In this video, we review the Tata Punch using the concepts of SWOT Analysis from management theories. We review the Punch, based on its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for the manufacturer to make the car better & the threat it faces from its rivals.
The Tata Punch has been branded as the urban compact SUV, that fills the void between the Tiago & the Nexon. The 5-Seater, urban compact SUV is priced at Rs 5.49 Lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base Variant & the top end variant is priced at Rs 9.4 Lakhs (ex-showroom). The Punch is offered in four variants, one engine and two gearbox options.
The Tata Punch comes with a BS-6 compliant, 1.2 L Three-Cylinder, Revotron engine producing 86 HP & 114 Nm of Torque. This engine also powers the Tata Altroz, but the Punch gets a reworked air-intake system for low-end torque and driveability.
The Punch radiates intimidation over its segment rivals with the raised SUV inspired exteriors. The front split headlamp setup reminds you of its family ties with the Tata Safari & Harrier. There’s a tri-arrow design element that can be seen all around the Punch, inside-out.
The Punch sits on 16” dual-tone Diamond Cut alloy wheels, complementing the compact SUV stance.
- The dashboard is neatly layered with premium quality materials highlighting the tri-arrow design element in the cabin. The gear knobs have a neat aesthetic design to them, the manual transmission gear knob gets a pulse inspired design, metaphorically suggesting that Punch will raise your pulse as you climb up those gears. The AMT gear knob is also tall and leather-wrapped giving an SUV charisma from its grip.
Without any further ado, let’s get on with the SWOT Analysis, starting with Punch’s strengths.
Strengths
- Tata’s build to last Strong Body: The Tata Punch is architectured on the Tata’s Alfa platform, which is also used for the Altroz. The Alfa Platform helps the Punch to boast a 5-star safety rating not from ASEAN but the Global NCAP, which has very high standards for the rigorous crash tests. The Punch not only aced the safety rating for front passengers but also received a 4-star child occupant safety rating, which makes it the safest car in the segment and the only car to be awarded such a high child safety rating.
Comfort & Convenience Features: The Tata Punch comes with thoughtfully designed comfort features like the wide 90-degree opening doors which makes ingress and egress into the cabin a breeze. The glove box is offered with AC vents to keep your drinks cool during the unforgiving summer highway heat. To keep up with the segment basic features, the Punch comes with an engine start-stop button, automatic climate control, height-adjustable driver seat & rear parking camera. The leather-wrapped steering wheel houses the cruise control system which makes driving the young SUV on highways a notch more comfortable.
Safety Features: Along with the assurance of a 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP, you also get a long list of safety features in the Tata Punch. It comes with ABS, EBD and Tata’s new Brake Sway Control. It also offers dual airbags, cornering fog lamps, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and Isofix mounts, which helps the Punch to boast its child safety rating.
Pricing: The Punch is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive in its segment. The base variant starts at Rs whereas the top-end variant costs Rs. But with its extensive list of comfort, convenience & safety features it is priced accurately considering its segment. However, The Nissan Magnite remains the most expensive compact SUV in the segment, which becomes a strength for the Tata Punch, as it stays ahead of the Magnite in terms of features and built quality at a lower price.
Now that we know of the Tata Punch’s strengths, let’s see what are its weaknesses.
Weakness
To be fairly honest, finding Tata Punch’s weaknesses was fairly difficult and the minute missing features felt just a fly in the ointment which could be overlooked considering the package of safety and features it has to offer. but no car could be perfect,
So Punch’s first weakness would be –
- Highway Performance of the NA Engine: The 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine is happy when it’s driven with ease and a composed driving style. The engine is torquey enough to give a short boost of acceleration for the overtakes, but when you demand the torque in abundance for the highway driveability, the punch delivers more noise from the engine than the torque.
- No Turbo Engine: In the times of engine downsizing and turbo dependent engines, the Punch is in the arena to take on the jabs from the rivals with just a Naturally Aspirated engine. The rivals in the segment offer both, naturally aspirated & turbocharged engine options. Considering the proportions of the compact SUV, an option for a turbo engine would have been a great proposition for enthusiasts.
- AMT Gearbox: Although the AMT gearbox does its duties well in the city and returns a good fuel efficiency. It still does not match the driving experience of the rivals CVT gearbox. The AMT can be troublesome in bumper to bumper traffic with noticeable and unpassable jerks. With a CVT or a torque converter, it would have been a Punch in the face to all the rivals in the segment.
Opportunities
- Turbo Charged Engine for the enhanced driving experience.
- CVT or Torque Converter gearbox can be offered in the Tata Punch for a smoother driving experience, as the segment rivals are offered with CVTs.
- Telescopic adjustment for steering wheel
- Rear Ac vents
- Full-size spare wheel
Let’s meet the threats to the Tata Punch in the subcompact SUV segment.
Threats
- Its first threat is the Nissan Magnite & Renault Kiger. fairly new to the competition, The Magnite with its bang on pricing and feature list has been a great car in the segment. A thing to keep in mind here is that the Magnite is offered with a CVT gearbox as compared to the slow AMT of Tata Punch. Both Magnite & Kiger also lead the segment when it comes to the dimension.
- Tata Punch’s second threat would be the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Although the Grand i10 Nios is not branded as a compact SUV, in the sub-4-meter segment, it has had a good successful run with its premium finishes in the interior and fuel efficiency.
- Tata Punch’s next threat is The Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Swift is branded as a hatchback like the Grand i10 Nios, but in the price segment, the Swift has been the best seller for decades now.
So, to conclude this Tata Punch SWOT Analysis, we can say that it if you’re out in the market with a budget of a hatchback but would want the offerings and feels of an SUV, then the Tata Punch would be the best value for the buck considering its best in segment safety ratings and comfort feature.
It does miss out on one or two features like the wireless mobile charging, which the Grand i10 Nios does offer, but its not a deal breaker as the punch well compensates for these minute miss with its strong built quality and extensive list of features.
