Tata Punch : It’s a small SUV indeed, but the Tata Punch has already proven to be a big hit in the Indian compact car market. The Punch provide a sense of SUV-ness in a city-friendly footprint, with its high ground clearance, upright stance and striking design.
It’s an amalgamation of the practical, the safe and the fashionable that’s hard to ignore for price conscious buyers that can’t bear the thought of going back to MDI levels of presence or features.
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Punch such a hit — and where it might be doing the room for improvement dance.
Tata Punch Design: Boxy, Brave and City-Ready
At first glance, the Tata Punch is striking. Design is in line with Tata’s Impact 2.0 philosophy and it reflects—split headlamps, square wheel arches, roof rails, body cladding ensure it gets a SUV edge.
Despite being small, it has an upright and athletic look even more so on the dual-tone and sculpted bonnet.
The back is just as tastefully designed, with slim taillamps and a clean presentation. It looks different, and that’s about all that need be said, particularly for buyers in the market who want something that doesn’t look as soft as the average hatchback.
Inside: Sensible, roomy and tidy
With the door opened, the cabin welcomes you with a contemporary but clean design. The dashboard has a nice layout, featuring a semi-digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch infotainment screen in higher trims.
The interior is dominated by hard plastics, but they don’t feel chintzy. Mix up the looks using the two-tone colour and texture options.
What’s remarkable is the roominess. And there’s plenty room to sit four adults in the Punch.
The rear seats are upright but not uncomfortable for short trips. The 366-litre boot is a usable size for weekend bags or daily chores.
Performance and Handling: City Engineered
Underneath the Hood, the Punch gets the 1.2-litre three-pot petrol engine that punches out 86 PS and 113 Nm of peak torque. It is available with a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox. Engine isn’t the most enthusiastic in term of power, but gets the job done in city traffic.
The real standout, though, is ride quality. Bad roads are dispatched with surprising nonchalance by the Punch. The suspension is set for comfort, and it just glides over the potholes and speed breakers.
Even high-speed stability is perfectly adequate for a car of this nature. The AMT Trim comes with a “Traction Pro” mode, that lends support while flowing on-off the road, an unconventional yet intriguing inclusion for the segment.
Features and Safety: The Sweet Spot
The Punch gets bits like cruise control, a Harman infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic headlights, and push-button start (in the higher trims). It is also equipped with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX mounts.
And most significantly, the Punch has achieved a 5 star safety rating from Global NCAP, which means it is among the safest cars in its segment.
Mileage and Practicality
The manual is claimed to return around 18.9 kmpl and the AMT just 18.8 kmpl—decent numbers to have for daily traffic wars. Despite its high stance, good all-round visibility makes the Punch easy to park.
Pros:
Rugged, SUV-inspired design
Smooth-riding for what it is
Generous and practical accommodations
5 star Global NCAP rating for safety
Easy to drive and maneuver around the city
AMT with Traction Pro enhances utility
Cons:
Highway acceleration is not very strong
Lacks turbo or diesel engines
A few interior plastics are cheap feeling
Base variants are little scant in features
No rear AC vents
Tata Punch Verdict: A City SUV That Doesn’t Sweat It
That’s not what the Tata Punch is about, it’s about balance, it’s not about power or luxury. It provides SUV style, good safety equipment and practicality in a compact and affordable package. For city drivers who are interested in a stylish small SUV with a good ride and are not willing to skimp on safety, the Punch is worth a look.
It may not strike a hard-core enthusiast’s fancy, but for the everyday slog, it’s a partner that performs.