Tata launched the updated Punch in India on 14/1, with a starting price of 559,000 rupees (6,200 USD). The changes to the updated Punch focus on styling, features, performance, and safety. The model received a 5-star safety rating after being tested by the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP).
Tata even conducted its own crash test, pitting the small SUV against a large truck. In contrast, NCAP crash tests typically involve rigid and fixed barriers, such as reinforced concrete blocks.
Tata stated that the company aimed to prove the Punch's safety even under real-world road and traffic conditions.
The updated Punch features six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system as standard equipment across all versions.
In India, head-on collisions between passenger cars and trucks or other large vehicles are not uncommon. Recently, on 28/12 in Uttar Pradesh state, an SUV crossing the road was hit and overturned by a truck carrying scrap wood traveling in the same direction. The SUV driver died.
The test video shows a Punch carrying four dummies: two adults and two children (in their respective seats). The truck involved was a Tata LPT (Long Platform Truck) model, specifically the FE version, indicated by the "FE" on its door. The smallest model in the LPT series, the 812 standard version, has a payload capacity of up to 8.5 tons.
During the collision, the Punch was traveling at 50 km/h. The impact pushed the truck backward, and while the Punch's hood deformed, all airbags deployed, the cabin structure remained stable, the doors automatically opened after the crash, and all occupants were safe.
The updated Punch model introduces notable improvements over its predecessor, offering more features and a new 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine. The cabin now includes a larger 10,25-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There are three engine options: a 1.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine, a CNG engine, and the new 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 118 horsepower and 170 Nm of torque. The updated SUV is priced between 559,000 and 929,000 rupees (6,200-10,300 USD).
My Anh (according to Cartoq)
