In February 2026, Tata Motors brought incremental updates to the Punch EV. The carmaker’s most affordable electric SUV saw a bump in battery size, subtle cosmetic revisions, and feature additions, while also being more affordable than its predecessor. To see how much the 2026 Punch EV has improved over its older iteration, we put it through our real-world range tests and compare it to its predecessors.
Tata Punch EV new vs old: Specifications
With the newer Punch EV, Tata has increased the battery size in its long-range version by 5kWh and bumped the motor’s power slightly. However, the older Punch EV’s motor delivered 36Nm more torque than the newer model. In the new Punch EV, Tata introduced a new 6-in-1 drivetrain setup, replacing the older one’s 3-in-1 unit. With this new setup, Tata claims a 50 percent reduction in packaging size, a 28 percent reduction in weight, and a 6 percent increase in efficiency. Despite the larger battery, this new drivetrain setup on the Punch EV has led to a weight increase of a mere 5kg over its predecessor.
Tata Punch EV new vs old: Real-world range
In our real-world range tests, the newer Tata Punch EV delivered much higher range than its predecessor. On average, the former goes 75km further than the latter on a single charge. This is because the more efficient drivetrain setup (see table below), coupled with the larger battery pack on the new Punch EV, has translated into going farther on a single charge.
Tata Punch EV new vs old: Prices
Despite the updates and higher real-world range, the new Tata Punch EV is much more affordable than the older model. In fact, depending on the variant chosen, the former is up to Rs 2 lakh cheaper than the latter.
Autocar India’s range testing
Before our real-world range tests, the battery of our test car was fully charged, and we maintained tyre pressures in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The car was driven on a weekday in Mumbai city and on the adjoining state highway in a fixed loop, and we maintained the set average speeds. At the end of each cycle, we calculated the range based on the percentage charge consumed.
Throughout our tests, the climate control was set to 22deg C in a full-auto setting, and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and ventilated front seats, were used when required, just as a regular user would. We take pride in our testing data, which isn’t merely consistent but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.
