2026 Tata Punch EV review - more for less
As far as facelifts go, the Tata Punch EV is quite interesting because when you first look at it, it doesn't seem like a lot has changed. Start reading the spec sheet and you realize Tata Motors has done a lot of work underneath the skin to try to make this a more rounded choice as an entry level EV. But how effective has this been?
2026 Tata Punch EV Styling, boot spaceThat said, there are a few small changes on the outside that are meant to give the Punch EV a more modern look. You have a cleaner face with a more condensed grille and the housings for the lighting have become more compact too. The full width light signature has been done away with as well. Quite unusually, the plastic trim is now a lighter grey shade that gives the Punch EV a bit more mass and adds to the contemporary look.
There has not been too much done to the side, so you have a slightly different look to the alloy wheels and the bright new shades go with the younger sense of the car now. Despite a larger battery pack, there is still full size SUV rivalling ground clearance of 195 mm and 450 mm of water wading capacity.
At the rear, you now have the new full width light cluster that debuted in the Punch ICE while there is more of that grey cladding and vertical design elements.
The frunk has remained largely similar so it is a small space good for probably the portable charging cable. But with the motor, battery management modules and other components becoming integrated into a more compact unit, there is quite a bit of free space here that could have been put to use.
You have a 366 L boot that has a high lip but is deep enough to hold a couple of strollers and a few more soft bags. The lip is a bit high and there is no 60.40 split but a bigger concern is that a spare wheel is not standard.
2026 Tata Punch EV interiors, features, spaceIt is quite familiar when you step inside the new Tata Punch EV. The overall layout has not changed from the last Punch EV and also from the new Punch ICE. So you have that chunky, tough look with the rounded air vents and a variety of different materials and textures. The off white central band with the recycled feel and tri arrow textures and the different texture on the panels around it stand out. But I do wish there were a few more soft surfaces, especially on the door panels as you can see. The hard plastic on the doors seems to get scuffed quite easily, as we saw in our time with the car. A slightly better grade of plastics and maybe some soft surfaces would have worked much better here.
But overall, there seems to be more consistency. The panel gaps seem tighter, like in the new ICE Punch, and some of the sharp edges from the plastics have been removed too.
The screen layout is quite familiar. You have a 10.25 inch touchscreen which like in other new Tata cars is now fairly reliable and it always had a crisp display and logical menus that work well on the move. You get a good suite of entertainment options and the wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work seamlessly.
Unlike the new ICE Punch, you get a full 10.25 inch driver display. It is easy to use on the move, especially the Google Maps projection and the clearer feed from the blind view function, but as before the fonts could be larger.
Practicality continues to be fairly good for a car of this size, although that rotary gear selector still has a delay to it and there is a similar sense with the paddles. Also, the Punch EV goes back to its default regen settings whenever you start the car which can get annoying over time. The climate control panel is the same as in other Tata EVs, so you find that the toggles are useful but the touch controls need effort to use. The centre console is well laid out. You have a secure spot for your wireless charger and fairly large cupholders. There is a small central armrest and the door bins are quite large too.
Some small changes that add up are the different bezel for the touchscreen and the more compact window switches that give a more modern feel even though they are not as intuitive to use as the older ones. Another addition that works quite well is the leatherette upholstery with the fabric inserts and ventilation. The same is true of the indicator stalks lifted from the new Sierra.
Like before you get the 90 degree doors which help ingress and egress at the back, especially since this is quite a small car. The floor is completely flat which also helps. You will have enough kneeroom and headroom if you are under 6 foot tall. The lack of a full panoramic sunroof has helped carve out more headroom. But those who are taller or wider than average will be a bit cramped here. The backrest has dense cushioning that holds you in place well and will not tire you out on longer journeys.
But what stands out the most is that despite this being an EV, thigh support is almost as good as the ICE Punch. It seems like Tata Motors has extended the squab to account for the higher floor so you still feel supported. A great outcome in a small EV like the Punch. You also have a Type C charger here now but still no rear AC vents. Although Tata Motors does say you now have improved cooling both for the battery pack and the AC.
2026 Tata Punch EV real world range, battery, chargingThe large 40 kWh battery pack version seen here has a 468 km ARAI range number but Tata says you should be able to get up to 355 km in the real world. With our quite heavy driving while testing the car and shooting this story we managed an efficiency number of 149 Wh per km or 6.7 km per kWh which made for a range of 270 km. So over 300 km in the real world seems believable. We left the car in the City mode and level 2 regen which is a good default setting for most driving situations.
The DC fast charging speed has improved to 65 kW which should get you from 10 to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes. The Punch EV has moved from cylindrical to prismatic cells which has led to the improved capacities.
2026 Tata Punch EV driving impressionsThe Punch EV's new powertrain puts out 130 PS while torque is now 154 Nm for the larger battery option. This is less than the 190 Nm from earlier but Tata Motors says that the Punch EV has a wider range of peak torque and that performance and driveability have improved. The claimed 0 to 100 kmph time is 9 s now, a drop of 0.5 s. Power and torque outputs for the smaller 35 kWh battery pack have gone up to 88 PS and 154 Nm as well.
The Tata Punch EV is quite an easy car to get used to. So if you are new to driving or just want an easy everyday runabout then this car should make a lot of sense. It is just the right size for our cities, visibility is decent enough even though you have a large A pillar and it has got a fairly tight turning radius, with the steering not being especially hefty either. With the charge and charging figures, the Punch EV comes across as quite a liveable entry level EV which has been rare so far.
The performance on offer is not snappy and at city speeds there is enough go for you to make good progress, even in the default City mode. A great trait is that performance stays strong even at close to triple digit speeds so you can do longer journeys quite peacefully. The only time things can get sketchy is in low grip situations where the front driven architecture can cause some wheelspin although this is quickly controlled by the traction control system.
The ride is quite typical of these Tata EVs. So over broken surfaces or expansion joints there is a bit of firmness and bobbing, although it is also rounded off well enough to not get uncomfortable in the cabin. As you start going quicker there is a plush, solid feel from the car that gives you good confidence which is quite good for a small sub 4 m vehicle.
The Punch EV is not much of a driver's car, although the low set EV mass and small footprint give it good body control around corners. The car manages its weight well enough to keep the easy experience intact. We only wish the steering had more feedback at the centre especially where you can take a while to judge what your inputs are doing.
2026 Tata Punch EV verdictThis does not happen very often but the Tata Punch EV is now cheaper than before, with this top spec version coming in at Rs 12.59 lakh. You also have a BaaS option that will reduce the upfront amount you pay. This makes the Punch EV great value since there are not too many other EVs in this price range with the range and features the Punch EV offers. Yes, it could have had better materials in the cabin and some more rear seat space but there is enough here to make for a competent everyday EV that is good for a few longer trips too.