PUNCHING UP

Is the Tata Punch micro-SUV a proper SUV? We find out.

- Rivan RS

It’s 0530 as Tata’s driver pulls up outside my house to hand over the keys to the new micro-SUV. The very first thing I notice is there’s a presence to the Punch. In the darkness before the dawn in muggy Mumbai, the powerful yet slim LED DRLs and the larger headlights below them make me believe that there’s a Harrier or a Safari bearing down on me. That’s until I get a little closer and note the distance between the light units — it’s far closer than on the larger SUVs. What also throws my reckoning off is the gruff sound coming from under the bonnet. ‘It’s a microSUV, Rivan. Remember that,’ I say to myself, as I move closer to the car. The Punch’s ‘Tornado Blue’ finish almost sparkles in the tracking car’s lights, making it look quite premium. The Y-shaped wraparound LED tail-lights that sit high on the boot lid are definitely eye-catching when lit up, too.

As I step into the cabin (yes, it’s a slight step up, though not high enough to inconvenience the elderly), the door opens nice and wide, just like on the Altroz. What really surprises me is the amount of support the height-adjustable driver’s seat offers to my portly frame. I sink into the seat; back and lumbar support are excellent, and thigh support will be good for those of medium height and width. Despite having the seat at its lowest setting, I’m positioned in a manner that allows a good view out over the long-ish bonnet. The chunky leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel (shared with the Altroz) feels nice to hold, and as I shift the AMT’s leather-wrapped gear knob into D from N, I notice it fits well and feels upmarket to touch, too.