from its Renault sibling. The flared wheel arches, the unique design of the 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, the metallic trim on the front doors, and the subtle double-C motif on the sides that nods to the Himalayas all help it stand apart.

At the rear the design continues the theme with connected C-shaped LED tail lamps linked by a light bar, prominent TEKTON branding across the tailgate, a roof spoiler, and a two-tone bumper that carries multiple design elements. While the rear is busier than the front, it still ties the whole package together and leaves you in no doubt that this is a Nissan with clear design intent.

Interior, Comfort, and Technology

The first thing that caught my attention upon stepping into the cabin was the exceptional effectiveness of the air conditioning. 

Even with outside temperatures hovering slightly over 30 degrees Celsius, setting the climate control to 20 degrees kept the cabin consistently cool without needing the seat ventilation turned on. I usually end up with a sweaty back after half an hour of driving in warm weather, but the combination of the powerful AC and the perforated seats completely eliminated that issue. 

Settling into an ideal driving position was effortless, thanks to the electric driver seat adjustment alongside both tilt and telescopic steering wheel reach. The seating offers a commanding view of the road, leaving the bonnet almost entirely visible. While I thoroughly enjoy this elevated stance, drivers who prefer a lower, sportier driving position may find themselves lowering the seat further, much like my colleague Sayan did when he accompanied me on this test drive.

Seeing the pictures, I was initially sceptical about the triple-tone interior theme, but the combination of beige, burgundy, and rose-gold-like accents look genuinely pleasing, providing an upmarket ambience. 

The switchgear throughout the cabin, including the controls for the climate system, power windows, steering-mounted functions, and electronic parking brake, feels tactile and satisfying to operate.

While I did not explore the 10.1-inch infotainment screen in extensive detail, swiping through it to check out its inbuilt apps and features showed its quick responsiveness. Though, certain features like drive modes and steering modes must be adjusted through the touchscreen, and I believe dedicated physical buttons for these functions, particularly the drive modes, would have been much more convenient. 

The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is clear and easy to read in all display modes. 

The full-screen map layout proved to be the most practical view, displaying a speedometer with speed limit indicators on the left alongside active media information on the right.

The rear seat experience was as good as at the front, as they receive proper AC vents rather than a basic blower unit. The panoramic sunroof lets in a lot of light, adding to the airy feel.

Overall, the cabin looks and feels well put together, featuring soft-touch materials across key areas like the dashboard, door pads, and armrests.

The boot offers a cavernous amount of storage, making the SUV an ideal companion for extended road trips and family vacations. Lifting the boot floor reveals a full-sized spare wheel, which came as a pleasant surprise. 

Having a complete spare wheel feels like a genuine luxury today, especially as many manufacturers are replacing spare tyres entirely with basic puncture repair kits to reduce costs.

Also Read - 2026 Nissan Tekton Every Variant Explained
 

Engine and Performance

Engaging the gear selector knob delivers a reassuring click. As soon as I shifted into drive and released the brake pedal, the car creeped ahead smoothly, even though it was stopped on a slight incline. This refined low-speed response made navigating bumper-to-bumper city traffic effortless, requiring only the brake pedal to modulate movement. 

This level of low-end smoothness from a turbo petrol engine was a pleasant surprise, especially considering that one of its direct rivals, the Kushaq 1.5 TSI DCT, which I drove briefly, felt lethargic under identical conditions.

Mashing the accelerator pedal reveals the true personality of the 1.3-litre Turbo GDI engine. The sudden wave of acceleration pinned me back to the seat, accompanied by a very noticeable turbo whistle that adds a rewarding mechanical sound to the drive. 

The 6-speed DCT executes quick, smooth gear changes, that are never felt, whether driving at slow city speeds or pushing flat out on an open road. The paddle shifters offered rapid responses as well, and I had a lot of fun downshifting before making every overtake, as the SUV just flies past slower moving traffic while the engine operates at its meat of the power band past 5,000 rpm, unleashing all the 160 horses. 

Though, you cannot drive spiritedly for an extended period, as our roads don't allow it, plus the fuel economy goes for a toss. We saw figures hovering around 7-8 km/l during our drive, which is what you should expect if you drive aggressively. Those who prefer driving with a lighter foot and only push to the top-end for occasional fun will also be more than happy, as the peak 280 Nm torque comes in at a low 2,000 rpm. 

The SUV builds momentum effortlessly, to the point where I often found myself easing off the throttle to stay within legal speed limits. This performance should make the Tekton an absolute delight on open expressways, whether pushing the engine toward its upper rev range or cruising comfortably at 100 to 120 km/h in sixth gear to extract good fuel efficiency.

As for the drive modes - Eco and Comfort, the difference in character is noticeable. While Eco dulls engine significantly, it is never to the point of being underpowered, especially within the city. It is only when you switch to comfort that you realise to what extent the engine's power was being curbed, as responses become a lot smoother. 

The NVH levels remained largely smooth throughout the drive, though I felt slight vibrations through the pedals during deceleration at higher rpms. Since similar issues have not been reported by owners of the new Duster sharing this powertrain, this minor vibration was likely isolated to this specific test drive vehicle.

Also Read - Most Powerful Turbo Petrol SUVs Under ₹20 Lakhs
 

Ride and Handling

I found the steering effort adjustment in the Persona drive mode quite useful.

In its low-effort setting, the wheel becomes feather-light, making it easy to twirl through the dense, crowded lanes of Udyog Vihar. Switching to high-effort mode adds substantial weight, which I thoroughly enjoyed on open stretches and along the winding Gurgaon-Faridabad road. Even in the low-effort setting, the steering weighs up naturally as vehicle speed increases.

Handling is impressive, backed by precise steering feedback and a well-balanced chassis. Body roll is present given the vehicle's height and weight, but it remains well-controlled, ensuring high-speed turns never feel nerve-wracking. 

The supportive seat bolsters do a great job keeping you firmly planted during quick direction changes. The 225/55 R18 tyres also deserve credit, helping the Tekton hold its line perfectly without screeching even when we subjected the SUV to hard cornering at higher speeds.

Ride quality shines regardless of the road conditions. The suspension easily eats up potholes and uneven road surfaces, and while the suspension mechanism can be heard working over larger road imperfections, the sound is never bothersome, even with the audio system turned off. At triple digit highway speeds, the suspension system keeps the car flat and composed, with no vertical floaty movements over sudden undulations, which inspires confidence while cruising.

Driver Assistance and Visibility

Despite the commanding vantage point from the driver's seat, judging the front-left corner of the vehicle requires extra caution due to the pronounced bulges on the bonnet. Even with front parking sensors active, I consistently maintained a wider safety margin on the left. 

The scratches visible on the front-left alloy wheel suggested that other test drivers experienced similar judgment challenges, and new owners may need time to adapt to these dimensions. The 360-degree camera setup proves invaluable when manoeuvering through tight, congested roads.

The active ADAS functions were noticeably present during the drive, occasionally applying subtle steering corrections when I attempted to change lanes to overtake slower vehicles. I found these interventions somewhat intrusive on busy highways, making the system better suited for open expressway driving. 

Fortunately, the ADAS can be disabled using a dedicated button located on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel.

Also Read - Nissan Tekton Scores 5 Star BNCAP Rating Ahead Of Launch
 

Final Verdict: Should You Buy One?

The Nissan Tekton 1.3 Turbo DCT comes across as a thoroughly well-rounded package that gets the core fundamentals right. 

From its exceptional climate control and premium interior fitments to the punchy, responsive nature of its turbo-petrol engine, it manages to deliver high levels of both driver engagement and passenger comfort. 

Minor quirks like front-left corner visibility and over-eager ADAS in the city take a short adjustment period, but they do little to dull the overall experience. 

Combined with a punchy engine, impressive ride quality, confident high-speed dynamics, and practical cabin storage, the Tekton 1.3 Turbo emerges as a formidable contender in the mid-size SUV segment. 

If you are planning to buy one, the N-Connecta T280 manual is your entry point into the SUV's 1.3-litre turbo range, priced at Rs 15 lakh ex-showroom, and around Rs 17 lakh on-road in Delhi NCR.