The Hyundai Exter and the Tata Punch are among India’s most popular compact SUVs. Both are well-equipped and serve their purpose well, but which one should you buy? The Exter falls short of the Punch in powertrain options, but does it make up for it in features? Let’s find out!Attention Readers! Join us on our WhatsApp Community for daily auto news updates.
Hyundai Exter vs Tata Punch: Price Comparison
ModelHyundai ExterTata PunchVariantHX10 Petrol AMT Dual ToneAccomplished Plus (S) Petrol AMTPrice*Rs. 11.33 lakh*Rs. 11.43 lakh
*On-road prices in Mumbai. For this comparison, we have considered the top-end petrol automatic variants of both models.
The two differ by Rs. 10,000. However, if you pay Rs. 25,000 extra, you can get the Punch with the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox.
Features
FeaturesHyundai ExterTata PunchInfotainment Touchscreen8-inch10.24-inchDriver’s Display4.2-inch (Digital)7-inch (Digital)Sound System4 speakers4 speakers, 4 tweetersVentilated Seats––Airbags66ADAS––Parking CameraReverse only360-degreePanoramic SunroofSingle-paneSingle-paneAndroid Auto & Apple CarPlayYes (Wireless only via wired-to-wireless adaptor)Yes (Wireless)Automatic ACYesYes
Both cars have similar feature lists, which can confuse buyers.
The Exter lacks a 360-degree camera; instead, it gets only a rear-view camera. This gives the Tata Punch an edge, as it’s a fairly big difference.
The Punch’s bigger screens will appeal more to younger buyers and make it easier to see and read the information than the Exter’s smaller units.
Neither car offers ADAS or ventilated seats, but the Exter gets leatherette seats, while the Punch offers only fabric seats.
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Exter vs Punch: Engines Compared
Hyundai ExterTata PunchEngine1.2-litre 4-cylinder NA petrol1.2-litre 3-cylinder NA petrolPower82 bhp87 bhpTorque113 Nm115 NmGearbox5-speed AMT5-speed AMTMileage (ARAI-Certified)19.2 km/l18.8 km/l
On mileage, both match. However, the Punch’s NA petrol engine is a bit more powerful.
The Punch is also available with a turbo petrol engine; the Exter has no turbo engine option.
The Punch also has an EV version, giving buyers more options.
CNG Option
The Exter gets factory-fitted CNG from the base HX 2 to the HX 8 trim; prices range from Rs. 8.10 lakh to Rs. 10.93 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
The Punch offers CNG across all trims, from Pure to Accomplished Plus (S). Prices range from Rs. 7.86 lakh to Rs. 12.49 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). The Punch also offers CNG with an AMT gearbox, while the Exter offers only a manual gearbox.
The Exter CNG has an ARAI-claimed mileage of 27.1 km/kg, while the Punch gives 26.99 km/kg.
The Exter CNG offers better boot space at 225 litres, compared with the Punch CNG’s 210 litres. Both cars have dual-tank technology, but the Exter clearly wins here.
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Which One Makes More Sense?
When it comes to which car you should buy, it comes down to your priorities. The Punch flaunts a more modern design language than the Exter’s traditional, understated look. Feature-wise, the Punch takes the crown, but the Exter isn’t far behind.
The Exter has more boot space, so if you often need to carry a lot of luggage, it should be your top choice. Overall, the Punch is the better buy at this price point because of its features and the number of powertrains to choose from.