Tata Punch is a micro SUV that has received a major facelift recently. It comes with the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, 1.2-litre Naturally Aspirated (NA) engine, and 1.2-litre petrol + CNG option. Both automatic and manual transmission options are available in NA petrol and CNG but the turbo petrol variants only offer the option of 6-speed manual transmission. Tata Nexon is a compact SUV that is known for its rugged build-quality and excellent power figures. It offers the 1.5-litre diesel engine, 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, and 1.2-litre petrol + CNG option. The Tata Nexon variants come with 6-speed manual, 6-speed AMT, and 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission options.
Both the cars are comparable in terms of looks, fuel-efficiency, and overall performance. However, Punch does not offer a diesel engine whereas Nexon does offer a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Also, the heavier body and bulky size of Nexon might affect its mileage. Let’s see how Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon compare against each other when it comes to their ARAI and real-world mileage figures now.
Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon Specs
Before digging deeper into the mileage figures, let’s analyse these cars on the basis of their specifications:
| Specification | Tata Punch | Tata Nexon |
| Engine | 1.2-litre Revotron Petrol1.2-litre iTurbo Petrol1.2-litre iCNG | 1.2-litre Turbo Petrol1.2-litre Turbo Petrol + CNG1.5-litre Diesel |
| Displacement | Petrol: 1199 cc CNG: 1199 cc | Petrol: 1199 ccCNG: 1398 ccDiesel: 1497 cc |
| Power | Petrol: 88 PS – 120 PS (Turbo Petrol)CNG: 73.5 PS | Petrol: 120 PSCNG: 100 PSDiesel: 115 PS |
| Torque | Petrol: 115 – 170 Nm (Turbo Petrol)CNG: 103 Nm | Petrol: 170 NmCNG: 170 NmDiesel: 260 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual transmission (MT)5-speed automatic transmission (AMT)6-speed manual (turbo petrol) | 5-speed MT (CNG)6-speed MT 6-speed AMT7-Speed DCT |
| Drive layout | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Kerb weight | 1030 kg to 1143 kg (depending upon the variant) | Petrol: 1250 kgDiesel: 1357 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | Petrol: 37 litres CNG: 60 litres (water equivalent) | Petrol/Diesel: 44 litresCNG: 60 litres (water equivalent) |
Though the kerb weight of petrol models of Tata Nexon makes it heavier than the petrol models of Punch. Similarly, Nexon weighs much more than Punch when it comes to the CNG models. The diesel models of Nexon are the heaviest but cannot be compared as Punch doesn’t have any diesel variant. The power and torque generated by the petrol models are similar but the iCNG models of Nexon are more powerful and torquey than the CNG models of Punch. Let’s see if these factors affect the overall mileage or fuel-efficiency of these cars.
Also Read: Tata Nexon Alternatives: Competitors of Tata Nexon
Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon: ARAI Mileage Figures
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducts mileage tests to determine the fuel-efficiency of all the cars in India. As these tests are done in controlled manner and in ideal driving conditions, the ARAI mileage figures are often higher than the real-world mileage figures. The key details associated with the ARAI claimed mileage figures of Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon have been provided in the below table:
| Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | Tata Punch – ARAI Mileage (km/l) | Tata Nexon – ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| 1.2-litre NA Petrol – 5-Speed MT | Petrol | 20.09 km/l | – |
| 1.2-litre NA Petrol – 5-Speed AMT | Petrol | 18.80 km/l | – |
| 1.2-litre Turbo Petrol MT | Petrol | Up to 20 km/l | 17.44 km/l |
| 1.2-litre Turbo Petrol – 6-Speed AMT | Petrol | – | 17.18 km/l |
| 1.2-litre Turbo Petrol 7-Speed DCT | Petrol | – | 17.01 km/l |
| 1.2-litre Petrol + CNG with 5-speed manual | Petrol + CNG | 26.99 km/kg | 24 km/kg |
| 1.2-litre Petrol + CNG with 5-speed automatic transmission | Petrol + CNG | 26.99 km/kg | – |
| 1.5-litre Diesel MT | Diesel | – | 23.23 km/l |
| 1.5-litre Diesel AT | Diesel | – | 24.08 km/l |
The claimed mileage of Tata Punch is slightly above Tata Nexon when it comes to their CNG and pure petrol variants. The claimed mileage figures of the diesel variants of Nexon are much higher but we cannot compare them as Punch lacks a diesel engine. Overall, Punch seems to be the more fuel-efficient cars when we compare their ARAI mileage. Let’s see whether this translates into real-world mileage or not in the below section.
Summary: The claimed ARAI mileage figures of Tata Punch are higher than the claimed ARAI mileage figures of Nexon.
Also Explore: Tata Punch Image Gallery: Interior, Exterior
Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon: Real-World Mileage
The real-world mileage figures depend upon your driving style, choice of variant, and overall driving conditions. Factors such as age and overall condition of the car also determine the overall fuel-efficiency of cars. The design, features such as idle start/stop function, and drag co-efficient also determine the real-world mileage figures of the cars. Now, let’s see how these factors affect the real-world mileage of Tata Punch and Tata Nexon variants. The below table gives the real-world mileage details across the powertrains of Nexon and Punch models:
| Tata Punch (1.2-litre NA Petrol) | Tata Nexon (NA Petrol engine is not available) | |
| City | Manual: 13.50 km/lAutomatic: 12.5 km/l | – |
| Highway | Manual: 18 km/lAutomatic: 17.6 km/l | – |
| Average | Manual: 15.75 km/lAutomatic: 15 km/l | – |
| Tank range | 550 km | – |
| Tata Punch (1.2-litre Turbo Petrol) | Tata Nexon (1.2-litre Turbo Petrol) | |
| City | Manual: 12 km/l | Manual: 13.3 km/lAutomatic: 9.1 km/l |
| Highway | Manual: 17 km/l | Manual: 14.5 km/lAutomatic: 16.6 km/l |
| Average | Manual: 14.50 km/l | Manual: 13.9 km/lAutomatic: 10.8 km/l |
| Tank range | 455 km | Up to 610 km |
| Tata Punch CNG | Tata Nexon CNG | |
| City | Manual: 22 km/kgAutomatic: 21 km.kg | Manual: 15 km/kgAutomatic: 15.1 km.kg |
| Highway | Manual: 26 km/kgAutomatic: 25 km/kg | Manual: 23 km/kgAutomatic: 23.7 km/kg |
| Average | Manual: 24 km/kgAutomatic: 23 km/kg | Manual: 19 km/kgAutomatic: 19.5 km/kg |
| Tank range | 240 km per fill | km per fill |
| Tata Punch Diesel (NA) | Tata Nexon (1.5-litre Diesel) | |
| City | – | Manual: 16.5 km/lAutomatic: Up to 15 km/l |
| Highway | – | Manual: 19.4 km/lAutomatic: Up to 20 km/l |
| Average | – | Manual: 18 km/lAutomatic: 17.5 km/l |
| Tank range | – | 792 km |
Tata Nexon does not have an NA engine and therefore, we cannot compare the NA petrol models of Tata Punch with it. However, the Punch turbo petrol models offer a slightly better mileage than the Nexon turbo petrol models. The automatic turbo petrol models of Nexon offer the highest mileage when we compare all the turbo petrol models in both these cars. However, Punch lacks a turbo petrol variant with automatic transmission.
When it comes to CNG models, Punch scores slightly above the Nexon CNG models in terms of fuel-efficiency. The diesel engine delivers a great mileage even in the real world conditions but direct comparison with Punch is not possible as Punch lacks a diesel engine. Though we cannot determine a single car as a clear winner, Punch turns out to be slightly better in terms of fuel-efficiency when we compare the overall real-world mileage figures.
Summary: Punch models deliver a real-world mileage that is quite close to their claimed mileage figures if we compare them with Nexon models.
Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon: Fuel-Cost Comparison
The real-world mileage figures can be used to determine the fuel-costs of both Punch and Nexon models. Let’s assume that both Punch and Nexon are driven for 1500 km every month. The latest petrol prices of Rs. 111.18, CNG rates of Rs. 88, and diesel prices of Rs. 97.83 recorded in the month of September are used while calculating the final fuel costs:
| Punch 1.2-NA Petrol | Nexon 1.2-NA Petrol | Punch 1.2-litre Turbo Petrol | Nexon Turbo Petrol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | – | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 97.6 L | – | 103 L | 121 L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 10,851 | – | ₹ 11,515 | ₹ 13,452 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1.30 lakh | – | ₹ 1.38 lakh | ₹ 1.61 lakh |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 6.51 lakh | – | ₹ 6.90 lakh | ₹ 8.07 lakh |
| Punch CNG | Nexon CNG | Punch Diesel | Nexon Diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km | – | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 64 kg | 78 kg | – | 84 L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 5632 | ₹ 6864 | – | ₹ 8217 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 67,584 | ₹ 82,368 | – | ₹ 98,604 |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 3.37 lakh | ₹ 4.11 lakh | – | ₹ 4.93 lakh |
From the above tables, it is clear that the lowest monthly fuel costs are associated with the Punch CNG models followed by Nexon CNG and Nexon diesel models. The turbo petrol variants of Punch lead to much lesser monthly fuel costs as compared to the turbo petrol variants of Nexon. The monthly fuel costs associated with Punch NA models are even lower but we cannot compare it directly with Nexon as Nexon doesn’t offer a NA petrol engine.
Summary: Punch is far cheaper than Nexon when we compare their monthly fuel costs across the powertrains.
Also Explore: Tata Nexon Image Gallery: Interior, Exterior
Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon Price
The ex-showroom prices of of Tata Punch vs Tata Nexon from base to top models have been specified below:
| Model | Variant (Base to Top) | Price (Ex-Showroom) |
| Tata Punch | Smart Petrol to Accomplished Plus S CNG AMT | ₹ 5.70 to ₹ 10.24 lakh |
| Tata Nexon | Smart to Fearless Plus/Dark Editions | ₹ 7.40 to ₹ 14.52 lakh |
It is clear that the Punch variants are much cheaper as compared to the Nexon variants. Therefore, Punch is not only more fuel-efficient but also available at a cheaper price than Nexon.
Summary
Both Punch and Nexon are among the most sold compact SUVs in India. While Punch is preferred for its compact size and peppy driving dynamics, Nexon is appreciated because of its solid build-quality and power-packed performance. When it comes to mileage, Punch models prove to be slightly better than Nexon variants. However, Nexon isn’t far behind Punch in terms of fuel-efficiency, especially if you check the fuel-efficiency of their CNG or diesel models. So, you can consider their overall features, fuel-efficiency, and performance before deciding which one suits your driving needs and style better.
FAQs
Q. Do the CNG variants of Punch offer better mileage than the CNG variants of Nexon?
Yes, the CNG variants of Punch offer better mileage than the CNG variants of Nexon.
Q. Why does Punch deliver an overall better mileage than Nexon in real-world conditions?
The lighter body weight and low drag co-efficient of Punch cars enable them to deliver an overall better mileage than Nexon in real-world conditions.
Q. Which is the best car for highway driving: Punch or Nexon?
The diesel variants of Nexon are ideal for highway driving because of their high mileage and powerful performance. However, the Punch turbo petrol variants can also be preferred if you are looking specifically for a fuel-efficient petrol car for highway driving.
Q. Which is the best car for city driving: Nexon or Punch?
Both Nexon and Punch are good cars for city driving because of their smooth ride-quality and compact dimensions. However, from the mileage point-of-view, we recommend the Punch NA petrol models.
Q. Do Punch cars deliver enough power for uphill driving?
The turbo petrol models of Punch are better suited for uphill driving because they offer better power and low-end torque which is necessary for driving on steep inclines and curvy bends. The NA petrol and CNG models of Punch might feel underpowered in such conditions.
