Tata Punch, previously known as the HBX or Hornbill, had been on testing for a while. In August, Tata fully revealed the exterior, and the bookings started in early October with the global debut. Today the Punch is officially launched and will reach the customers by Diwali, making their festival brighter.
Tata Punch Engine & Transmission
The Punch is powered by the 1.2L 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine making 86hp & based on the ALFA platform similar to the Altroz. This is mated to a 5-speed manual/AMT gearbox. The engine performance has been improved, but it is still not up to the mark. It perfectly fits regular city drives with two driving modes, city & eco, for fuel economy.
It performs better than before during low speeds compared to its siblings Tiago & Altroz, but it is not playful. The Punch will not cater to your sudden power needs. Even when you floor the pedal, it will take some time. The only way for immediate overtakes to downshift and get the most out of the engine.
The Punch takes about 16 seconds for 0-100, which is a lot; one can also feel the gap between the shifts with the AMT variant. The engine does not seem responsive, and Tata could have done better with turbo petrol or a diesel engine.
Tata has immensely shown off the promising offroading capabilities of Punch. The AMT variant gets a Traction-Pro mode to get it out of sticky areas, and it simply detects when there is a traction difference between the front wheels and alerts the user allowing him to lock one wheel and supply power to the other get out.
This feature might seem similar to the MTT feature Mahindra introduced with the Bolero Neo, which works on a similar concept, but it does not need to be manually engaged by the driver.
Also Read: Tata Punch vs Tiago NRG | Which One Should You Choose?
Tata Punch Exterior
Tata fully revealed the exterior looks earlier this month, and without a doubt, Punch looks like a mini Harrier. Punch is highly derived from their flagship SUV with the following dimensions:
Length: 3827mm, Width: 1742mm, Height: 1615mm.
The upright stance, along with the side cladding, does give it an SUV feel. The front headlight setup with LED DRLs is also similar to the Harrier & Safari and tri-arrow patterns. It stands on attractive 16-inch alloys with a ground clearance of 187mm.
This ground clearance is another factor making Tata’s smallest SUV capable of tackling bad roads and 370mm of water wading. The contrasting roof & ORVMs surely appeal well with the rear door handles and the windows like the Altroz.
The rear bumper could have been more detailed except for the tri-arrow patterns, but the LED taillights make up for it. But overall, with the significant cuts and the stance, the micro-SUV is eye-catching.
Also Read: Tata Punch Design | An Insight
Tata Punch Interior
The interior is similar to its siblings, with a 7-inch touchscreen & a semi-digital instrument cluster. The doors open to 90 degrees making the entry easy to the well-placed seats. The interior is good with dual-tone and soft texture plastics with tri-arrow patterns.
It offers android auto/ apple car play and Tata’s iRA connect for an enhanced user experience. The aircon vents are a little chunky and well set, along with the flat-bottom steering wheel. However, the square like dials seem different, displaying the speed as usual but the RPM range instead of the accurate reading.
The seat height adjust is another feature the users would love, along with the cold glove box & roomy door pockets. While the Punch is spacious enough to seat five people, it might feel stuffed regularly.
In addition to the partial digital instruments, also get automatic climate control, cruise control, and auto headlamps & wipers. The cup-holders & AC vents have been missed out on the rear. It has a 320L boot with a single unit folding rear seat for more room.
Also Read: Tata Punch Interior Highlights Revealed
Tata Punch Features & Safety
The unique point of the Punch would be the traction-pro mode with the offroad capabilities. As Tata is known for the safest cars, Punch scored 5-stars in the global NCAP crash test. The Punch also has dual front airbags and a functional rear parking camera.
It is equipped with ABS & EBD with brake sway control & corner brake control. It is also fitted with a rear wiper & defogger with ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Also Read: Tata Punch NCAP Rating Revealed
Tata Punch Pricing, Rivals & Variants
The Punch will be priced from ₹5.5-₹8.5 lakhs (ex-showroom) and available in four variants: Adventure, Accomplish, Creative & Pure. It will compete with micro SUVs such as Maruti Suzuki Ignis & C-segment SUVs such as Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger and even lower trims of Hyundai Venue & Kia Sonet.
Also Read: Tata Punch vs Its Rivals Compared!
