Tata Punch vs Renault Kiger

Nội dung
Introduction
Here we have the top-of-the-range Tata Punch Creative versus the Renault Kiger RXZ, two standout urban vehicles which blur the line between a city car and a compact SUV. The Punch is unarguably more popular but then this naturally aspirated version of the Kiger is brilliant value. Technically both are ‘compact’ offerings but neither is short on comfort and usability. So, which is the better compact car béo suit your daily needs? Let’s get straight béo it.

Dimensions

The Kiger is a fair bit longer and wider than the Punch and it has a wheelbase advantage, too. Naturally that means more space in the cabin, specifically in the rear, right? More on that later. Let’s delve into the looks for now. Both are city-friendly for size and not at all intimidating béo drive and park in challenging conditions.
Parameters | Tata Punch | Renault Kiger |
Length | 3827mm | 3991mm |
Width | 1742mm | 1754mm |
Height | 1615mm | 1605mm |
Wheelbase | 2445mm | 2500mm |
Of the two, it’s the Punch that shows off its SUV intentions more vividly with its slightly taller and upright stance, lots of cladding all-around and the Harrier-inspired front-end. The Kiger, meanwhile, has a squat body look béo it and in profile, it appears far more raked. The Kiger’s lighting upfront is all LEDs whereas the Punch has LEDs for daytime running lights and a halogen thiết đặt for everything else – projector for low beam and the bulb next béo it for high beam.
Infotainment System and Features

Both come with a touchscreen infotainment system featuring điện thoại thông minh mirroring tech that you would expect – Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, there are key differences in how they operate. For instance, the Kiger’s system is simple béo use and has a crisper display, whereas the one in the Punch is a little tricky – it houses more menus and functions, sure, but the music input controls and switching between screens is fiddly and requires getting used béo. That said, the Harman sourced audio system in the Punch sounds noticeably richer at mid béo high volume than the Arkamys system in the Kiger.

Overall, the Kiger gets you more for your money. Things like full LED lighting, wireless charging, four airbags, driving modes, a fully digital instrument cluster, rear AC vents and ambient lighting. As for the Punch, it gets driver and passenger airbag, two driving modes (Eco and City), part-digital instrumentation, 90-degree opening doors and a more comprehensive connected car tech which also recognizes Hinglish (Hindi + English) commands.
Space and comfort

The real struggle of delivering big car-like space and comfort into a sub-four meter footprint is found in its packaging. If you are looking for a city car and you are okay with its cabin being on the more compact side, the Punch is the one béo go for. The Kiger though, puts up a stronger case when it comes béo outright space and practicality, with its larger boot and more space at the rear.

The space in the back of the Kiger is better in terms of knee room and head room, both of which are a touch tighter in the Punch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the second row in the Punch is cramped, it’s just that the entire car is narrower and shorter than the Renault and that is reflected as soon as you sit in the back seat.

Though it’s not all bad news because there are things that the Tata excels at – the rear bench is not only more supportive, but is also set at a good height and you get a view out because of the large windows. By comparison, you sit noticeably lower in the Kiger and because the window line is so high, the glasshouse is much narrower and as a result, you end up feeling more confined despite there being physically more space at your disposal.

Up front, there are quite a few interesting looking trim and design elements in the Kiger. Things like the all-digital instrument cluster, rotary dials (each operating with a nice click) for the climate control, keyboard like press action for the hazard light and door lock/unlock switches, ambient lighting, and two glove boxes make it the more interesting cabin here for sure. The Punch’s cabin looks relatively simple with a more straight forward design though we must add that the plastics in here feel less scratchy and also, overall there is slightly more weight béo all the control stalks and buttons/knobs which is a good thing.

The difference in boot space between the two is substantial. As per our measurements, the Punch has 385-litres of boot volume whereas the Kiger’s is a lot more capacious at 460-litres. So, if boot space matters béo you, the Kiger would be a better bet. For space and comfort, we have béo give the win béo the Kiger for its superior space, practicality (you get 60:40 split for the bench seat, rear AC vents) and boot capacity but it’s worth mentioning that the Punch does surprisingly well in terms of rear seat comfort.
Performance

The naturally aspirated Kiger and the Punch aren’t horsepower heroes and ideally you wouldn’t be considering either as a fun vehicle, but for pure A béo B drives within the city with occasional highway runs, both offer sufficient pulling power. The 1.2-litre engine in the Punch makes 86bhp/113Nm and its power advantage on paper is one thing, but when it comes béo real world performance, it’s a different story. The Kiger is down on power (72bhp/96Nm) but because it’s 80 kilos lighter than the Punch, it’s peppier at city speeds. It responds with a little more zest in the urban setting – it gets away from standstill cleanly and that’s despite the excessively sharp bite point from the clutch and the imprecise gearshift action at low speeds. The Kiger’s drivetrain also lacks refinement when compared béo the Punch and that is frankly disappointing because otherwise the engine itself pulls along nicely. How nicely? It completed the 20-80kmph sprint in third gear in 11.90 seconds and 40-100kmph in fourth in 19.80 seconds. The Punch, on the other hand, recorded slightly slower times at 12.65 and 19.32 seconds respectively.
The Punch’s power delivery off the mark isn’t quite as impressive – it’s lethargic and feels almost breathless below 3,000rpm. I found myself keeping the revs higher than I would ideally like, just béo keep up with traffic. Thankfully, the clutch action is extremely light, béo the point where it feels like the pedal isn’t connected béo anything and although this lightness does rob you off some pedal feel, I suspect it’s bound béo be appreciated by many users. Now, although the Kiger is quicker flat-out and in-gear up until 100kmph (13.59 seconds béo 100kmph as against 14.07 seconds in the Punch), the gap between the two gets much narrower at highway speeds and it’s because of that one-litre engine’s lack of top-end zing – there is simply no point revving the Kiger past 5,000rpm because it’s all racket and no buildup at that point. In the end it’s a close battle, with the Kiger scoring more on outright performance and drivability whereas the Punch is more refined and offers superior gearshift and clutch action.
Ride Quality

The ride on the Kiger has always been on the firm side and the feeling is only amplified when you sample it along with the Punch. Even though it’s settled for the most part it tends béo knock over sharp bumps occasionally. Switch béo the Punch and you wouldn’t need more than a kilometer or two béo notice the extra suppleness its ride has béo offer. The ride quality is actually borderline plush and more absorbent than the Kiger, with a nice, soft edge over rippled surfaces. Like most Tata vehicles, the Punch deals with high frequency bumps nicely and even if you hit larger than average-sized potholes they don’t transmit into the cabin. Things improve on the Kiger at highway speeds – the ride gets noticeably flatter and there’s less lateral movement than the Punch but it’s also not as refined as the Punch. There’s more of engine, road and wind noise, so overall, it’s the Punch that fights back hard and takes the win for ride quality.

Fuel Efficiency
Both fared well in our fuel efficiency tests, but it’s the Kiger that managed béo go the extra mile. It returned an impressive 14.39kmpl in the city and 18.63kmpl on the highway. Predictably, the heavier Punch couldn’t match the figures but it delivered 13.25 and 18.44kmpl respectively which isn’t bad at all. We found the engine start-stop feature on the Punch béo be quite useful while testing its city efficiency though it’s worth adding that it’s quite insistent towards shutting the engine as soon as you come béo a halt and put the car in neutral. Also, it would fire up the engine anywhere between 30 seconds béo a minute of being stationary, especially in the afternoon heat.
Verdict and Scores
2nd
Tata Punch Creative MT
Final score: 355/600
Price: Rs 10.26 lakh, on-road, Mumbai

It’s the end of this test and the decision that you make could well be based on your priorities or more simply, requirements. We get it. Ultimately, the Tata Punch finishes a close second. It isn’t as peppy as the Kiger when it comes béo performance and drivability, more so with a full load. So if you are not too fussy about acceleration or driving fun and just want a comfortable city car that rides well then the Punch could be your pick and we would totally understand why. However, there is no denying that it’s a little pricey and yet it falls short on equipment and that’s what really takes the game away from this little Tata.
1st
Renault Kiger RXZ
Final score: 363/600
Price: Rs 9.71 lakh, on-road, Mumbai

Our aim with this test was béo find the better all-rounder urban vehicle that’s high on value, and it’s the Renault Kiger which has come on top. Its drivetrain may not be as refined and the cabin plastics may feel extra scratchy and hard but the Kiger turns the table in key areas such as performance, space, boot capacity, features and fuel efficiency. Most of all, it’s the naturally aspirated Kiger’s value proposition that may seal the deal for many buyers. Below this text we have included the full scores for the Kiger and the Punch against our testing criteria, which should help you get a clear idea of our rationale for this verdict.
Pictures by Kapil Angane
Specifications
CAR NAME | Tata Punch | Renault Kiger |
Variant | Creative iRA | RXZ |
ENGINE | ||
Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
Displacement | 3 cylinders, 1,199cc | 3 cylinders, 999cc |
Power | 86bhp @ 6,000 rpm | 68.87bhp @ 6,250 rpm |
Torque | 113Nm @ 3,300 rpm | 96Nm @ 3,500 rpm |
Power béo weight | 90.3bhp per tonne | 112.12bhp per tonne |
Torque béo weight | 118.65Nm per tonne | 93.12Nm per tonne |
Gearbox | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT |
CHASSIS & BODY | ||
Kerb weight (measured) | 1,050kg | 970kg |
Tyres | 195/60 R16 | 195/60 R16 |
Spare | Full-size | Full-size |
STEERING | ||
Type | Rack and pinion | Rack and pinion |
Type of assist | Electric | Electric |
Turning circle | 10 | 9.8 |
BRAKES | ||
Front | Discs | Discs |
Rear | Drums | Drums |
ABS | Yes | Yes |
Test Data
CAR NAME | Tata Punch | Renault Kiger |
Variant | Creative 1.2-litre NA | RXZ 1-litre NA |
PERFORMANCE & BRAKING | ||
0-20kmph | 1.11s | 1.15s |
0-40kmph | 3.21s | 2.87s |
0-60kmph | 5.95s | 5.17s |
0-80kmph | 9.07s | 8.99s |
0-100kmph | 14.07s | 13.59s |
0-120kmph | – | – |
20-80kmph | 12.65s | 11.90s |
40-100kmph | 19.32s | 18.80s |
100-0kmph | 48.8m at 3.75 secs | 46m at 3.36 secs |
FUEL ECONOMY | ||
City | 13.25kmpl | 14.39kmpl |
Highway | 18.44kmpl | 18.63kmpl |
Tank size | 37litres | 40litres |
Range | 500.95 km | 567.25 km |
INTERIOR MEASUREMENTS | ||
Front | ||
Legroom(Max/min) | 870/530mm | 850/620mm |
Headroom(Max/min) | 1000/950mm | 970/920mm |
Shoulder room | 1270mm | 1250mm |
Backrest height | 620mm | 630mm |
Rear | ||
Legroom(Max/min) | 890/580mm | 920/680mm |
Ideal legroom | 630mm | 685mm |
Headroom | 940mm | 950mm |
Shoulder room | 1320mm | 1300mm |
Seat base length | 470mm | 460mm |
Backrest height | 620mm | 610mm |
Boot | ||
Length/width/height | 660/1030/640mm | 750/1070/630mm |
Loading lip height | 790mm | 820mm |
Scores
Parameters | Max points | Tata Punch | Renault Kiger |
DRIVING FEEL | |||
Steering response | 20 | 12 | 13 |
Throttle response | 25 | 12 | 14 |
Brake response | 25 | 15 | 15 |
Gearshift response | 20 | 13 | 12 |
Visibility | 10 | 7 | 7 |
Intermediate results | 100 | 59 | 61 |
SPACE | |||
Front Space | 25 | 13 | 12 |
Rear space | 25 | 11 | 12 |
Feeling of space | 20 | 13 | 13 |
Boot space/flexibility | 20 | 9 | 13 |
Rear seat ingress | 20 | 15 | 15 |
Intermediate results | 110 | 63 | 65 |
IN THE CABIN | |||
Comfort equipment | 30 | 10 | 10 |
Operability | 20 | 11 | 12 |
Feel of quality | 20 | 12 | 12 |
Intermediate results | 70 | 33 | 34 |
PERFORMANCE | |||
Acceleration | 25 | 14 | 15 |
Engine characteristics | 20 | 12 | 12 |
Driveability | 30 | 20 | 21 |
Braking | 25 | 20 | 21 |
Fuel efficiency | 35 | 32 | 33 |
Intermediate results | 135 | 98 | 102 |
ROAD MANNERS | |||
Ride quality | 30 | 20 | 18 |
Directional stability | 20 | 11 | 10 |
Handling | 20 | 10 | 10 |
Manoeuvrability | 20 | 11 | 11 |
Safety | 20 | 2 | 3 |
Intermediate results | 110 | 54 | 53 |
PRICE | |||
Price | 45 | 28 | 30 |
Resale | 10 | 6 | 5 |
Warranty | 10 | 6 | 5.5 |
Service cost calculator | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Intermediate results | 75 | 45 | 46 |
Total | 600 | 355 | 363 |

Thông tin thêm
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
[rule_3_plain]
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
Introduction Here we have the top-of-the-range Tata Punch Creative versus the Renault Kiger RXZ, two standout urban vehicles which blur the line between a city car and a compact SUV. The Punch is unarguably more popular but then this naturally aspirated version of the Kiger is brilliant value. Technically both are ‘compact’ offerings but neither is short on comfort and usability. So, which is the better compact car béo suit your daily needs? Let’s get straight béo it. Dimensions The Kiger is a fair bit longer and wider than the Punch and it has a wheelbase advantage, too. Naturally that means more space in the cabin, specifically in the rear, right? More on that later. Let’s delve into the looks for now. Both are city-friendly for size and not at all intimidating béo drive and park in challenging conditions. ParametersTata PunchRenault KigerLength 3827mm3991mmWidth 1742mm1754mmHeight1615mm1605mmWheelbase2445mm2500mmOf the two, it’s the Punch that shows off its SUV intentions more vividly with its slightly taller and upright stance, lots of cladding all-around and the Harrier-inspired front-end. The Kiger, meanwhile, has a squat body look béo it and in profile, it appears far more raked. The Kiger’s lighting upfront is all LEDs whereas the Punch has LEDs for daytime running lights and a halogen thiết đặt for everything else – projector for low beam and the bulb next béo it for high beam. Infotainment System and FeaturesBoth come with a touchscreen infotainment system featuring điện thoại thông minh mirroring tech that you would expect – Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, there are key differences in how they operate. For instance, the Kiger’s system is simple béo use and has a crisper display, whereas the one in the Punch is a little tricky – it houses more menus and functions, sure, but the music input controls and switching between screens is fiddly and requires getting used béo. That said, the Harman sourced audio system in the Punch sounds noticeably richer at mid béo high volume than the Arkamys system in the Kiger. Overall, the Kiger gets you more for your money. Things like full LED lighting, wireless charging, four airbags, driving modes, a fully digital instrument cluster, rear AC vents and ambient lighting. As for the Punch, it gets driver and passenger airbag, two driving modes (Eco and City), part-digital instrumentation, 90-degree opening doors and a more comprehensive connected car tech which also recognizes Hinglish (Hindi + English) commands. Space and comfort The real struggle of delivering big car-like space and comfort into a sub-four meter footprint is found in its packaging. If you are looking for a city car and you are okay with its cabin being on the more compact side, the Punch is the one béo go for. The Kiger though, puts up a stronger case when it comes béo outright space and practicality, with its larger boot and more space at the rear. The space in the back of the Kiger is better in terms of knee room and head room, both of which are a touch tighter in the Punch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the second row in the Punch is cramped, it’s just that the entire car is narrower and shorter than the Renault and that is reflected as soon as you sit in the back seat. Though it’s not all bad news because there are things that the Tata excels at – the rear bench is not only more supportive, but is also set at a good height and you get a view out because of the large windows. By comparison, you sit noticeably lower in the Kiger and because the window line is so high, the glasshouse is much narrower and as a result, you end up feeling more confined despite there being physically more space at your disposal. Up front, there are quite a few interesting looking trim and design elements in the Kiger. Things like the all-digital instrument cluster, rotary dials (each operating with a nice click) for the climate control, keyboard like press action for the hazard light and door lock/unlock switches, ambient lighting, and two glove boxes make it the more interesting cabin here for sure. The Punch’s cabin looks relatively simple with a more straight forward design though we must add that the plastics in here feel less scratchy and also, overall there is slightly more weight béo all the control stalks and buttons/knobs which is a good thing. The difference in boot space between the two is substantial. As per our measurements, the Punch has 385-litres of boot volume whereas the Kiger’s is a lot more capacious at 460-litres. So, if boot space matters béo you, the Kiger would be a better bet. For space and comfort, we have béo give the win béo the Kiger for its superior space, practicality (you get 60:40 split for the bench seat, rear AC vents) and boot capacity but it’s worth mentioning that the Punch does surprisingly well in terms of rear seat comfort. PerformanceThe naturally aspirated Kiger and the Punch aren’t horsepower heroes and ideally you wouldn’t be considering either as a fun vehicle, but for pure A béo B drives within the city with occasional highway runs, both offer sufficient pulling power. The 1.2-litre engine in the Punch makes 86bhp/113Nm and its power advantage on paper is one thing, but when it comes béo real world performance, it’s a different story. The Kiger is down on power (72bhp/96Nm) but because it’s 80 kilos lighter than the Punch, it’s peppier at city speeds. It responds with a little more zest in the urban setting – it gets away from standstill cleanly and that’s despite the excessively sharp bite point from the clutch and the imprecise gearshift action at low speeds. The Kiger’s drivetrain also lacks refinement when compared béo the Punch and that is frankly disappointing because otherwise the engine itself pulls along nicely. How nicely? It completed the 20-80kmph sprint in third gear in 11.90 seconds and 40-100kmph in fourth in 19.80 seconds. The Punch, on the other hand, recorded slightly slower times at 12.65 and 19.32 seconds respectively. The Punch’s power delivery off the mark isn’t quite as impressive – it’s lethargic and feels almost breathless below 3,000rpm. I found myself keeping the revs higher than I would ideally like, just béo keep up with traffic. Thankfully, the clutch action is extremely light, béo the point where it feels like the pedal isn’t connected béo anything and although this lightness does rob you off some pedal feel, I suspect it’s bound béo be appreciated by many users. Now, although the Kiger is quicker flat-out and in-gear up until 100kmph (13.59 seconds béo 100kmph as against 14.07 seconds in the Punch), the gap between the two gets much narrower at highway speeds and it’s because of that one-litre engine’s lack of top-end zing – there is simply no point revving the Kiger past 5,000rpm because it’s all racket and no buildup at that point. In the end it’s a close battle, with the Kiger scoring more on outright performance and drivability whereas the Punch is more refined and offers superior gearshift and clutch action. Ride QualityThe ride on the Kiger has always been on the firm side and the feeling is only amplified when you sample it along with the Punch. Even though it’s settled for the most part it tends béo knock over sharp bumps occasionally. Switch béo the Punch and you wouldn’t need more than a kilometer or two béo notice the extra suppleness its ride has béo offer. The ride quality is actually borderline plush and more absorbent than the Kiger, with a nice, soft edge over rippled surfaces. Like most Tata vehicles, the Punch deals with high frequency bumps nicely and even if you hit larger than average-sized potholes they don’t transmit into the cabin. Things improve on the Kiger at highway speeds – the ride gets noticeably flatter and there’s less lateral movement than the Punch but it’s also not as refined as the Punch. There’s more of engine, road and wind noise, so overall, it’s the Punch that fights back hard and takes the win for ride quality. Fuel Efficiency Both fared well in our fuel efficiency tests, but it’s the Kiger that managed béo go the extra mile. It returned an impressive 14.39kmpl in the city and 18.63kmpl on the highway. Predictably, the heavier Punch couldn’t match the figures but it delivered 13.25 and 18.44kmpl respectively which isn’t bad at all. We found the engine start-stop feature on the Punch béo be quite useful while testing its city efficiency though it’s worth adding that it’s quite insistent towards shutting the engine as soon as you come béo a halt and put the car in neutral. Also, it would fire up the engine anywhere between 30 seconds béo a minute of being stationary, especially in the afternoon heat. Verdict and Scores2nd Tata Punch Creative MT Final score: 355/600 Price: Rs 10.26 lakh, on-road, Mumbai It’s the end of this test and the decision that you make could well be based on your priorities or more simply, requirements. We get it. Ultimately, the Tata Punch finishes a close second. It isn’t as peppy as the Kiger when it comes béo performance and drivability, more so with a full load. So if you are not too fussy about acceleration or driving fun and just want a comfortable city car that rides well then the Punch could be your pick and we would totally understand why. However, there is no denying that it’s a little pricey and yet it falls short on equipment and that’s what really takes the game away from this little Tata. 1st Renault Kiger RXZ Final score: 363/600 Price: Rs 9.71 lakh, on-road, Mumbai Our aim with this test was béo find the better all-rounder urban vehicle that’s high on value, and it’s the Renault Kiger which has come on top. Its drivetrain may not be as refined and the cabin plastics may feel extra scratchy and hard but the Kiger turns the table in key areas such as performance, space, boot capacity, features and fuel efficiency. Most of all, it’s the naturally aspirated Kiger’s value proposition that may seal the deal for many buyers. Below this text we have included the full scores for the Kiger and the Punch against our testing criteria, which should help you get a clear idea of our rationale for this verdict. Pictures by Kapil Angane Specifications CAR NAMETata PunchRenault KigerVariantCreative iRARXZ ENGINEFuelPetrolPetrolDisplacement3 cylinders, 1,199cc3 cylinders, 999ccPower86bhp @ 6,000 rpm68.87bhp @ 6,250 rpmTorque113Nm @ 3,300 rpm96Nm @ 3,500 rpmPower béo weight90.3bhp per tonne112.12bhp per tonne Torque béo weight118.65Nm per tonne93.12Nm per tonneGearbox5-speed MT5-speed MTCHASSIS & BODYKerb weight (measured)1,050kg970kgTyres195/60 R16195/60 R16SpareFull-sizeFull-sizeSTEERINGTypeRack and pinionRack and pinion Type of assistElectricElectricTurning circle109.8BRAKESFrontDiscsDiscsRearDrums DrumsABSYesYesTest DataCAR NAMETata PunchRenault KigerVariantCreative 1.2-litre NA RXZ 1-litre NA PERFORMANCE & BRAKING0-20kmph1.11s1.15s0-40kmph3.21s2.87s0-60kmph5.95s5.17s0-80kmph9.07s8.99s0-100kmph14.07s13.59s0-120kmph–20-80kmph12.65s11.90s40-100kmph 19.32s18.80s100-0kmph48.8m at 3.75 secs46m at 3.36 secsFUEL ECONOMYCity13.25kmpl14.39kmplHighway18.44kmpl18.63kmplTank size37litres40litresRange500.95 km567.25 kmINTERIOR MEASUREMENTSFrontLegroom(Max/min)870/530mm850/620mmHeadroom(Max/min)1000/950mm970/920mmShoulder room1270mm1250mmBackrest height620mm630mmRearLegroom(Max/min)890/580mm920/680mmIdeal legroom630mm685mmHeadroom940mm950mmShoulder room1320mm1300mmSeat base length470mm460mmBackrest height620mm610mmBootLength/width/height660/1030/640mm750/1070/630mmLoading lip height790mm820mmScoresParametersMax pointsTata PunchRenault KigerDRIVING FEELSteering response201213Throttle response 251214Brake response251515Gearshift response201312Visibility1077Intermediate results1005961SPACEFront Space251312Rear space251112Feeling of space201313Boot space/flexibility20913Rear seat ingress201515Intermediate results1106365IN THE CABINComfort equipment301010Operability201112Feel of quality201212Intermediate results703334PERFORMANCEAcceleration251415Engine characteristics201212Driveability302021Braking252021Fuel efficiency 353233Intermediate results13598102ROAD MANNERSRide quality302018Directional stability201110Handling201010Manoeuvrability201111Safety2023Intermediate results1105453PRICEPrice452830Resale1065Warranty1065.5Service cost calculator1055Intermediate results754546Total600355363Tata Punch₹ 5.68 LakhonwardsAvg. Ex-Showroom price
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
[rule_2_plain]
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
[rule_2_plain]
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
[rule_3_plain]
#Tata #Punch #Renault #Kiger
Introduction Here we have the top-of-the-range Tata Punch Creative versus the Renault Kiger RXZ, two standout urban vehicles which blur the line between a city car and a compact SUV. The Punch is unarguably more popular but then this naturally aspirated version of the Kiger is brilliant value. Technically both are ‘compact’ offerings but neither is short on comfort and usability. So, which is the better compact car béo suit your daily needs? Let’s get straight béo it. Dimensions The Kiger is a fair bit longer and wider than the Punch and it has a wheelbase advantage, too. Naturally that means more space in the cabin, specifically in the rear, right? More on that later. Let’s delve into the looks for now. Both are city-friendly for size and not at all intimidating béo drive and park in challenging conditions. ParametersTata PunchRenault KigerLength 3827mm3991mmWidth 1742mm1754mmHeight1615mm1605mmWheelbase2445mm2500mmOf the two, it’s the Punch that shows off its SUV intentions more vividly with its slightly taller and upright stance, lots of cladding all-around and the Harrier-inspired front-end. The Kiger, meanwhile, has a squat body look béo it and in profile, it appears far more raked. The Kiger’s lighting upfront is all LEDs whereas the Punch has LEDs for daytime running lights and a halogen thiết đặt for everything else – projector for low beam and the bulb next béo it for high beam. Infotainment System and FeaturesBoth come with a touchscreen infotainment system featuring điện thoại thông minh mirroring tech that you would expect – Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, there are key differences in how they operate. For instance, the Kiger’s system is simple béo use and has a crisper display, whereas the one in the Punch is a little tricky – it houses more menus and functions, sure, but the music input controls and switching between screens is fiddly and requires getting used béo. That said, the Harman sourced audio system in the Punch sounds noticeably richer at mid béo high volume than the Arkamys system in the Kiger. Overall, the Kiger gets you more for your money. Things like full LED lighting, wireless charging, four airbags, driving modes, a fully digital instrument cluster, rear AC vents and ambient lighting. As for the Punch, it gets driver and passenger airbag, two driving modes (Eco and City), part-digital instrumentation, 90-degree opening doors and a more comprehensive connected car tech which also recognizes Hinglish (Hindi + English) commands. Space and comfort The real struggle of delivering big car-like space and comfort into a sub-four meter footprint is found in its packaging. If you are looking for a city car and you are okay with its cabin being on the more compact side, the Punch is the one béo go for. The Kiger though, puts up a stronger case when it comes béo outright space and practicality, with its larger boot and more space at the rear. The space in the back of the Kiger is better in terms of knee room and head room, both of which are a touch tighter in the Punch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the second row in the Punch is cramped, it’s just that the entire car is narrower and shorter than the Renault and that is reflected as soon as you sit in the back seat. Though it’s not all bad news because there are things that the Tata excels at – the rear bench is not only more supportive, but is also set at a good height and you get a view out because of the large windows. By comparison, you sit noticeably lower in the Kiger and because the window line is so high, the glasshouse is much narrower and as a result, you end up feeling more confined despite there being physically more space at your disposal. Up front, there are quite a few interesting looking trim and design elements in the Kiger. Things like the all-digital instrument cluster, rotary dials (each operating with a nice click) for the climate control, keyboard like press action for the hazard light and door lock/unlock switches, ambient lighting, and two glove boxes make it the more interesting cabin here for sure. The Punch’s cabin looks relatively simple with a more straight forward design though we must add that the plastics in here feel less scratchy and also, overall there is slightly more weight béo all the control stalks and buttons/knobs which is a good thing. The difference in boot space between the two is substantial. As per our measurements, the Punch has 385-litres of boot volume whereas the Kiger’s is a lot more capacious at 460-litres. So, if boot space matters béo you, the Kiger would be a better bet. For space and comfort, we have béo give the win béo the Kiger for its superior space, practicality (you get 60:40 split for the bench seat, rear AC vents) and boot capacity but it’s worth mentioning that the Punch does surprisingly well in terms of rear seat comfort. PerformanceThe naturally aspirated Kiger and the Punch aren’t horsepower heroes and ideally you wouldn’t be considering either as a fun vehicle, but for pure A béo B drives within the city with occasional highway runs, both offer sufficient pulling power. The 1.2-litre engine in the Punch makes 86bhp/113Nm and its power advantage on paper is one thing, but when it comes béo real world performance, it’s a different story. The Kiger is down on power (72bhp/96Nm) but because it’s 80 kilos lighter than the Punch, it’s peppier at city speeds. It responds with a little more zest in the urban setting – it gets away from standstill cleanly and that’s despite the excessively sharp bite point from the clutch and the imprecise gearshift action at low speeds. The Kiger’s drivetrain also lacks refinement when compared béo the Punch and that is frankly disappointing because otherwise the engine itself pulls along nicely. How nicely? It completed the 20-80kmph sprint in third gear in 11.90 seconds and 40-100kmph in fourth in 19.80 seconds. The Punch, on the other hand, recorded slightly slower times at 12.65 and 19.32 seconds respectively. The Punch’s power delivery off the mark isn’t quite as impressive – it’s lethargic and feels almost breathless below 3,000rpm. I found myself keeping the revs higher than I would ideally like, just béo keep up with traffic. Thankfully, the clutch action is extremely light, béo the point where it feels like the pedal isn’t connected béo anything and although this lightness does rob you off some pedal feel, I suspect it’s bound béo be appreciated by many users. Now, although the Kiger is quicker flat-out and in-gear up until 100kmph (13.59 seconds béo 100kmph as against 14.07 seconds in the Punch), the gap between the two gets much narrower at highway speeds and it’s because of that one-litre engine’s lack of top-end zing – there is simply no point revving the Kiger past 5,000rpm because it’s all racket and no buildup at that point. In the end it’s a close battle, with the Kiger scoring more on outright performance and drivability whereas the Punch is more refined and offers superior gearshift and clutch action. Ride QualityThe ride on the Kiger has always been on the firm side and the feeling is only amplified when you sample it along with the Punch. Even though it’s settled for the most part it tends béo knock over sharp bumps occasionally. Switch béo the Punch and you wouldn’t need more than a kilometer or two béo notice the extra suppleness its ride has béo offer. The ride quality is actually borderline plush and more absorbent than the Kiger, with a nice, soft edge over rippled surfaces. Like most Tata vehicles, the Punch deals with high frequency bumps nicely and even if you hit larger than average-sized potholes they don’t transmit into the cabin. Things improve on the Kiger at highway speeds – the ride gets noticeably flatter and there’s less lateral movement than the Punch but it’s also not as refined as the Punch. There’s more of engine, road and wind noise, so overall, it’s the Punch that fights back hard and takes the win for ride quality. Fuel Efficiency Both fared well in our fuel efficiency tests, but it’s the Kiger that managed béo go the extra mile. It returned an impressive 14.39kmpl in the city and 18.63kmpl on the highway. Predictably, the heavier Punch couldn’t match the figures but it delivered 13.25 and 18.44kmpl respectively which isn’t bad at all. We found the engine start-stop feature on the Punch béo be quite useful while testing its city efficiency though it’s worth adding that it’s quite insistent towards shutting the engine as soon as you come béo a halt and put the car in neutral. Also, it would fire up the engine anywhere between 30 seconds béo a minute of being stationary, especially in the afternoon heat. Verdict and Scores2nd Tata Punch Creative MT Final score: 355/600 Price: Rs 10.26 lakh, on-road, Mumbai It’s the end of this test and the decision that you make could well be based on your priorities or more simply, requirements. We get it. Ultimately, the Tata Punch finishes a close second. It isn’t as peppy as the Kiger when it comes béo performance and drivability, more so with a full load. So if you are not too fussy about acceleration or driving fun and just want a comfortable city car that rides well then the Punch could be your pick and we would totally understand why. However, there is no denying that it’s a little pricey and yet it falls short on equipment and that’s what really takes the game away from this little Tata. 1st Renault Kiger RXZ Final score: 363/600 Price: Rs 9.71 lakh, on-road, Mumbai Our aim with this test was béo find the better all-rounder urban vehicle that’s high on value, and it’s the Renault Kiger which has come on top. Its drivetrain may not be as refined and the cabin plastics may feel extra scratchy and hard but the Kiger turns the table in key areas such as performance, space, boot capacity, features and fuel efficiency. Most of all, it’s the naturally aspirated Kiger’s value proposition that may seal the deal for many buyers. Below this text we have included the full scores for the Kiger and the Punch against our testing criteria, which should help you get a clear idea of our rationale for this verdict. Pictures by Kapil Angane Specifications CAR NAMETata PunchRenault KigerVariantCreative iRARXZ ENGINEFuelPetrolPetrolDisplacement3 cylinders, 1,199cc3 cylinders, 999ccPower86bhp @ 6,000 rpm68.87bhp @ 6,250 rpmTorque113Nm @ 3,300 rpm96Nm @ 3,500 rpmPower béo weight90.3bhp per tonne112.12bhp per tonne Torque béo weight118.65Nm per tonne93.12Nm per tonneGearbox5-speed MT5-speed MTCHASSIS & BODYKerb weight (measured)1,050kg970kgTyres195/60 R16195/60 R16SpareFull-sizeFull-sizeSTEERINGTypeRack and pinionRack and pinion Type of assistElectricElectricTurning circle109.8BRAKESFrontDiscsDiscsRearDrums DrumsABSYesYesTest DataCAR NAMETata PunchRenault KigerVariantCreative 1.2-litre NA RXZ 1-litre NA PERFORMANCE & BRAKING0-20kmph1.11s1.15s0-40kmph3.21s2.87s0-60kmph5.95s5.17s0-80kmph9.07s8.99s0-100kmph14.07s13.59s0-120kmph–20-80kmph12.65s11.90s40-100kmph 19.32s18.80s100-0kmph48.8m at 3.75 secs46m at 3.36 secsFUEL ECONOMYCity13.25kmpl14.39kmplHighway18.44kmpl18.63kmplTank size37litres40litresRange500.95 km567.25 kmINTERIOR MEASUREMENTSFrontLegroom(Max/min)870/530mm850/620mmHeadroom(Max/min)1000/950mm970/920mmShoulder room1270mm1250mmBackrest height620mm630mmRearLegroom(Max/min)890/580mm920/680mmIdeal legroom630mm685mmHeadroom940mm950mmShoulder room1320mm1300mmSeat base length470mm460mmBackrest height620mm610mmBootLength/width/height660/1030/640mm750/1070/630mmLoading lip height790mm820mmScoresParametersMax pointsTata PunchRenault KigerDRIVING FEELSteering response201213Throttle response 251214Brake response251515Gearshift response201312Visibility1077Intermediate results1005961SPACEFront Space251312Rear space251112Feeling of space201313Boot space/flexibility20913Rear seat ingress201515Intermediate results1106365IN THE CABINComfort equipment301010Operability201112Feel of quality201212Intermediate results703334PERFORMANCEAcceleration251415Engine characteristics201212Driveability302021Braking252021Fuel efficiency 353233Intermediate results13598102ROAD MANNERSRide quality302018Directional stability201110Handling201010Manoeuvrability201111Safety2023Intermediate results1105453PRICEPrice452830Resale1065Warranty1065.5Service cost calculator1055Intermediate results754546Total600355363Tata Punch₹ 5.68 LakhonwardsAvg. Ex-Showroom price