Tata Punch BEATS Maruti WagonR To Become India’s Best Selling Car

Tata Punch has become the best-selling car in India, surpassing Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR. Over 1,26,000 units of the micro-SUV were sold in the last seven months ( Jan- July 2024). This is a huge milestone for Tata Motors. In comparison, the best selling car of last year – the Maruti WagonR – managed only 1.16 lakh units in the first seven months of the year.

In July, however, the Punch dropped to the fourth spot in sales, with the Creta topping the charts. 16,121 units of the Tata Punch were sold during the period, translating to an 11.61 per cent MoM decline. So, the jury is still out on whether the Tata Punch can actually hold on to its slender lead over the WagonR for the rest of the year. If that happens, the Punch will make history in India, for no non-Maruti car has been a yearly best seller in India, ever.

What makes the Tata Punch so popular?

SUV at hatchback prices

Tata Punch offers the appeal and practicality of an SUV at the price point of a modern-day hatchback. Prices start from Rs. 6.12 lakh. SUV-ish styling, high ground clearance, and ample cabin room are some of its key traits. Also to like is the commanding view from within the cabin. It thus makes for an ideal vehicle for small families and for city commutes.

The Punch, in a way, capitalizes on the Indian buyer’s affinity towards SUVs. In recent times, hatchbacks and tall boys have been outsmarted by small SUVs, in sales. Also, it makes much sense to invest in SUV-ish products ( regardless of how big or small they are), when the condition of our roads are considered.

Range of powertrains

Further, the Punch is offered in a range of powertrain choices- petrol, electric and CNG. The petrol gets a 1.2L NA petrol engine, while the EV gets a 35 kWh battery pack. The Punch iCNG gets a petrol-CNG dual-fuel powertrain. The acceptance of alternative fuel options has been on the rise lately. The electric and CNG versions of the Punch make up 47% of the total sales. (Even for the Wagon R, the CNG variants comprise 45% of total sales). The multi-fuel approach has given the Punch a clear edge over the competition.

Tata Punch was all-petrol in 2023. It sold just 79,000 units during Jan-July 2023, and closed Jan-July 2024 by posting sales of 1.26 lakh units. The sizeable hike in sales volumes is attributed to the introduction of alternative fuel variants.

BIG on safety

Safety is another thing that draws people to the Punch. The micro SUV holds a 5-star GNCAP safety rating for its ICE version. The recently launched Punch EV too has won 5 5-star rating. The vehicle scored 5 stars in both adult occupant protection (AOP) and child occupant protection (COP). Both versions were tested under GNCAP’s #SaferCarsForIndia program.

The safety suite on the Punch includes dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX anchors, lane departure warning, ESC, blind spot detection, automatic headlamps and more. It also offers traction control on AMT variants.

There’s something for everyone

There are a lot of variants available for the Punch, spread across a vast price range – from Rs. 6.12 lakh for the base petrol trim to Rs. 15.49 lakh for the top-end electric variant . Tata Motors has sealed the price gaps comfortably with various Punch variants. For people with most budgets, there is a variant or two of the Punch available. This skillful product placement has also contributed significantly to the moniker’s sales success.