Tata Punch

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

Launched on October 18th, 2021, the Tata Punch is another feather in Tata Motors’ cap. This smallest SUV by the brand is positioned below the Nexon, and Tata has built this micro SUV with such a design, styling, and features that the car has started ruling Indian car lovers' hearts in such a short span. Apart from the other things, the most important thing is that the global car safety watchdog, GNCAP, has certified the car as one of the safest cars, achieving a 5-star safety rating. Receiving 16.45 points for adult safety and 40.89 points for child safety, the Tata Punch has proved that Tata Motors pays extra emphasis on passenger safety and the building quality of their vehicles.

Tata Punch Design and Style

Built on Tata’s ALFA architecture, the Punch is one of the most stylish offerings by the brand. In terms of appearance, the new Punch is quite attractive, and its design language is similar to that of the Harrier and Safari, with slim LED DRLs and projector headlights positioned below the bumper. Furthermore, the grille is identical to that of the Nexon, and the front bumper is substantial, with Tata's tri-arrow design adornment. Also, there are 90-degree opening doors to enter and exit the car easily.

In addition, the sculpted tailgate dominates the rear, adding to the overall design language. The bumper and wheel arches have bold cladding as well, and the squarish LED tail lights complement the entire look. Speaking of the body dimensions, the Tata Punch is 3827mm in length, 1742mm in width, and 1615mm in height and has a 2445mm wheelbase. The manufacturer has given it 187mm of ground clearance to run smoothly on Indian roads full of potholes and high-speed breakers.

Tata Punch Engine and Gearbox

Powering the Tata Punch is a 1.2-litre Revotron, 1199cc, 3-cylinder, petrol engine that has been updated with the Dyna Pro system, which optimises air pressure for improved low-end torque. This engine is combined with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission with traction pro mode to give you control over any terrain and is capable of churning out 86HP at 6000rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 3300rpm. It’s worth noting here that the five-speed AMT unit is available as an option on the top three variants – Adventure, Accomplished, and Creative. This engine also comes with Eco and City modes to offer drivers an extra level of driving experience.

Tata Punch Interiors, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

When it comes to the interior of the new Tata Punch, the dual-tone black and off-white cabin looks sophisticated and well-organized. The dashboard’s minimalist design is clutter-free, and the horizontal air-conditioning vents with blue bezels add to the funky appeal. The Tata Punch's rear seats are comfortable and spacious, with plenty of headroom. The rear leg and shoulder room are also adequate, and the absence of a floor hump makes it easier to seat three people comfortably.

2023 Tata Punch top variant gets a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster that resembles that of the Altroz and displays a plethora of information like the speedometer, rpm meter, fuel meter, temperature meter, and more. Looking at the boot space, Tata Motors has equipped the Tata Punch with a spacious boot space of 366 litres for carrying extra luggage.

Tata Punch Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

Speaking of the braking and suspension duties in the Tata Punch, the braking responsibilities have been done by the disc brakes at the front, while the rear end braking is done by the drum brakes. Suspension duties are handled by the Independent, Lower Wishbone, and McPherson Strut with Coil Spring at the front and the Semi-independent Twist Beam with Coil Spring and Shock Absorber at the rear end.

The different variants of the new Tata Punch come with different types of wheels, like steel wheels with wheel covers, hyper-style wheels, or alloy wheels. The Creative variant comes outfitted with 195/60-R16 tubeless tyres, whereas the Pure, Adventure, and Accomplished variants come with 185/70-R15 tubeless tyres. Besides, these variants are offered with spare 185/70-R15 steel wheels.

Key Features of Tata Punch

2023 Tata Punch is loaded with a plethora of advanced features like projector headlamps with LED DRLs, bold LED taillamps, R16 diamond-cut alloy wheels, stylish roof rails for a premium look, premium upholstery with tri-arrow design, body-coloured air vents, D-cut steering wheel for better handling, start-stop push-button, automatic climate control, leather steering wheel and gear knob, auto fold ORVMs, cooled glove box, rear armrest, rear wiper and washer, and more than 25 utility spaces like cup holders, umbrella holders and all.

The features do not end here. There are more like steering-mounted controls, tilt steering, a 7-inch floating infotainment system by Harman with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four speakers and two tweeters, connected car technology, and Tata’s iRA technology, which offers features like Tribes, what3words, natural voice-Hindi, and Geo-fence. Looking at the passenger safety features in the car, it comes equipped with dual airbags, rain-sensing wipers, a reverse parking camera, front fog lamps with cornering functions, ABS with EBD with brakes away control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a rear defogger, to name a few.

Tata Punch Top Speed & Mileage

The top speed that the new Tata Punch offers is around 150kmph for the Pure variant. Speaking of fuel efficiency, the Tata Punch offers 10–12 kmpl in the city and 16–18 kmpl on the highways while driving in ECO mode. Also, we need to mention here that the mileage may vary depending on the terrain and driving style of the user.

Tata Punch Variants and Colour Options

Tata Motors has offered the new Tata Punch in four variants named Pure, Adventure, Accomplished, and Creative. The micro-SUV’s colour scheme comprises seven dual-tone eye-catching colours, including Atomic Orange With Black Roof, Tornado Blue With White Roof, Calypso Red With White Roof, Orcus White With Black Roof, Daytona Grey With Black Roof, Tropical Mist With Black Roof, and Meteor Bronze With Black Roof.

Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

2023 Tata Punch ex-showroom price starts with the entry-level Pure manual, petrol variant at Rs 5.93 lakh and goes up to Rs 9.32 lakh for the top-end Creative iRA petrol, AMT variant. The top variant of the Tata Punch On-Road costs up to Rs 10.12 lakh. Now elaborating on the difference between ex-showroom and on-road prices, the ex-showroom prices are the selling prices set by the manufacturer. On the other hand, the on-road price is the sum of the ex-showroom price, registration fees, road tax, insurance, and all other optional costs.

Competitors of Tata Punch

In the Indian car market, the new Tata Punch rivals the likes of Maruti S-Presso, Renault Kwid, Maruti Ignis, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Datsun Redi-GO.

Verdict - Should You Buy Tata Punch or not?

Since its market debut, the new Tata Punch has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Loaded with extra-level passenger safety features, this SUV has made a unique place with its design and styling and is giving the other SUVs in its segment tough competition.

Tata Motors has presented the SUV with cutting-edge technology, which makes the car worth buying. But if we look at the cost, the variants come with custom packs, the selection of which will raise the price even more.

Also, some users complain about the transmission that the manual is perfectly adequate. The AMT, on the other hand, is slow to respond and takes its time-shifting up and down the gears. However, we can say that every vehicle has some pros and cons, and in Punch’s case, the pros outweigh the cons.