The real magic lies in the quiet upgrades you can’t see. They don’t demand attention, yet you feel their impact in every smooth, confident kilometre.
Sometimes a car surprises you in the simplest way—by doing everything a little better than you expect. That’s exactly how this one felt. It may look familiar on the outside, but the moment I got in, it was obvious that this wasn’t a routine upgrade. It felt like a fresh take on how a small electric SUV should feel. This is the new Tata Punch.ev.
Launched at an introductory price of ₹9.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the new Punch.ev brings EV ownership very close to the on-road costs of entry-level petrol cars. There’s also a Battery-as-a-Service option, where the car starts at ₹6.49 lakh and the battery is paid for separately through a per-kilometre EMI, giving buyers another flexible way to step into an EV. Interestingly, this upgraded version costs little lesser than the outgoing version, even though it offers more power, features and comfort.
The first clue when I sat behind the wheel was the way it delivered power. I’ve spent time with the previous version and even the recent upgrade of its ICE counterpart to know how they usually respond. This one felt more confident of itself. Same weight as its earlier version, yet more responsive. The way it moved off the line, settled into cruising and responded overall felt smoother and a touch more refined.
Switching to sports mode changed the character of the car instantly. One press and it came alive. Overtakes were almost effortless, and on a long, empty stretch I could easily imagine keeping it in that mode the whole time. The car clearly had more to offer; the roads simply didn’t give it the space.
Eco mode reminded me of the balance every EV tries to strike. What impressed me more was the regenerative braking. It felt natural, consistent and strong enough that I barely needed the regular brakes while also returning energy to the system.
Comfort was another pleasant surprise. The driving position felt just right—high enough to feel in control, yet snug enough to be relaxed. All the controls were exactly where I expected them to be. The AC had one minor quirk with a mode switch, but otherwise cooled quickly. The ventilated seats worked simply and effectively.
Inside, the quietness stood out. With no engine noise, tyre sounds usually creep in, but here the cabin remained calm. The music system came through beautifully. The wireless charger, USB ports and Bluetooth all worked smoothly without delays. The new window switch setup felt different for a moment, but made sense once I understood the safety logic.
The design, inside and out, ties everything together. The exterior now has a smoother flow, with the bumpers blending neatly into the body and giving the car a slightly larger, more confident presence. Inside, the lighter colour scheme works surprisingly well. It makes the cabin feel more spacious. The grey cladding on the exterior – side panels pairs nicely with most of the exterior shade.
What stayed with me most was the thought put into the manufacturing side. Things like the integrated components, the six-in-one power unit and the single-piece bumpers aren’t just clever engineering. They reduce assembly steps – TAKT time, simplify the supply chain, cut material use (reduced length of expensive cables) not only contain the bill of materials but also make the car more sustainable to build. It shows how much optimisation has gone into it behind the scenes.
One small concern did cross my mind—the frunk. It’s a useful space, but I’ve seen cases where people store the wrong kind of items in similar EV compartments, leading to safety issues. Thankfully, this car’s electronically controlled thermostatic expansion valve (ETXV) that fine-tunes refrigerant flow for more precise and efficient thermal control cooling systems, help maintain ambient temperature reducing the risk.
As I dug deeper into what sits beneath the car I had just driven, the engineering story became even more interesting. The team hasn’t simply added a bigger battery; they’ve rebuilt the EV side of the car with a clean-sheet approach. By choosing long-life LFP cells and switching to a smarter prismatic layout, it managed to fit a 40-kWh pack without making the car feel heavier or bulkier. The cooling system was redesigned too, with a new plate setup and an electronic valve that keeps the pack steady even in peak summer. That’s why the car can hold full fast-charging power without hesitation.
What makes this more impressive is how they balanced everything out. The new drive unit brings the motor, controller and gearbox into one compact block, cutting almost 50 kilos. That weight saving offsets the bigger battery, so the overall feel of the car stays light and familiar. It also helps the floor stay neatly packaged, which adds to the sense of space inside.
Safety remains solid as well. Since the basic structure and weight haven’t shifted much, the strong crash performance continues unchanged. Reinforced zones and clean electrical isolation keep the battery protected, and the new model has already matched the earlier car’s 5-star rating. Out on the road, this shows up as a steady, planted feel. The weight balance has barely moved, staying close to a natural 50:50, which means there was no need for major body changes.
What adds even more peace of mind is the lifetime warranty on the high-voltage battery, with no kilometre limit. For anyone buying their first EV, that sort of reassurance matters.
Put together, these quiet engineering upgrades explain why the car feels so composed and confident without shouting about what has changed. It’s the kind of work you don’t see at first glance, but you feel it every time you drive.
When I returned the keys, my takeaway was simple: it delivers more than you expect for the price, feels comfortable to drive and is truly future-ready.
