Comparison: Kia Syros vs Tata Punch

The arrival of Kia Syros has put a target on the backs of many sub 4 metre SUVs, with one of them being the Tata Punch. Now from the onset, this is a mismatched comparison, as the Kia Syros is priced well beyond the Tata Punch. However, the reason behind penning down this comparison is to carve out a clear picture for those who have been considering the Tata Punch, but are simply wowed by the arrival of the Syros and are thinking of making the leap.

To make things clearer, we are going to compare the dimensions, powertrain options, features and the safety quotient of the Kia Syros and Tata Punch, before finally weighing in on their prices. Therefore, read on to find out if you should ditch the idea of the Tata Punch and opt for the Kia Syros, or should you stay put.

Kia Syros vs Tata Punch: Dimensions

The Kia Syros is longer, wider and taller than the Tata Punch, and by a decent margin. The difference is big enough that if you sit in them side by side, you will notice the difference. Furthermore, the Kia Syros also has a 10 cm longer wheelbase than the Tata Punch, and that is a considerable difference which allows for more space for both first and second row passengers. The Syros’ height advantage over the Tata Punch is noticeable, but the Tata Punch also offers enough space for taller passengers. 

That said, if the average height of your family or friends who are going to be using the car is over 6 feet, you will be better off opting for the Kia Syros. The Korean SUV also offers more boot space than the Tata Punch, even when its second row seats are positioned all the way back. The boot space of the Tata Punch will be even lesser if you opt for the CNG version. Lastly, both cars have a similar ground clearance.

When it comes to size, the Kia Syros has an outright advantage over the Tata Punch. Therefore, more often than not if you are going to be traveling with a full load of passengers and undertaking road trips, then, stretching your budget to go for the Kia Syros makes sense. 

Kia Syros vs Tata Punch: Engine & Transmission

The Kia Syros is offered with the option of a turbocharged petrol engine, or a diesel engine, both of which can be specced with either a manual or automatic transmission. On the other hand, the Tata Punch is only available with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, which can also be specced with a manual or automatic transmission. A CNG option is available with the Punch, although it can only be had with the manual transmission.

In terms of performance, the Kia Syros has an outright advantage over the Tata Punch. Both the turbocharged petrol engine and the diesel engine have a far greater power output. In contrast, the petrol engine of the Tata Punch offers a lukewarm performance, and even the automatic gearbox on offer, an AMT, isn’t quick in its shifts. The CNG option further dulls down the performance, however, it also considerably cuts down the running cost.

The Kia Syros is the faster SUV, however, if you prioritise a lower running cost, then the Tata Punch will turn out to be a better friend. That said, the petrol engine of the Punch offers a good enough response when you are driving around with a couple of passengers, but when it is fully loaded, the engine can struggle to keep pace with regular moving traffic.

Kia Syros vs Tata Punch: Features & Comfort

The Kia Syros is packed with features that would ideally be found in higher segment SUVs. In comparison, the Tata Punch offers a great feature set for the price bracket it operates. However, as the Punch is positioned one price bracket below the Kia Syros, the feature difference in between both these SUVs can be best described as a wide chasm.

In comparison with the Syros, the Punch misses out on front and rear ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable driver seat, 60:40 split rear seat and adaptive cruise control. Furthermore, the Syros has a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster, whereas the Punch only has a 4 inch digital cluster, and the quality gap between the two is huge as well. The Syros also has a 12.3 inch touchscreen compared to the 10.25 inch unit offered on the Punch. The Kia SUV has an 8 speaker sound system from Harman Kardon whereas the Punch has a generic 6 speaker system.

The entire premise of the Kia Syros is built on its segment above features whereas the Tata Punch tries to offer a balanced feature set that appeals to both the driver and passengers. Once again, most of the additional features found on the Kia Syros will help keep your passengers entertained and comfortable. In contrast, if you drive alone, upgrading the sound system on the Tata Punch to offer richer acoustics would be the one upgrade that would make your everyday commutes more pleasant.

Kia Syros vs Tata Punch: Safety Features

While the Kia Syros has been leaps and bounds ahead of the Tata Punch in this comparison, the latter actually narrows the gap to the Kia SUV when it comes to safety. This is primarily because Tata has been focusing on increasing the safety quotient of its cars for a decade now and this is evident in the 5 star crash test rating it has received from Global NCAP. In contrast, the Kia Syros has a 5 star safety rating from Bharat NCAP. That said, Global NCAP has a higher standard for awarding a 5 star adult occupant crash test rating in comparison to Bharat NCAP.

In terms of features, the Kia Syros features six airbags as standard across its variant lineup, whereas the Tata Punch is only offered with dual airbags which are mandated by Indian law. The Syros also has hill hold assist and ADAS, giving it a slight edge over the Tata Punch. Other important features such as ESP, traction control, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers and ISOFIX mounting points are offered on both SUVs.

Both cars are well matched on the safety front, and although ADAS is good to have, it doesn’t work well in most Indian driving conditions. However, it’s the airbag difference in between the two cars that make the Kia Syros a safer option when travelling with four or five passengers, whereas the dual airbags of the Punch will work well to safeguard the driver and front passenger in the event of an accident.

Kia Syros vs Tata Punch: Price Comparison

As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, the Kia Syros and Tata Punch are truly mismatched when it comes to their pricing. One look at the table above, and you will have understood why. The top variants of the Tata Punch are similarly priced as the base variants of the Kia Syros, and even then, the Syros is more expensive.

If you had your mind set on the Tata Punch, but the arrival of the Kia Syros has urged you to reconsider, the base and mid variants of the Korean SUV will be a bit of stretch, but the feature upgrades over the Kia to variant of the Tata Punch will be worth it.

Summary

To sum it all up, the Kia Syros has a major advantage over the Tata Punch. It is the bigger SUV on all fronts and offers more space for passengers inside the cabin, while maintaining a compact footprint. The Syros has more powerful engines than the Punch, and on the features front, the Kia is simply in a league of its own. Due to Tata’s unwavering stance on the safety of its vehicles, the Punch is able to pull alongside the Kia Syros. And when it comes to price, you could almost have three base model variants of the Punch for the same money as a top variant Syros.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade from buying the Tata Punch to buying the Kia Syros will boil down to your usage. Primarily, you should stick with the Punch if you mostly drive alone, and alternatively, you should seriously consider upgrading to the Syros if most of your driving involves ferrying around four passengers and their luggage.

FAQs about Kia Syros vs Tata Punch