Introduction
The Tata Punch has always been a sensible, well-judged small SUV for India. For the money, it focused on delivering strong value, be it SUV-like presence, adequate features, usable space, easy drivability, and crucially, a five-star safety rating.
With this update, Tata Motors hasn’t changed the Punch’s recipe entirely. Instead, it has refined it by using better-quality ingredients to elevate the overall experience. In this review, we tell you whether these upgrades come together to deliver a better package. Let’s begin with the exterior changes.
Exterior
At first glance, the Punch is instantly recognisable. Its proportions and silhouette remain unchanged, and that is a good thing because road presence has always been one of its strengths. The updates are meaningful, and primarily lie in the detailing.
Up front, the new LED DRLs are sharper, lending the Punch a more modern appearance, especially at night. The grille is slimmer, while the headlamps are now positioned further outwards, visually widening the car. The lower bumper has also been redesigned and now features a louder, silver skid plate. Some may find it a bit shouty, but it undeniably adds to the rugged SUV character.
Along the sides, the biggest change comes in the form of new 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, which look modern. At the rear, the connected LED tail lamps make a noticeable difference, instantly making the car look wider and more premium. The slightly more pronounced roof spoiler adds a hint of visual drama as well.
Interior and Features
Step inside, and the basic layout remains familiar, but the new dual-tone finish looks fresh and more upmarket. Ambient lighting in the front footwells and around the centre console is a welcome addition and enhances cabin ambience.
The infotainment system continues to be a 10.25-inch unit, but it’s now slimmer. The display is clear and bright, while the UI is reasonably intuitive for the segment. It now also displays the 360-degree camera feed, which offers decent resolution and usability.
A notable addition is the auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror, genuinely improving night-time driving safety and convenience. The seven-inch digital instrument cluster is crisp, has clean graphics, and plenty of information on display. The separate fuel and tachometer readouts on either side visually widen the instrument console, making it look more premium.
Besides that, the new leather-wrapped two-spoke steering wheel feels good to hold and features a piano-black finish along with an illuminated Tata logo. Button placement is intuitive, and the scroll functions are easy to use on the go.
Likewise, the AC control panel has been lifted from other Tata models, but it’s not without flaws. The lack of haptic feedback makes it hard to confirm inputs, while the glossy black surface is prone to scratches and glare under sunlight. The toggle switches feel short and feel more like buttons than proper toggles.
Charging options are thoroughly modern though. Up front, you get a wireless charging pad, 15W Type-C port, powerful 65W Type-C port, and a 12V socket. Rear passengers get a 15W Type-C USB port as well.
As for the front seats, they’re spacious, comfortable, and supportive, with good under-thigh support. The dark fabric upholstery feels durable and should age well, while the front armrest now offers storage and is slidable, adding to driving comfort.
At the rear, the Punch continues to impress. It can comfortably seat two large adults or three slimmer passengers. There’s a low transmission tunnel, ample legroom, footroom, and headroom. I’m 5.7 feet, and even occupants up to 6.1 feet can be accommodated thanks to the scooped seatbacks and roof. That said, the headroom scoops may feel restrictive in certain outward viewing angles.
Additionally, the rear bench is slightly upright, there are no cupholders in the rear centre armrest, and the rear seat still lacks a 60:40 split. What you do get are adjustable headrests, rear AC vents, door pads with space for small bottles and knick-knacks, and front seatbacks have pockets too.
Otherwise, boot space remains unchanged at 366 litres and is reasonably accommodating, although the loading lip is high. In the CNG version, boot capacity drops to a reasonable 210 litres due to the tanks mounted under the boot floor, with the spare wheel positioned beneath them.
Engine and Powertrain
The Punch lineup offers the familiar 1.2-litre naturally aspirated Revotron petrol producing 87bhp and 115Nm, available with either a five-speed manual or an AMT. The CNG version makes 72bhp and 103Nm and can also be had with a manual or AMT gearbox - complete with paddle shifters!
However, the exciting bit is the new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 118bhp and 170Nm, paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. This is the one we’ve sampled for this review. And it completely transforms the Punch’s personality! The turbo-petrol feels alert and eager, getting off the line quickly. Power delivery is progressive, with a strong and linear pull kicking in from around 1,700rpm when the turbo comes on boost. Importantly, it doesn’t feel dull below that threshold either.
Helping its case is the six-speed gearbox, which is a joy to use. Shifts are smooth, the gates are well-defined, and the gear ratios feel spot on. You’re not forced to downshift frequently, and we managed to cruise at 30-40kmph in sixth gear. Overtakes, too, are quick and effortless.
On the downside, the pedals are placed too close together, leading to occasional interference between the brake and dead pedal while depressing the clutch. External road noises are also clearly audible inside the cabin. Likewise, the blind-spot camera feed takes over the entire infotainment screen when the indicators are activated, which can be unsettling if you’re navigating using maps.
Ride and Handling
One of the best indicators of the Punch turbo-petrol’s capability is how easily it tackled off-road sections. For a front-wheel-drive car, it handles rough terrain impressively well.
This is aided by the robust suspension setup and generous 193mm ground clearance, making it well-suited to Indian road conditions. The suspension soaks up rough surfaces with ease, even dealing with harsh patches with a solid, reassuring thud. A behaviour more commonly associated with larger, more expensive cars.
That said, the absorbent suspension does result in noticeable body movement at triple-digit speeds, making enthusiastic high-speed driving less enjoyable. At legal speeds, however, it feels perfectly composed.
As for the steering, it’s reasonably responsive with adequate weight, making city driving and highway cruising easy. Even braking performance is sufficient, with good pedal feel for everyday driving.
Conclusion
All the updates have made the new Tata Punch more desirable. The base variant now starts at Rs. 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom), which is just Rs. 10,000 more than before. A marginal increase, but one that significantly boosts the value proposition.
You get more features, better technology, improved comfort, much stronger performance, and the safety credentials remain intact. Add to that the availability of an AMT gearbox with the CNG variant, and the Punch’s appeal widens further.
Simply put, Tata Motors has taken the Punch’s proven recipe and made it a whole lot ‘punchier’.
Pictures: Kaustubh Gandhi
