KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Tata Punch EV is built on the Acti.ev platform
- Long range variant gets 421 km on a single charge
- Citroen eC3 has faster 0-100kmph times
- The Punch EV slots in between the Tiago EV and the Nexon EV
Tata Motors has been a big believer in EVs, and its current portfolio seems to drive home that point. From the Tiago EV hatchback, to the Tigor EV, the Punch EV, the Nexon EV, and more recently the Curvv EV, the Indian car maker seems to have covered all bases. The Tata Punch EV slots in between the Tiago EV and the Nexon EV. Let's take a quick look at which cars the Punch EV goes against, but before doing that, do consider joining the 91wheels WhatsApp Community for all the latest automotive updates!
What rivals the Tata Punch EV?
That's a good question! The Tata Punch EV enjoys a rather unique positioning in the Indian EV market. The Citroen eC3 is certainly one direct rival to the Punch EV, but it also faces competition from within the family as well, from the Tiago EV and the Tigor EV. However, to keep things simple, we shall pit the Punch EV against the Citroen eC3.
Citroen eC3
The eC3 is Citroen's attempt at entering the Indian EV segment, and it is essentially the electric version of the C3 hatchback. Initially offered in three different variants, Citroen now seems to have discontinued the 'Live' variant, leaving only the 'Feel' and the 'Shine' variant, with their own configurations.
Price comparison
The Tata Punch EV can be yours starting from Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom), while the Citroen eC3 costs Rs 12.76 lakh (ex-showroom). However, while the Punch EV can be had in 19 different configurations, the Citroen eC3 is available in 7 configurations.
Tata Punch EV
- Smart: Rs 10.99 lakh
- Smart+: Rs 11.48 lakh
- Adventure: Rs 11.99 lakh
- Adventure S: Rs 12.48 lakh
- Adventure LR: Rs 12.99 lakh
- Adventure LR ACFC: Rs 13.49 lakh
- Adventure S LR: Rs 13.49 lakh
- Adventure S LR ACFC: Rs 13.99 lakh
- Empowered: Rs 12.78 lakh
- Empowered S: Rs 13.28 lakh
- Empowered LR: Rs 13.98 lakh
- Empowered LR ACFC: Rs 14.49 lakh
- Empowered S LR: Rs 14.48 lakh
- Empowered + LR: Rs 14.48 lakh
- Empowered S LR ACFC: Rs 14.98 lakh
- Empowered + LR ACFC: Rs 14.48 lakh
- Empowered +S: Rs 13.28 lakh
- Empowered +S LR: Rs 14.98 lakh
- Empowered +S LR ACFC: Rs 15.49 lakh
Also read: 2024 Tata Punch.ev 5 Pros & 4 Cons To Know Before Buying
Citroen eC3
- Feel: Rs 12.76 lakh
- Feel Vibe Pack: Rs 12.91 lakh
- Feel Dual Tone Vibe Pack: Rs 13.06 lakh
- Shine: Rs 13.26 lakh
- Shine Vibe Pack: Rs 13.41 lakh
- Shine Dual Tone: Rs 13.41 lakh
- Shine Dual Tone Vibe Pack: Rs 13.56 lakh
Range and Charging
If you're concerned about what figures do these cars offer, let's get right to it. Starting with the Punch EV, which definitely offers more flexibility not only in terms of the drivetrains on offer, but also in terms of charging options as well. The medium range variant gets a 25 kWh battery pack, with a claimed range of 315km on a single charge. The long-range variant gets a 35 kWh battery pack, with a claimed range of 421km on a single charge.
Also read: Why is Tata Punch EV a Better Choice than Tata Nexon EV?
Both the medium-range and long-range variants of the Punch EV get the option of either a portable 15A charger, a 3.3kW AC wallbox unit, a 7.2kW wallbox unit, and also a 50kW DC fast charger. Charging times are as mentioned below:
| Charger type | Medium-range | Long-range |
| 10-100% via 15A plug | 9.4 hours | 13.5 hours |
| 3.3kW AC wallbox | 9.4 hours | 13.5 hours |
| 7.2kW AC wallbox | 3.6 hours | 5 hours |
| 10-80% 50kW DC fast charger | 56 minutes | 56 minutes |
Meanwhile the Citroen eC3 makes do with a sole 29.2 kWh battery pack option, with a claimed range of 320km on a single charge. The eC3 can either be charged from 10-100% via a portable 15A plug in 10.30 hours, or in 57 minute via a DC fast charger.
Key features
The Punch EV has the Citroen eC3 beat once again in terms of the amount of equipment on offer, with base 'Smart' persona giving you multi-mode regen, hill-assist, climate control, two drive modes, tyre pressure monitoring, 15-inch steel wheels, illuminated cooled glovebox, rear parking sensors, height adjustable driver seat, six airbags, and ABS. However, strangely, it misses out on even a smaller 7-inch infotainment screen, which is available from the 'Smart +' persona onwards. For a detailed breakdown of the variants, check out the link below.
Also read: 2024 Tata Punch EV: Detailed Breakdown of Variant-Wise Key Features
In comparison, the 'Feel' variant of the Citroen eC3 covers basics, such as a 10.23-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a four-speaker sound system, rear parking sensors, front dual airbags, high-speed alert, ABS, two drive modes, and connected car features via the MyCitroen Connect app.
Performance
We doubt if any buyers of the Punch EV or the Citroen eC3 would even be concerned with this aspect, but let's still briefly go through it, especially because this might surprise some of you.
The Punch EV medium-range puts out 80.4 bhp and 114Nm of torque, with a 0-100kmph time of 13.5 seconds, and two drive modes on offer; city and sport. The long-range Punch EV produces 120.6bhp and 190Nm of torque, with an additional 'eco' drive mode. This one does a 0-100kmph run in a slightly lesser time of 9.4 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Citroen eC3 makes do with just 56.2bhp and 143Nm of torque, but with a significantly faster 0-100kmph time of just 6.8 seconds. While this may raise some curiosity, we can still expect the Punch EV to be an overall performer.
Safety
The Punch EV was in the news not too long ago for its recent achievements at the Bharat NCAP, having scored 31.46 points of 32.00 in adult occupant safety, and 45.00 points out of 49.00 in child occupant safety. This resulted in the Punch EV receiving a five-star safety rating at the Bharat NCAP crash tests.
On the other hand, there's not much to say about the Citroen eC3, which managed to score just one star in child occupant safety, and zero stars in adult occupant safety.
Also read: Citroen eC3 Fails To Get Any Star in The GNCAP Crash Test - Details
Verdict
The Tata Punch EV seems to be the clear winner here, simply when you factor in how much it offers in terms of charging options, drivetrains, variants, configurations, and amount of features on offer. There are signs of cost-cutting visible on both cars, but the mid-spec variants of the Punch EV are better kitted-out compared to the eC3. The pricing of its higher variants also pushes it closer to the base Nexon EV. Do take a test drive before making a final decision on which car to ultimately go for!
