With rising fuel costs and environmental concerns Indian car buyers are especially concerned about fuel efficiency. On paper, the official fuel efficiency figures of the Tata Punch look promising, however, there has been quite some amount of varied reports from owners about how it performs on the road. According to some, some of them get close to the mileage figures promised, while yet others are able to report only miles of much less, mainly in city mode. This sparked discussions on the accuracy of official fuel efficiency tests and how driving styles and traffic conditions can influence consumption, while the Punch's engine coming in tune with the sort of driving Indians do. At the same time, the debate also takes a look at the bigger picture – how performance, efficiency, and cost are balanced in budget vehicles, and whether something like CNG or even hybrid systems could be a better budget solution for buyers.