If cars had personalities, the Tata Punch would be that short guy in the gym who lifts heavier than everyone else and then politely holds the door for you. Launched in 2021 and now seen in its first-generation facelift avatar, the Punch has quietly become one of India’s biggest automotive success stories. In just four years, more than seven lakh units have already been sold, and every year nearly two lakh Indians decide that this is the car they want to deal with potholes, speed breakers and unpredictable traffic with.
Tata positions it as a crossover SUV, but in real life the Punch behaves like a proper SUV that just happens to be compact in size. It is Tata’s smallest SUV, sitting below the Nexon, yet it is built on the ALFA-ARC platform, the same modern architecture used for the Altroz. Assembly happens in Pune, which feels appropriate because if a car survives Pune traffic, it is automatically qualified for the rest of India. Prices start from ₹5.59 lakh ex-showroom and go up to ₹10.54 lakh for the top-spec Accomplished+ S CNG, which is the variant being discussed here. The electric version starts at around ₹10 lakh, so the Punch literally exists for every kind of buyer, whether you love petrol, prefer CNG or are already dreaming of the EV future.
Design is one of the strongest weapons of the Punch, and the credit goes to Martin Uhlarik, the same designer who has given us icons like Safari, Harrier, Nexon, Sierra, Tiago and Tigor, along with international cars like Mazda CX-5 and Ford Fusion. The Punch carries Tata’s Command Max styling, which basically means it looks far tougher than its size suggests. The bull guard style bumper, 3D grille, rhino-inspired elements, skid plate and the connected Infinity Glow LED tail lamps give it a mini off-road warrior vibe. Up front, the Powersight LED projector headlamps with follow-me-home function, LED DRLs and cornering fog lamps make it look modern and premium, especially in the Caramel Gold colour that feels straight out of a luxury chocolate wrapper.
On paper, the Punch measures 3.8 metres in length, 1.7 metres in width and 1.6 metres in height, with a massive 193 mm ground clearance. In real life, it feels bigger because of the upright stance and the commanding driving position. The turning circle is just 10 metres, water wading capacity goes up to 370 mm, and with a kerb weight of around 1191 kg, it feels solid, not tin-can light. This is a car that doesn’t just want to look like an SUV, it actually wants to behave like one.
Where the Punch truly scares its rivals is safety. Both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP have given it a full five-star rating, which is rare at this price point. The car comes with six airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic stability program, traction control, hill hold, hill descent, blind view monitor, ISOFIX mounts, brake sway control, corner safety control, tyre pressure monitoring and a 360-degree camera. In simple words, if something bad is about to happen, the Punch will do everything except call your parents and explain the situation.
The CNG technology is another area where Tata has flexed hard. Tata proudly calls it India’s first AMT CNG SUV, and they have not cut corners here. The Single Advanced ECU allows seamless switching between petrol and CNG, you can even start the car directly in CNG mode, and there is an automatic leak detection system that switches the car back to petrol if any gas issue is detected. In case of a thermal incident, the CNG supply is cut off instantly and the gas is released safely into the atmosphere. Even the idle start-stop system works to improve efficiency in traffic. Basically, the CNG system in the Punch is smarter than half the people who comment on car reels.
Inside the cabin, the Punch feels far more premium than you expect from a sub-₹10 lakh car. The top variant gets a massive 10.24-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. There is galaxy ambient lighting, a dual-tone dashboard, fabric upholstery, flat floor design and extended thigh support seats. The 90-degree opening doors make entry and exit ridiculously easy, especially for elderly passengers and for anyone who hates doing yoga just to get into a car.
Luxury features include a wireless charger, auto-dimming rear view mirror, cooled glove box, voice-assisted electric sunroof and fully automatic climate control with express cool and air purifier. The leather-wrapped smart digital steering wheel with mounted controls makes the driver feel like he is in a much more expensive car, even though the EMI says otherwise.
Then there is the iRA 2.0 connected car system, which turns your smartphone into a remote control for your Punch. You can locate the car, set geo fences, lock or unlock it remotely, activate horn and lights, get intrusion alerts, receive emergency SMS, immobilise the car, track live vehicle health, update software over the air and even use valet mode. At this point, the car knows more about itself than most humans know about their own health.
Boot space in the CNG version is 210 litres, which is decent considering there are two gas cylinders sitting at the back. The petrol version gets a much more generous 366 litres. You also get a steel spare wheel, luggage hooks, umbrella holders in the doors and puddle lamps that make you feel special at night even if you are just stepping out to buy milk.
Under the hood, the Punch offers multiple engine options. The standard petrol engine is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Tata Revotron motor producing 86 horsepower and 115 Nm of torque, delivering around 18 kmpl with a top speed of 155 kmph. There is also a more powerful turbo petrol version with 118 horsepower and 170 Nm, for those who want their small SUV to have big ego. The CNG version produces 72 horsepower and 103 Nm, but compensates with an impressive efficiency of around 26 km per kg. These engines are shared with the Altroz, Tiago and Tigor, which means reliability and service support are already proven.
Transmission options include five-speed manual, six-speed manual, five-speed AMT and manual for CNG. Drive modes include Eco and City, because Sport mode in Indian traffic is mostly a mental state, not a mechanical one.
Even the accessories list is insane. Tata offers everything from bicycle carriers and inflatable beds to tents, heated blankets, dash cams, power stations, pet sheets, portable washers and even car humidifiers. At this point, the Punch is less of a car and more of a lifestyle store on wheels.
So why is the Tata Punch such a massive success? Because it understands India better than most cars. It is affordable, safe, tough, fuel-efficient, packed with features, easy to maintain and backed by Tata’s strong brand image. It may be the smallest SUV in Tata’s lineup, but in confidence, safety and overall value, the Punch behaves like a heavyweight champion.
The Tata Punch doesn’t try to impress you with speed or luxury badges. It impresses you by surviving Indian roads with dignity, and in this country, that is the highest form of premium.
