Tata’s compact SUV Punch has seen its fortunes rise and dip. In 2024, it was India’s largest-selling car with sales of 202,031 units, but in 2025, sales dropped 14.1% to just 173,502 units – a reason was an ageing design that begged for an update.
That update happened on January 13, and it’s not just in terms of styling, but also in powertrain, comfort levels, and features.
Prices have increased as well. The entry-level model is now Rs 9,000 more expensive, but the top-end variants, which get a lot of feature additions, have become pricier by almost Rs 40,000.
We drove the Punch turbo-petrol and CNG variants for a day around Pune.
Petrol: From sedate to spirited
The Punch finally gets the ‘punch’ it needed. While the 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated engine remains (Rs 5.6-9.55 lakh), it also gets a turbocharged variant of the engine, changing the SUV’s personality 360 degrees. This unit, borrowed from the Nexon, delivers 120 PS power and 170 Nm torque.
Between the old and new Punch, the difference is night and day. While the old Punch felt breathless on highways, the turbo-Punch pulls effortlessly starting around 2,000 rpm. The new 6-speed manual gearbox allows for relaxed cruising at speeds above 100 km/h, and also delivers good fuel efficiency (my test car returned close to 15 km/litre). In terms of outright acceleration, it’s better than the Nexon because of its lighter weight (almost 200 kg difference).
Comfort has been enhanced, thanks to the extra thigh-support padding on all seats, and boot space is good enough for a family of four (366 litres). The 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels in the top variants give it a mini-Harrier vibe, and the 10.25-inch touchscreen enhances premiumness in the cabin.
But the turbo-Punch is expensive (Rs 8.3-9.8 lakh), and at similar prices you can buy a mid-spec Tata Nexon, which has a bigger cabin and better high-speed stability.
CNG: Small footprint, big impression
Tata Motors has been a pioneer in the twin-cylinder CNG technology. Instead of a single 60-litre CNG cylinder that takes up almost the entire boot space, the Punch CNG has two 30-litre cylinders installed side-by-side in the cavity of the boot (the place for storing spare tyre). These are covered by a tray, on which you can keep your luggage. The spare tyre has gone under the car’s body (can be removed from inside the boot). The boot space is a decent 210 litres. The 37-litre petrol tank remains.
With an increased range of almost 700 km (petrol plus CNG), it’s a decent car for both city and highways. But the car feels lethargic on highways, especially the one mated to the 5-speed AMT gearbox. But there’s good news as well – the AMT has paddle shifters, which you can use to downshift manually when the AMT feels sluggish during hill climbs or while overtaking.
The real benefit of the CNG is fuel efficiency – the ARAI-certified figure is about 27 km/kg, and even in real-world conditions it returns more than 20 km/kg. With features like voice-assisted sunroof, 360-degree camera, and wireless charging in top variants, the Punch CNG isn’t a ‘compromised CNG’, but feels aspirational.
The CNG MT variants are priced from Rs 6.7-9.3 lakh, and AMT from Rs 8.55-10.55 lakh.
