Tata Punch Outsells Maruti: What Made It The Best-selling Car Of 2024…

Maruti Suzuki has long held the best-seller tag for over four decades, thanks to its budget-friendly models that cater to the masses in India. However, as buyer-friendly as it may be, the crown has now shifted to Tata Motors, thanks to their Punch micro-SUV, which propelled them to top the charts in 2024 with more than 2 lakh units sold, breaking Maruti's dominance for the first time in forty years. 

But what has suddenly made the Tata Punch surge in popularity? Well, we’ve analysed that in detail below:

Anything That You Need

Tata Motors has strategically offered multiple powertrain options under the same nameplates, and the Punch SUV follows. Available in petrol, i-CNG, and electric versions, the Punch effectively caters to multiple segments. 

This strategy has helped boost its sales, attracting a diverse range of buyers. Here’s a look at the Punch’s collective sales throughout 2024.

Doing It Best, The SUV Way!

The Tata Punch is a micro SUV with the following dimensions:

• Length: 3827 mm

• Width: 1742 mm

• Height: 1615 mm

• Wheelbase: 2445 mm

Maruti Suzuki has long held a strong presence with its popular hatchbacks, but with the rising demand for SUVs among Indian buyers, the focus has gradually shifted. We explore this trend in the following analysis. 

While Maruti has made strides with its SUV offerings, the only direct rival to the Tata Punch from its lineup is the Ignis, with the Hyundai Exter also competing. However, neither offers both ICE and Electric powertrain options together, and both fall significantly short in sales compared to the Punch. The Exter and Ignis does have CNG options that can be considered rival to the Punch variant alike.

While the Maruti Brezza stands strong in a higher segment, the Punch, as a micro-SUV, strikes the perfect balance between affordability and the appeal of an SUV, much like a hatchback with a stronger presence for an Indian buyer. 

The Tata Safety

Tata cars have become synonymous with safety in recent times. The Tata Punch has been the most affordable car with a five-star safety rating and is still the most affordable safest SUV in the Indian market. We’ve previously covered its safety bit in this story.

The Final Punch

The Tata Punch is well equipped with features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a single-pane sunroof, a 6-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate control, cruise control, a wireless phone charger, rear AC vents and a front armrest.

For safety, it gets dual airbags, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

The Tata Punch ICE is available with both petrol and CNG powertrain options. The car gets a 1.2-litre N/A petrol engine which churns out 88 PS and 115 Nm. With the CNG kit installed, you get a reduced output of 73.5 PS and 103 Nm. The petrol engine gets an option between the 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT, while the CNG variants can be had with the 5-speed manual only. 

On the other hand, the Punch EV comes with a 25 kWh and a 35 kWh battery pack option which powers its motor that puts out 82 PS and 114 Nm with the smaller pack and 122 PS and 190 Nm with the long range pack.

 Let us know in the comments, what are your thoughts about the Tata Punch!