Tata Punch facelift review: Punching above its weight?

The Punch has been a runaway success for Tata Motors since its launch in 2021, with around 7 lakh unit sales and it was even India’s best-selling model in 2024. And now to further its success story, Tata Motors has revamped the sub-compact SUV with a new design, more features and two new powertrain options. Let’s take a closer look at what the Punch facelift is like.

Punch facelift Exterior Design and Engineering – 8/10

Design updates and new exterior colour options help the Punch stay contemporary.

With the facelift, the Punch’s design has been brought in line with the Punch EV that made its debut in 2024, lending the small SUV a noticeably more contemporary face. Up front, you get vertically stacked LED headlamps, which are placed in the bumper below the daytime running lamps. The LED DRLs are slightly different in execution compared to the EV as you don’t get a lightbar, instead they are placed on either side and are neatly housed within a gloss-black trim. The bumper has also been reworked and comes with thick plastic body cladding finished in black, with a silver surround highlighting the air intake vents. This contrast not only breaks up the visual mass but also gives the Punch a subtly more muscular and rugged appearance than before.

Viewed in profile, the changes are far more restrained. The silhouette remains the same, with the only notable update being a new set of smart-looking 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. At the rear, the updates are more evident. The facelift introduces new LED tail-lamps that are now connected by a light bar, visually widening the car and aligning it with Tata’s latest designs. Lower down, the rear bumper has been revised to include a new faux silver skid plate, reinforcing the SUV-inspired aesthetic.

The Punch facelift is offered in six colour options: Bengal Rouge, Caramel, Coorg Clouds, Cyantafic (in pictures), Daytona Grey and Pristine White. Notably, the first four shades are all-new additions, expanding the palette and giving buyers more choice.

The Punch is continued to be underpinned by Tata’s ALFA platform and as such, it still gets 90-degree opening doors which makes access to the cabin very easy. Tata claims the new Punch has a water-wading capacity of 400mm and a ground clearance of 193mm.

Punch facelift Interior Space and Comfort – 8/10

Key changes on the inside make the Punch facelift’s interior feel more upmarket.

Step inside and you’ll find a lot of similarities with the outgoing Punch, though there have been some key changes.

The most obvious of these is the new two-spoke steering wheel finished in gloss black, which now features an illuminated Tata logo. This brings the Punch in line with Tata’s newer models and lends the interior a more upmarket touch. Another key change is the revised climate control panel. The physical controls have been replaced by a touch-based unit, similar in layout to those seen on the Nexon and Sierra. While it looks cleaner and more modern, it isn’t very intuitive to use on the move. Top-spec Punchs’ now also get a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that’s customizable and has nice graphics, though some of the data appears a bit too small. In the CNG, it even shows you a useful usage split between petrol and CNG.  

The seats meanwhile, continue with fabric upholstery, but their design has been updated and is now derived from the Punch EV. A revised black and grey upholstery theme for the seats helps add a bit of freshness to the cabin. The front seats are snug and well-cushioned and the elevated seating gives you a great view out of the cabin. Perhaps the most noteworthy update inside, is the addition of extended thigh support for both the front and rear seats. This is a meaningful upgrade in terms of comfort, particularly for longer journeys.

Despite its compact size, space at the back isn’t compromised. There’s ample kneeroom and the flat floor does add to the comfort of an occasional third passenger here. However, the backrest feels a bit too upright and headroom will be tight for six-footers. Also, only the outer two passengers get an adjustable head rest and while all three get three-point seatbelts, there are no load sensors so the buzzer will keep beeping even if there’s no one seated. Tata has improved the experience at the back though, with the Punch’s rear seats now featuring dedicated AC vents, a type C charging port and a centre fold-down armrest.  

Boot space is rated at 366 litres for the petrol variants and 210 litres for the CNGs. What’s nice though that both versions get a spare tyre that’s mounted under the car. This can be lowered by loosening a bolt in the boot floor.

Punch facelift Features and Safety – 9/10

Punch continues to be well-equipped and has a 5-star BCAP safety rating. 

The Punch continues to be a feature-loaded SUV, with the range-topping Accomplished+ S trim featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone integration, a single-pane sunroof, single-zone auto climate control, connected car tech, ambient lighting, a blind-spot monitor, cruise control, 16-inch alloys, rear wiper and washer and much more.

In terms of new features, the Punch now packs in a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a crisp and high-res 360-degree parking camera, wireless phone charger, auto-dimming IRVM and an 8-speaker sound system with four speakers and four tweeters.

Safety kit includes six airbags as standard, ESP, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), hill hold and hill descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, three-point seatbelts for all passengers, auto headlamps and rain-sensing wipers. The Tata Punch facelift has also received a full, 5-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP.

Punch facelift Performance and Refinement – 8/10

New turbo-petrol is punchy, while CNG-AMT is a great option for those who do a lot of intercity miles.

It’s rare that a facelift brings in mechanical changes or even a new powertrain, but Tata Motors has done just that. There’s not one but two new powertrain options with the Punch – a turbo petrol-manual and a CNG-AMT automatic. On our test drive, we got a chance to sample both these new powertrains.

Starting off with the turbo-petrol, which is a familiar unit from the Nexon, and gives the SUV a much needed dose of punch that it lacked before. The engine is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, MPFi unit that puts out 120hp and 170Nm and comes paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox only. This engine is refined by three-cylinder standards, although it isn’t as smooth as some other three-cylinder turbo-petrols in the market. On the move, this engine feels eager as it’s quick to respond to throttle inputs and it pulls strongly, well into triple digit speeds. Power delivery is also fairly linear, save for a prominent step up around 2,000rpm. However, unlike in the Nexon, there are no drive modes here. Tata claims a 0-100kph time of 11.1sec, but we managed a preliminary time of 11.56sec. Roll-on acceleration is fairly strong too, with 20-80kph taking 10.98sec.

What is a fly in the ointment however, is the 6-speed manual gearbox. The clutch pedal is on the heavier side and the release action is springy, which means careful modulation is required. The gearbox will be fine for most users, but drive it in an enthusiastic manner and you’ll find that it takes some effort to slot it into the gates. Still, this turbo petrol option is great for those wanting more performance and it does the Punch’s excellent chassis some justice.  

The CNG-automatic meanwhile, uses the 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated engine that puts out 73hp and 103Nm when run on CNG, paired with a 5-speed AMT automatic. This isn’t an all-new powertrain for Tata however, as it can already be found in the Tiago hatchback and the Tigor compact sedan.

As you’d expect, there’s not much performance on tap with the 0-100kph sprint taking a leisurely 19.51sec. While it’s adequate for the city, overtaking on the highway requires careful planning and a downshift or two via the steering-mounted paddle shifters or the tiptronic function on the gear lever. Responses, both off the line and at part-throttle, are decent and it’ll easily keep up with the flow of traffic. What’s nice though is that the difference between petrol and CNG mode is not large. The gearbox is decent by AMT standards, but if you are heavy with your inputs you will experience the dreaded head-nod while shifting. Drive it in a sedate manner however, and it feels completely liveable. As such, this powertrain option represents a great option for those who do a lot of intercity miles. 

Like all of Tata’s other CNG models, the Punch too gets the dual-cylinder setup that’s placed below the boot floor which liberates luggage space. What’s nice is gets CNG-specific safety features – there’s a fire extinguisher under the front passenger seat and the car won’t start when the fuel filler flap is open, among others. 

Aside from the aforementioned additions, the Punch also continues to be offered with naturally aspirated petrol-manual, petrol-AMT and CNG-manual powertrains. In terms of refinement, the Punch’s cabin is well isolated from road and tyre noise.

Punch facelift Mileage / Range and Efficiency – 7/10

On our short test drive, we weren’t able to subject the Punch facelift to our real-world mileage tests and Tata Motors is yet to reveal official claimed figures as well. A point worth noting however, the turbo-petrol’s MID has been programmed to not display under 8kpl, which is misleading.

Punch facelift Ride Comfort and Handling – 9/10

Impressive ride-handling balance continues to be a highlight.

Not much has changed in the ride and handling department, and that’s a good thing. Tata has struck an impressive balance between ride comfort and handling with the Punch, and it’s one of the SUV’s strongest attributes. There’s a distinct sense of underlying robustness to the suspension setup, which comes to the fore when the road surface deteriorates. Over broken tarmac and rough patches, the Punch absorbs imperfections with a level of composure that feels more in line with a larger, heavier car, rather than a compact one. Even at higher speeds, the car remains planted and stable, inspiring confidence on highways.

The steering further complements this well-rounded dynamic package. It is light and easy-going, making it effortless to use in city conditions, yet it remains consistent and accurate as speeds build. Thanks to its taut structure and relatively light kerb weight, the Punch is surprisingly enjoyable when the road gets twisty. There’s a pleasing sense of control you get around corners and there’s not much body roll either.

We also got a chance to experience the Punch around an off-road course, and despite being a small FWD model it tackled the obstacles admirably well. Rounding things off is a braking system that feels natural and progressive, with more than ample stopping power.

Punch facelift Value for Money – 7/10

The Punch facelift builds on the strengths of its predecessor.

In the sub-compact SUV segment, the Tata Punch continues to rival the likes of the Hyundai Exter, Citroen C3, as well as the Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite. Prices for the Tata Punch range from Rs 5.59 lakh for the base NA petrol-manual, going up till Rs 10.54 lakh for the top-spec CNG-AMT.

The Punch facelift builds on the strengths of its predecessor, like the sorted ride and handling balance, its user friendly nature and solid build quality, and makes it a more rounded package. The turbo-petrol brings some much needed punch to the lineup while the new CNG-AMT further broadens its appeal. While the naturally aspirated petrol engine still remains a weak point and top variants are on the pricey side, even overlapping with the larger Nexon, but for those who want a tough, small SUV that’s easy to drive, feature-rich and practical, the Punch facelift makes sense.

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