Used Tata Nexon in Bengaluru

— The 1.2L Revotron turbo petrol is known for turbo actuator issues after 50,000 km. Symptoms: loss of power above 3,000 RPM, check engine light, and a hissing sound from the engine bay under load. If the turbo isn’t building boost properly during a test drive (you’ll feel the car is sluggish above 80 km/h), walk away. Turbo replacement is expensive and indicates potential neglect of turbo maintenance (oil change intervals).

— Tata’s AMT is noticeably rougher than Maruti’s — there’s a significant head-nod during 1st-to-2nd shifts and a long delay when kickdowning for overtakes. This is partly by design, but excessive jerkiness or grinding during shifts indicates a failing actuator motor. Test drive in both city traffic and uphill — if you feel gear hunting on inclines or the transmission struggles to pick a gear, the actuator may need replacement.

— The 1.5L Revotorq diesel has a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) that needs periodic highway runs (20-30 minutes at 60+ km/h) to regenerate. If the car was driven exclusively in city stop-and-go traffic, the DPF clogs and throws a warning light. A clogged DPF is an expensive fix. Ask the seller about driving patterns — if it’s been a pure city car, check for DPF warning codes with an OBD-II scanner.