look news india
Maruti Suzuki’s hatchbacks and compact cars have been ruling the Indian automobile market for a long time, but in the sub-compact and micro-SUV segments, Tata Motors’ ‘Tata Punch’ has changed all the old sales equations. With a starting ex-showroom price of around Rs 5.5 to 6 lakh, this micro-SUV has not only left its category competitors behind, but has also posed a tough challenge to the established vehicles in the segment above it like Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Maruti Fronx.
Registering a dispatch of more than 21,000 units in the monthly sales chart, Tata Punch continues to strengthen its claim to the top position of the country’s best selling car (Best Selling Car in India).
As per the recent vehicle sales data, Tata Punch continues to hold the first position in the sub-4 meter and compact SUV segment with sales of 21,000+ units per month. Whereas Maruti Suzuki’s crossover fronts are limited to around 18,000 to 18,700 units and Maruti Brezza is limited to around 15,000 units.
A huge YoY growth of 90 to 99 percent has been recorded in the sales of Tata Punch as compared to last year. A small and budget-friendly car surpassing Maruti’s premium Nexa and Arena models clearly reflects the changing preferences of Indian customers.
Maruti Brezza and Frontex are known for great engines, reliability and mileage, but Tata Punch gives customers a value-for-money option on several fronts:
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Aggressive Pricing (Price Advantage): The base variant of Maruti Brezza starts at around Rs 8.34 lakh (ex-showroom), while the starting price of the front variant is around Rs 7.51 lakh. In contrast, the base model of Tata Punch is available in a budget of around Rs 5.75 to 6.13 lakh. That means the customer gets the look and experience of an SUV for Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh less.
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Trusted 5-Star Safety Rating: Crash test rating has now become a big factor among Indian buyers. Tata Punch has received a 5-star safety rating for adult occupant protection in both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP. While the Maruti Front was being sold with an untested bodyshell, the Punch’s strong body structure made it the first choice for families.
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SUV stance and ground clearance: The FrontX looks like a hatchback-based crossover, while the Punch gets a generous ground clearance of 187 to 193 mm, muscular wheel arches, 90-degree opening doors and a high seating position. This gives the driver a commanding view of the road like driving a big car.
The company’s multi-powertrain strategy has proved to be the biggest weapon behind the success of Tata Punch:
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1.2 liter Revotron petrol engine: This engine delivers enough power and mileage for daily urban commuting and occasional highway drives. It has both 5-speed manual and AMT (automatic) options.
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Twin-Cylinder iCNG Technology: In traditional CNG cars, the boot space (dicky) was completely destroyed due to the cylinder. Tata saved 210 liters of useful boot space by fitting two smaller cylinders under the boot floor. This innovation gave the biggest blow to Maruti’s CNG monopoly.
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Tata Punch EV (Electric Vehicle): Built on the Acti.EV architecture, the Punch EV is attracting buyers who want an eco-friendly vehicle with a real-world range of 300 to 400 km and modern tech features.
Tata has been updating the Punch from time to time and adding features to it which are usually found in vehicles priced at Rs 10-12 lakh. This includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice-assisted electric sunroof, cooled glovebox, automatic climate control, cruise control and wireless phone charger. These modern features kept first-time budget car buyers from moving towards expensive models.
This record-breaking success of Tata Punch has proved that Indian buyers are no longer just chasing mileage or resale value, but are giving priority to strong build quality, modern design, boot space and safety. However, Maruti Suzuki is also working on hybrid technology in its fronts and new upgrades for Brezza, but it is not going to be easy for any rival to break the strong hold that Tata Punch has made in the Rs 6 lakh budget bracket.