Tata Punch EV Is Quicker Than These 7 Turbo-petrol SUVs!

Despite all the range, charging, and useability limitations of electric vehicles, one thing’s for sure: their performance is superior to conventional ICE-powered vehicles. The delivery is immediate, and as a result, they not only feel exciting, but are actually quick in real life. The perfect example of that statement would be the Tata Punch EV, whose  prices range between Rs 10.98 lakh and Rs 15.48 lakh, putting it right in the ballpark of subcompact SUVs like the Mahindra XUV 3XO, Toyota Taisor and Kia Sonet.

In this report, we’re going to take a look at the performance difference between the Tata Punch EV and its similarly priced sub-4m SUVs alternatives.

Specifications

While the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the most powerful car in this list, the Tata Punch EV comes in a close second position. The likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Fronx aren’t too far behind, with very similar power figures. 

So it is fair to say that, on paper, there’s not much to differentiate between them in terms of output figures. But a surprise awaits in the real-world test!

Performance test

Easy work for the Tata Punch EV then, as it stands clear of its rivals by more than a second for the sprint from 0-100kmph. The closest to it is the Maruti Fronx with a time of 10.38 seconds, followed by the Toyota Taisor in third place. Compared to the slowest car in the list, the Magnite, the Punch EV was quicker by 2.98 seconds.

If you’re scratching your head and wondering how it managed to record such a clean victory, then your answer lies in the instantaneous torque of the electric motor and the uninterrupted power delivery of the electric powertrain. In comparison, the ICE vehicles had to build engine speed, reach their peak output and go through the gears constantly, which meant interruptions in their power delivery.

As a result, the Punch EV is the only car in the list to have a quarter mile time of under 17 seconds. Rest are all above the 17-second mark, with a few going beyond 18 seconds as well. Punch EV only loses out in the 100-0kmph braking test, where it finishes last in the list. But it probably would’ve done better under braking if the test conditions weren’t wet.

Price

Owing to its electric nature and the consequent premium of initial cost of ownership, the Punch EV’s starting price is the highest in the list. Its top-spec prices are just short of the pricing of the Kia Sonet and Mahindra 3XO, but compared to the rest, it sits on the higher side only. Mind you, the Punch EV is smaller than all these cars in the list. 

While it can be considered a smaller electric alternative to these sub-4m SUVs, it directly rivals the Citroen eC3.