Since fuel is high on Indian car buyers’ priority list and with rising fuel costs and environmental concerns they want cars that are fuel efficient. On paper, the Tata Punch’s official fuel efficiency figures seem promising but on the other hands, we are hearing mixed reports from owners regarding its real world figures. Others claim to get close to the advertised figures, while many have reported much lower kilometres, particularly city conditions. The discussions above also led to discussions on just how accurate official fuel economy tests are, how driving styles and traffic conditions affect consumption, and if indeed the Punch's engine is well tuned for the kind of driving routine that most Indians have. The debate also addresses the question of balancing performance, efficiency, and cost in the budget vehicle arena, and whether CNG or hybrid systems would be a better answer for the budget aware buyer.