Tata Punch EV

Tata’ Punch EV is their most affordable electric SUV. Bundled in a small package are some bold looks, expansive feature list, ample space and the choice of two battery packs. I’ve spent thousands of kilometres behind the wheel of the Punch EV, and also driven it completely out of charge to see what it can achieve in real world conditions. 

I believe that the Punch EV is the best version of the Punch on sale today. It might actually make more sense to purchase this over equivalently priced sub-4-metre SUVs from a segment above. What’s good? What’s not? Let’s dive deep. 

Build Quality and Design

The design is very similar to the Nexon EV, with elements such as full-width daytime running lamps, LED headlights and fog lamps placed on the bumper and the absence of a conventional grille. Like the Nexon EV, the Punch EV gets sequential turn indicators and a welcome/goodbye animation too.

Tata has also moved the charging flap to the front. It swings open in a smooth action when you press the release button. On the flap sits the new logo that Tata Motors is debuting with the Punch EV. This logo is two-dimensional and is finished in black and white. Expect to see this on more Tata EVs going forward. 

Viewed from the side and rear, design changes are negligible. You do get 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and a bright ‘.ev’ badge on the side. Other than these, design details such as the hidden rear door handle and the shark fin antenna have been carried over from the standard Punch petrol as is. 

From the rear, the only real differentiator is the silver cladding on the rear bumper. Tata tells us that a complete redesign at the rear has been avoided in interest of keeping costs down. Thankfully it doesn’t look outdated or out of sync with the new face.

It’s becoming easier to spot Tata vehicles now, given their family look. The Punch EV debuts an updated design for the small SUV, with most of the changes being concentrated at the front. This updated design remains exclusive to the Punch EV for now. We like that the Punch EV looks like a proper mini SUV. The raised bonnet, tall height and 190 mm of ground clearance give the Punch EV a confident look. 

Tata Motors has done a good job in ensuring a good build with the Punch. Shut lines and panel gaps are consistent and the quality of paint leaves no room for complaints either. 

There are interesting colour options on offer too that includes Empowered Oxide, Seaweed, Daytona Grey, Fearless Red, Pure Grey, Supernova Copper and Pristine White. Like most Tata EVs, it looks best in the Empowered Oxide shade.

Design and Quality

With the interior, Tata has yet again taken inspiration from the Nexon. The interior experience is transformed with three major design changes — the new twin-spoke steering wheel with the illuminated logo, the touch-based climate control panel and the redesigned floor console. In the top-spec Empowered+ variant, the white-grey theme for the dashboard and upholstery looks classy. 

Quality levels are acceptable at this price point. Tata has used hard (but good quality) plastic and given different textures on the dashboard which feels nice to the touch. Fit and finish too are consistent inside the cabin. 

I liked the design and material of the drive selector that stands out with a knurled finish and even the small display within it is quite good. Tata has used a mix of fabric and leatherette for the upholstery, which gives the cabin an upmarket feel. 

Front Seats

All doors of the Punch EV open up to a full 90 degrees, making entry and exit very convenient, even for the elderly. The floor of the car is higher compared to the petrol-powered version. But you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference unless you sit in them back-to-back. Tata has managed to package the interior well with almost no loss in experience and practicality. 

At the front, the seats are wide and have thick side bolstering. Even if you are an XL-sized person, the seats will hold you in place well. There’s a central armrest too. The driver’s seat can be adjusted for height, whereas the steering gets tilt adjustment. 

If you are a new driver, you will appreciate the tall seating position. You will be able to spot the edge of the bonnet pretty easily, and the view out of the windows while turning/parking is unobstructed. 

Rear Seats

It’s at the rear that the experience seems a little compromised. The space is limited, and anyone near 6 feet will feel their knees very close to the front seat. Tata has scooped out the headliner to carve out a few extra millimetres of headroom. In terms of width, there’s enough for two people to be comfortable. Squeezing a third occupant is neither comfortable nor recommended. 

There’s a central armrest that ups the comfort quotient of the cabin. However, rear AC vents are missing. 

Storage and Practicality

The Punch EV gets all the practicality basics right for a small family SUV. All the doors get 1-litre bottle pockets along with some extra storage space for your cleaning cloth and knick knacks. The central tunnel has plenty of storage too – the wireless phone charger area can double up as a wallet or key storage area when not in use; there’s two small cup holders, but 1-litre bottles won't fit here; and you also get a cubby hole under the central armrest. The glove box size, however, is decent and there’s also a dedicated tray where you can keep car papers, which frees up space for other things in the glovebox.

Rear occupants get two seatback pockets where you can keep documents or your phone. Unfortunately, there are no cupholders in the armrest. 

Charging Options

As for charging options, occupants up front get a 12V socket, a USB type A, and a type C port along with the wireless charger.

Features

Here’s a quick look at the functional features of the Punch EV:

Now, let’s turn our attention to the highlights, beginning with the 10.25-inch touchscreen. Do note that this isn’t the slim bezel screen we’ve seen in the top-spec Nexon. It’s the one used in the mid-spec versions of the Nexon/Harrier/Safari. Because of the large bezels, the screen looks small. However, in terms of functionality, you’d have no issues. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As we’ve seen with recent Tata cars, the user interface is easy to get used to with logically laid out menus and sub-menus. We faced no glitches, lags or bugs in our test. 

The touchscreen is paired with a 6-speaker audio system which consists of 4 speakers and 2 tweeters. Audio quality is crisp, and you’re unlikely to complain about the audio output. 

Next up is the 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. This screen is shared across Tata SUVs, right up to the Safari. A great resolution, clean graphics and easy to consume (and expansive) data makes this both functional and aesthetic at the same time. 

There’s a fantastic 360 degree camera on offer as well. The video quality is clear and you can rely on it while parking. Dynamic guidelines are on offer which make it easier still. You can toggle between 2D and 3D views too. I really liked that the side cameras come on when you indicate, giving you more confidence while changing lanes on the highway. 

Finally, there’s front seat ventilation on offer. It functions as intended, and lets you select between three fan speeds. However, like the Nexon, the button is placed awkwardly on the seat base making it difficult to use on the go.

Punch EV’s standard safety features include 6 airbags, TPMS, ABS with EBD, hill hold assist, and rear parking sensors. Additional features like an electronic parking brake, rear wiper, auto defogger, and 360-degree camera are available in higher variants. So there's no lack of safety features in the Punch EV.

The Punch EV has been crash tested by the BharatNCAP where it secured a full five star safety rating. It scored 31.46/32 for adult occupant safety and 45/49 for child occupant safety, earning it five stars in both categories.

• Punch EV gets a boot space of 366-litres, which is suitable for smaller suitcases.

• Due to the shape of this boot, larger suitcases don’t fit easily, and if you place one large suitcase here, you won’t have much space left for smaller bags.

• If you need more space for larger items, you can fold the rear seats, but there is no 60:40 split.

• However, after folding the rear seat, the floor is not flat, which makes loading your luggage a little difficult.

• The top-spec variant also gets a frunk which you can use to keep a small bag or the car’s charger.

Tata Motors offers two battery options on the Punch EV: 25kWh and 35kWh

Punch LR Review

City Performance

We’d sum up the drive experience in one word: easy. There’s next to no learning to do here, you can simply hop into the car and get used to the way it drives. There are three modes to choose from: Eco, City and Sport, and four levels of brake energy regeneration: level 1-3, and off.  

In Eco mode, the response from the motor is dulled down. This is the mode to be in when negotiating heavy traffic. The smoother power delivery is friendlier still for new drivers. You can switch to City mode when your commute is a mix of slightly open city highways and smooth flowing traffic. You will enjoy the added urgency in acceleration and be able to pick gaps in traffic effortlessly. 

Highway Performance

This is where you can truly enjoy Sport mode. The vehicle is capable of doing 0-100kmph in just 9.5 seconds in this mode. Good for some giggles now and then. There’s no real need for you to use Sport mode otherwise. 

The Punch EV is comfortable maintaining 100-120kmph on open roads. The top speed is limited to 145kmph, and it is surprising how easily it gets to that speed. However, in interest of efficiency and range, it is best to stick to speeds of 80-100kmph on the highway. 

Note: Brake Energy Regeneration

The brake energy regeneration system captures energy that would otherwise be lost during braking/coasting and feeds it back into the system. This helps increase range. 

Level 3: Deceleration is super strong. The moment you lift off the throttle you will feel the vehicle bog down a little immediately before slowing down. This could’ve been smoother. If you time the release of the accelerator properly, you could drive around the city purely using one pedal. Do note that the vehicle does not come to a dead halt as it slows down — it creeps at 5 kmph. 

Level 2: Perfect for everyday usability inside the city. Transition into regeneration when you lift off the throttle is a lot smoother. 

Level 1: Consider using on open highways or declines where Level 2 or 3 is causing you to lose speed. 

Level 0: The vehicle will coast, giving a similar feel as a vehicle in ‘neutral’. 

Note: Real World Range

We’ve driven the Punch EV LR for months, and have come to realise that it consistently returns 260-280km on a single charge in mixed driving conditions. Where traffic is lower and smooth flowing, the range can go up to 300km on a single charge. 

Bear in mind that at 25% charge, the car disables sports mode. Once it touches 10% charge, it goes into low power mode and restricts the top speed to a humble 55kmph. You still get the convenience of an AC, but that too goes away, once you hit 5% charge.

Most of the city bumps and speed breakers are absorbed without translating them into the cabin. The suspension works silently for the most part and courtesy of the high ground clearance, you won’t have to worry or slow down on the Indian speed breakers having an identity crisis. 

It’s only when you take a sharper bump with a slightly higher speed that the suspension is audible and the impact is felt inside the cabin. It still doesn’t make you uncomfortable, you actually hear the impact more than you feel it. 

On really bad surfaces, you will experience some side to side body movement, but that too is  acceptable. Even out on the highway, the car feels planted, feels stable, and goes over highway joints and undulations rather well. 

The Punch EV has a lightweight steering, making it easy to manoeuvre inside the city and park in tight spots. The weight of the steering increases as speeds climb past 80 kmph.  

In terms of handling, it maintains its balance at respectable speeds. But push it a little harder and the extra weight of the batteries (over 200kgs) over the standard Punch makes itself apparent. You don’t get the same level of confidence as body roll kicks in, but despite that, it never feels unsafe.

Summing up the Punch EV is pretty easy then – it is a complete, all-rounder version of the standard petrol-powered Punch. It looks modern, has a premium cabin with plethora of creature comforts, and the drive experience now actually packs a punch.

It does command a significant premium for all those qualities though – nearly 5 lakh over the standard Punch, which puts it on par with bigger SUVs like the Nexon and Sonet. But despite that overlap, the Punch EV holds its own. So if your usage is restricted to city runabouts, or travel between two existing locations where you have the provision of home charging, then the Punch EV will be a good choice for you.

Other Options To Consider

Citroen eC3

Reasons To Consider

• More affordable

• Provides a more comfortable ride quality

Reasons To Ignore

• Less usable range

• Not so feature-rich

Tata Tiago EV

Reasons To Consider

• Similar package at a lower price

Reasons To Ignore

• Smaller battery pack options

• Not so premium looking