Launched last year, the Tata Punch is essentially a hatchback on stilts whose only direct rival is the Maruti Ignis
Tata Punch was launched in October 2021 and quickly became the choice of many hatchback buyers who wanted a bit more ruggedness but weren’t ready to purchase a costlier sub-4-metre SUV. The dud-selling Mahindra KUV100 notwithstanding, the Maruti Ignis is the only real competition to this model. Many have loved the Punch for its mini-Harrier look and rugged exterior but make no mistake, the aforementioned B-segment cars are merely hatchback on stilts. Have a look at the video we have below to understand the limited capabilities in snow –
You May Also Like: Tata Nexon Owner Demonstrates Easy Fix For Slow Power Windows
You May Also Like: Tata Safari Gold Edition Looks Newer Than New After Ceramic Treatment
As you can see, a white-coloured Tata Punch has been taken to a snow-covered road. Initially, the video shows driver’s POV and how the small car manages to tread along the snow-covered path for a lot of time. It must be noted here that the high ground clearance of 187mm helps it deal with all the snow on the road. However, as the vehicle proceeds, the going starts getting tougher until a point there’s too much snow and the driver tries turning back. However, the limited traction leads to the car getting stuck. You can see towards the end of the video that the car’s front tires struggle for grip and the vehicle gets stuck.
It goes without saying that cars like the Tata Punch and Maruti Ignis are not made for use on such terrains. Ideally, one should have a proper 4×4 when driving on a snow-covered road like the one seen on the video. Also snow chains help maximize the grip. Another way to increase the grip is to reduce the tyre pressure by, say, 30%. Still, we don’t recommend taking a FWD small car to such tough conditions irrespective of the high ground clearance they offer.
You May Also Like: Tata Tiago Rams Head-on in Truck at 130 km/h- Driver Shares Experience
Tata Punch Specifications
The Punch shares its engine with the Tiago and comes with a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that outputs a maximum power of 84 bhp and a peak torque of 113 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard and an optional AMT. The small car offers an ARAI-tested fuel efficiency of 18.97 kmpl. It measures 3,827 mm in length, 1,742 mm in width and 1,615 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,445 mm and a boot space of 366-litre. Last month, the Punch sold 10,027 units, which made it the second most popular model in its company’s portfolio after the Nexon. In comparison, Maruti Suzuki could retail just 1,993 units of the Ignis.
