Believe it or not but up until yesterday, the Nexon was available in thirty-two different variants. Yes, 32! Some might say that’s plenty. For Tata Motors, however, that’s not the case. The automaker clearly felt that there’s still room to slot in another trim level, which helps add additional four derivatives. How? You get all four engine-transmission combinations under the new trim – XM (S). As you’d expect, the new specification slots between the XM and XZ derivatives. As for the prices, here they are:

If you compare those prices with XM-marked variants, the petrol-powered derivatives cost Rs 52,000 more and the diesel-fed ones Rs 50,000 more. Similarly, the manual XZ variants cost between Rs 48,000 and Rs 50,000 more than the newly introduced manual counterparts. Unlike the XM and XM (S) trim levels, there’s no AMT option in the XZ specification. Going by the trend, Tata Motors might fill that void as well.

To justify the price difference, the new trim level ropes in a few additional features. That includes automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, a multifunction steering wheel and an electric sunroof. Is the price difference justified? Yes. But, compared to the XZ, the XM (S) trim misses out on stuff like a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear AC vents, fast USB charger, cooled glovebox, an 8-speaker sound system, shark-fin antenna and voice command.

Mechanically, there’s no difference at all. The 1.2-litre turbo-petrol pumps out 118bhp/170Nm, whereas the 1.5-litre diesel produces 108bhp/260Nm. As standard, both come coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. Those who want a two-pedal setup can opt for a 6-speed AMT.

The real reason why Tata Motors devised this new trim level is to achieve one goal – to make the Nexon the least-expensive subcompact SUV with a factory-fitted sunroof in India. With a long list of rivals, including the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and the Mahindra XUV300, do you think this new stint will pay off? And, let’s not forget that soon Kia will join the party with the Sonet, Nissan will introduce the Magnite and Renault will launch the Kiger.