If you're someone who likes to keep up with how well different cars are selling in India, you've probably noticed that the Tata Nexon has been the most popular SUV for the past couple of years. Tata recently announced that the Nexon sub-4m SUV has once again claimed the title of best-selling SUV for the fiscal year 2023-24, marking its third consecutive win. Adding to Tata's success for the fiscal year 2023-24, the Tata Punch secured the second spot as the best-selling SUV in the country.
A Look at the Sales Figures
Here's a breakdown of the sales figures for both Tata SUVs over the past few years, including sales numbers for their electric vehicle (EV) variants:
Sales Period Tata Nexon Tata Punch
FY21-22 124,130 52,716
FY22-23 172,138 133,819
FY23-24 171,697 170,076
Although Tata hasn't provided exact numbers for their EV counterparts, they have revealed that the Nexon EV contributed to 12 percent of the overall Nexon sales in FY23-24. Similarly, the Punch EV, which was launched in January 2024, accounted for 16 percent of the overall Punch sales between January and March 2024.
Both SUVs ended the FY23-24 sales period on a high note, with the last quarter witnessing the highest demand for each of them. Tata delivered 171,482 units of the Nexon in January 2024 and 18,438 units of the Punch in February 2024.
Tata Nexon: The Best-Selling SUV
The Tata Nexon debuted in the market in 2017 and has undergone two midlife refreshes since then, one in early 2020 and another in September 2023. With the latest refresh, the sub-4m SUV received updated looks and modern features such as two 10.25-inch displays for infotainment and instrumentation, a 9-speaker JBL sound system, a 360-degree camera, and six airbags. It also introduced two new transmission options for the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine: a 5-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
Similar updates were applied to the Nexon EV, which received its first major refresh alongside the facelifted Nexon in 2023. It now features a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen from the new Harrier-Safari duo. Although there were no changes to the battery pack specifications, the powertrains were optimized to offer a claimed range of up to 465 km.
Tata achieved 1 lakh unit sales of the Nexon in August 2019, and the same milestone was reached for the Punch in August 2022. By December 2023, Tata had delivered 6 lakh units of the Nexon, including Nexon EV units.
Tata Punch: Rising in Popularity
The Tata Punch made its debut towards the end of 2021, with its EV variant arriving in early 2024, featuring design and styling consistent with the refreshed Tata SUVs. The Punch EV is equipped with features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, and ventilated front seats boasting a claimed range of up to 421 km. Tata is currently testing a facelift for the internal combustion engine (ICE) version of the Punch, expected to launch in 2025.
The more affordable Tata "SUV" has experienced rapid sales growth, with Tata selling 3 lakh units of the Punch by the end of 2023.
Price and Competition
In terms of pricing and competition, the Tata Nexon ranges from Rs 8.15 lakh to Rs 15.80 lakh while the Nexon EV is priced between Rs 14.74 lakh and Rs 19.99 lakh. The Punch is priced from Rs 6.13 lakh to Rs 10.20 lakh, with the Punch EV priced between Rs 10.99 lakh and Rs 15.49 lakh.
The Nexon competes with models like the Kia Sonet, Maruti Brezza, and Hyundai Venue, while its EV counterpart rivals the Mahindra XUV400. The Punch competes with the Hyundai Exter, while the Punch EV takes on the Citroen eC3.