Meet India's fastest SUV to cross 6 lakh sales milestone, not any Maruti or Hyundai model

This micro SUV is available in ICE and EV versions.

Tata Motors has always been a significant player in India's SUV space, right from the early days when it had the likes of the Sierra, Sumo and Safari. In the recent past, it brought relatively modern models like the Nexon, Curvv and Harrier. While the Nexon has done exceptionally well, there is one model, the smallest in the company's SUV portfolio, that is breaking all sorts of records. It is none other than the Punch.

Tata launched the Punch in October 2021, and the rest, as they say, is history. In a regulatory filing, the company said that the Punch has become the fastest SUV in India to cross the sales milestone of 6 lakh units. The sales mark has been breached in less than four years.

The Punch has had a remarkable journey. It was overall the largest-selling car in India in 2024, at 2.02 lakh units. It ended Maruti Suzuki India's dominance as a Maruti car had been the best-selling car in India for 39 consecutive years from 1985 till 2023.

Tata Punch ICE

At present, the Punch is available in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) versions, keeping true to Tata's multi-powertrain strategy. This is one of the main reasons for its popularity.

The ICE version employs a 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine, which develops 88PS of maximum power and 115Nm of peak torque. The engine can be paired either with a 5-speed MT or a 5-speed AMT. You can have it in CNG (73PS and 103Nm) with a 5-speed MT. The good thing about the Punch CNG is that it comes with dual CNG cylinders, thereby freeing up a significant amount of space in the boot.

Then there is the EV version, in the form of the Punch.ev, with a real-world range of up to 290km on a single full charge. The Punch.ev has scored a 5-star safety rating at Bharat NCAP as well.

Tata Punch.ev

Following the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation, the ICE version of the Punch became cheaper by up to Rs 1.08 lakh. It is priced between Rs 5.50 lakh and Rs 9.30 lakh (ex-showroom). The Punch.ev sits in the price bracket of Rs 9.99 lakh and Rs 14.44 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Tata Punch's SUV body style, that too at a relatively affordable price point, appeals to a lot of first-time buyers. A 5-star safety rating makes it popular among safety-conscious buyers as well. The multiple powertrain options also widen the buyer base.