TATA PUNCH

It was already a sales champion. Now it returns sharper, stronger and smarter. Has Tata finally turned the Punch into the most complete sub-Rs 10 lakh car in India?

- STORY : ABHINAV JAKHAR

The Tata Punch doesn't need an introduction, but it does need some context.

In 2024, it became India's best-selling car. It achieved a rare combination: compact size, an SUV-like stance, solid safety features, and prices that appealed to first-time buyers and urban families. However, 2025 brought more competition. Rivals became more appealing, and while the Punch remained relevant, it started to feel a bit outdated. Tata Motors noticed these changes and decided to act. This brings us to the latest iteration of the Tata Punch, which is a facelift centred around addressing issues, responding to feedback, and possibly unlocking the Punch's full potential.

Visually, the Punch still feels familiar, which is deliberate. The upright stance, squared proportions, and high bonnet line stay the same. But if you look closely, you'll see small updates. The front bumper has a sharper design, the skid plate looks bolder, and the grille pattern has been modified to appear more premium. New 16-inch alloy wheel designs for higher variants offer a fresh look without being overly flashy, and the ORVMs get a gloss finish with a camera, thanks to the addition of a 360-degree camera. Also, like the rest of the Tata family, the LED headlamps and fog lamps sit higher up on the bumper. One other notable update is the increase in ground clearance, which now sits at 193mm, an increase of 6mm. Water wading capacity sits at 400mm, which again is a healthy number to have on one's side in case of bad roads. Around the back, the Punch gets a connected LED light bar, and the camera has moved further down. The reflectors now sit horizontally, and the reversing lamp sits on the bumper with a skid plate, which again is new.