Tata Punch: A crowded world of compact SUVs The Tata Punch has found its own niche in a crowded field of compact SUVs.
Positioned as a micro-SUV, the Punch combines the functionality of a hatchback with a rugged SUV personality into a compact body ideal for the urban jungle.
Given the Impact 2.0 design language of Tata, rock solid safety credentials, and a mouthwatering price, it’s not a surprise then that the Punch has caught the imagination of young urban buyers.
We get to the bottom of what the Punch has to offer, and see if it really is all it’s cracked up to be.
Design and Presence: Spirit of an SUVPicture a large car with four-wheel drive.
Off the mark, the Punch appears a baby Harrier. It takes on a chunky, upright stance featuring squared-off shapes, thick cladding, and an assertive front fascia.
It’s authentic SUV with split headlamps, a sculpted bonnet and wide wheel arches. Despite being a sub-4 m car, the car does not feel compact or lacking in road presence.
Its clear 187mm ground clearance also gives it an air of toughness, and it should serve buyers pretty well for not very tough roads or semi-urban conditions.
Interior and Space: Young But Smart
Get inside the Punch and you’ll be welcomed by a neat dual-tone dashboard. Fit and finish are upmarket for the segment.
A modern touch is added on by the 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, semi digital instrument cluster and flat-bottom steering wheel.
The Punch is good at space. It still has plenty of headroom and legroom, especially up front despite its diminutive size.
Space is fine in the back for two adults. At 366 litres, the boot is one of the biggest in its class, useful for weekends away or airport runs.
Ergonomics are logically thought through – high seating position, big windows, great visibility even without any rhyme or reason are virtues here which make it simple for the beginners to get driving.
Performance: Friendly in the City… and Efficient.
Under the Punch’s hood will be a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine with 86 PS and 113 Nm of peak torque.
It’s not the most thrilling on paper, but in the real world of driving, it has enough grunt for the daily commute to work in your favorite city. It is available with 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox options.
Especially the AMT is tuned better than most competitors. It comes with a special Traction Pro mode that aids the front wheels in finding more grip under low-traction conditions – a nifty little addition for a FWD car.
Mileage is of the order of 18.8 – 20.09 km/l depending on variant and transmission. It’s not at the class-leading level, but good enough for daily use.
Ride and Handling: Balanced to Be Comfortable
From the looks of it, Tata has tuned the Punch’s suspension setup to cope with Indian roads really well.
It sops up potholes and bumps with ease, providing a grown-up ride quality not often found in cars this size. The steering is light around town and weights up adequately at higher speeds.
Because it’s small and very maneuverable, you can easily park or dart through the traffic. The ride feels liveable and it does roll in the body, but not quite by the bucketful given its kind of SUV stance.
Safety and Features: Segment Busting Highlights
Here’s where the Punch works best. The model has a Global NCAP safety rating of five stars, this being one of the most significant achievements that dwarves numerous bigger car cars altogether.
Features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX mounts are standard. Features that are not standard, such as a rear-view camera, automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers, are also available on the upper trims.
Extras also include cruise control, push-button start, connected car tech (on higher editions) and a Harman-tuned audio system — a solid luxury for the segment.
Pros:
Aggressive SUV-like stance, looks good on the road
Open and usable cab design
5-star rated safety by Global NCAP
Well-calibrated AMT with traction mode
Ride quality is comfortable for city and bad roads
Terrible Ground clearance and visibility is bad as well
Cons:
No diesel or turbo engine choice
Highway engine performance is subpar
AMT still isn’t as slick as a standard automatic
Rear seat pan best for two adults
No sunroof and wireless charging features
Tata Punch: Conclusion: Good Things in Small Packages
The Tata Punch may be small in size, but it packs quite a punch in a number of departments. It offers a lot of bang for the buck, from safety to style to comfort.
Sure, it may not be the fastest, and it surely isn’t the flashiest, but it’s an intelligent, solid and sane choice for urban buyers in the market for a subcompact SUV that doesn’t abandon its areas of strength.
If you’re in the market for a city car packed with SUV attitude, contemporary looks and peace of mind in terms of safety, the Punch is hard to look past.