Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Battle of Compact SUVs

Since its launch in October 2021, Tata Punch has continuously registered sales figures of around 10,000-11,000 units a month. With its SUV-esque style, compact design, and stellar 5-star Global NCAP 2021 car crash safety rating, the Punch has been Tata Motors' second best-selling car after Tata Nexon.

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Noticing the increasing demand for compact SUVs in India and the domination of Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India officially launched its all-new subcompact SUV, Exter, considered the smallest SUV in Hyundai’s portfolio. Exter SUV boasts a boxy design, six airbags, and ESP (optional) to compete with Tata’s well-packaged Punch SUV directly. The SUV registered around 50,000 bookings within the month of its official launch in India.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Battle of Compact SUVs

Let’s delve deeper and compare these two SUVs to understand which car can be the best fit for you.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Performance

Punch and Exter draw power from a 1.2-liter petrol engine, and both SUVs are available in manual and automatic transmission options. Starting with Punch, it gets a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine that churns out 86 bhp @6000 RPM of power output and 115 Nm @3250 RPM of peak torque. The engine is powerful and delivers unmatched performance on urban terrains. However, one can notice some vibrations inside the cabin when driving this sub-compact SUV. The great advantage of Punch is its ability to produce higher power output and deliver a more responsive drive.

On the other hand, Hyundai Exter gets a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 82 bhp @6000 RPM of power and 113.8 Nm @4000 RPM of peak torque. Exter is also offered in a CNG powertrain option with the same 1.2-liter Kappa petrol powertrain unit. The CNG variant generates 68 bhp of power and 95.2Nm of torque. Though the power output is lower, it ensures incredible fuel mileage of 27.1 km/kg. On the road test, the AMT trims of Hyundai Exter sprint 0-100 kmph in 15.39 seconds, 4.5 seconds less than the Punch ATM. The SUV was also found to achieve 20-80 kmph and 40-100 kmph of speed in 2 seconds and 3.5 seconds less than the Punch.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Exterior

The Punch SUV has been offered as a new niche SUV based on the ALFA platform. This Tata car has a modern and innovative design that resembles some looks from the Tata Harrier when viewed from the front. There is a 16-inch alloy that perfectly aligns with its cleaner and elegant bodywork.

The Exter is based on the Grand i10 Nios, but it doesn’t mean the SUV looks similar, particularly from an exterior view, to its hatchback counterpart. The Korean carmaker has given a much-needed SUV flair, a flattened bonnet, sports chunky body cladding, and roof rails. The exterior of Exter also includes H-patterned DRLs and multi-dimensional panels.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Dimensions

Tata Punch is longer and wider than the Hyundai Exter. Though the outer dimensions of the SUVs seem similar, Punch measures 3827 mm in length, 1742 mm in width, 1615 mm in height, and 2445 mm in wheelbase. Punch has a ground clearance of 187 mm, giving it some edge over the Exter.

The sub-compact SUV from the Korean brand measures 3815 mm in length, 1710 mm in width, 1631 mm in height, 2450 mm in wheelbase, and 185 mm in ground clearance. Exter has a slightly better height and wheelbase than its Indian counterpart.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Interior

The doors of Tata Punch open up to 90 degrees, and the seats are placed on the higher end, making entry and exit into the car easy. Punch's white facia and layered dashboard add to the vibrant interior. The AC vents in Tata Punch have corners colored similarly to the body color, giving a stylish touch to the interior. Moreover, the Punch SUV's rear seats offer passengers more space than the Hyundai Exter. The front seat gets Land Rover-like armrests that significantly improve the seat's comfort. There are no rear AC vets in Punch, as seen in Exter. The luggage area of Tata Punch is also smaller than Exter’s cargo space.

The cabin of Exter is very similar to the Grand i10 Nios. Hyundai has smartly positioned the seats at the lower end to maintain enough space inside the cabin. There is a sunroof that plays a pivotal role in brightening the interior. The front seats are comfortable, and the rear seats are positioned lower with angled backrests. The Hyundai has also offered AC vents at the rear, but the only drawback with its rear seat is the absence of an armrest.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Specs

Punch and Exter SUVs boast sunroof, reverse camera, cruise control, automatic climate control, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Tata’s Punch SUV has 16-inch wheels, auto headlamps, a Harman music system with four speakers, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, City and Eco drive modes, a semi-digital instrument cluster, and an adjustable driver seat.

Exter has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dashboard camera, digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, and rear AC vents. Despite these, Hyunda’s Exter SUV also packs over 92 embedded voice commands and 60 connected car features accessible via BlueLink.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Mileage

Another critical comparison between Punch and Exter SUVs is their fuel economy. The Tata Punch has a verified fuel economy of 20.09 kmpl for MT trims and 18.8 kmpl for automatic transmission trims.

On the other hand, the Exter gives an average fuel economy of 19.4 kmpl on MT trims, 19.2 kmpl on AMT trims, and 27.1 km/kg on CNG trim. When comparing the petrol trims, it's visible that the Punch offers slightly better fuel economy than Exter.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Safety

Tata Punch has a Global NCAP 2021 safety rating of 5-star. The SUV gets two airbags as standard, ABS, EBD, and brake sway control. The build quality of Punch SUV is solid and offers even more features like the First-in-Segment Traction Pro feature in top variants. To maintain its dominating position in the sub-compact SUV category, Tata has offered Idle Start-Stop and Electronic Stability System, incredibly enhancing driver control and safety.

In comparison, the Hyundai Exter SUV hasn’t yet gone through a crash test. However, the carmaker claims it has further strengthened the Grand i10 Nios structure, which was rated 2-star by Global NCAP in 2020. Hyundai looks confident about its upgraded car structure and safety suite of 40 advanced safety features. Some notable safety features in Exter include six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, hill hold assist, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking camera, and ISOFIX Child seat points.

Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Price

Tata Punch Petrol MT has been offered in India at a price tag of Rs 5.99 lakh to Rs 8.92 lakh. The automatic transmission variants of Punch have been priced from Rs 7.49 lakh to Rs 9.52 lakh.

Hyundai Exter’s ex-showroom price for MT trim ranges from 5.99 to 9.42 lakh. The AMT and CNG trims of Exter have been priced from Rs 7.97 lakh to Rs 10.10 lakh and Rs 8.24 lakh to Rs 8.97 lakh, respectively.

CarBike360 Says

Tata Punch is a better choice for car buyers looking for a best-in-class safety, smart look, and elevated seating. However, if you are looking for a compact SUV with a refined engine, smoother gear shifts, and better practicality, the Hyundai Exter should be your top priority. The Exter has a well-configured pack of modern technological features that Punch misses.