Tata Motors officially launched the Punch ICNG with added features to compete with its rival who also offers CNG fuel option, Hyundai Exter, and find out what’s different between the two CNG SUVs, and which SUV is worth buying!
The front of the Punch has blacked out element with three tri-arrow holes that connects with the LED DRLs and Tata logo at the center. Below that is the tri-arrow grille that connects with the fog lamps and projector headlamps above them that are obviously halogen. At the side, there is slight cuts to have that punch look with 16-inch alloy wheels, and non-functional roof rails for design purpose. At the rear, there is the tri-arrow treatment in the taillamps as well which are of course going to be LEDs, faux black skid plate, and iCNG badging on the tailgate.
From the outside, the Exter has flat bonnet with a big Hyundai logo on it and the three-tier design nose. It has H-shaped LED DRLs that are connected via a black strip and square shape halogen projector headlights. Then there is the body cladding finished in matte black all over the car to contribute towards the Exter’s looks. Moving to the side, you’ll realize the SUV has boxy shape. The doors seems to be big enough to accommodate easy in’s and out’s of the SUV. The alloy wheels, roof rails, A and B-pillars has the dual-tone treatment, and the SUV is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, it has an upright tailgate with the rear windshield slightly tilted, shark fin antenna at the top, small roof-spoiler, flat and tall rear bumper with dual-tone finished. The taillamps has an H-shaped in them with a big black panel and big 2D Hyundai logo at the center.
The Punch ICNG comes with 7-inch infotainment system above the rectangular AC vents with dual-tone dashboard theme option as well. The Punch has a Analog instrument cluster and TFT Display in between the two analog with three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, blue accents around the AC vents, single-pane sunroof on top, and pedals finished in black. It has one USB Type-A and Type-C charging port at the front and one USB Type A charging port at the rear. However, moving to the rear, the seats aren’t split, they’re one single bench seat and it has 4-speakers and 2-tweeters at front powered by Harman sound system.
From the inside, the Hyundai Exter has an 8-inch infotainment system with two round dials on left and right of the system, and four buttons both the sides above the dials to control the infotainment system. The Exter comes with dual-tone dashboard theme option with round AC vents at the sides, and rectangular AC vents below the infotainment system. The Exter has a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control below the AC vents, single-pane sunroof on top, and dual dashcams – one behind the IRVM, and the other on the rear windshield. Moving to the rear, the seats are split in 60:40 ratio with the center passenger getting no headrest, rear AC vents, and it’ll have 6-speaker sound system.
So, from the outside, the Punch looks way better than the Exter as it’s got polarising design at friend which some may like it, and some may not. From the inside, however, the Exter is much likeable than the Punch as even though the Punch looks spacious from the inside, the Exter just excels in design and comfort-wise.
| Tata Punch ICNG | Hyundai Exter CNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3827mm | 3815mm |
| Width | 1742mm | 1710mm |
| Height | 1615mm | 1631mm |
| Wheelbase | 2445mm | 2450mm |
| Ground Clearance | 187mm | 185mm |
| Boot Space | 210 litres | – |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 37 litres – Petrol 60 litres – CNG | 37 litres – Petrol 60 litres – CNG |
In terms of Dimensions, the Tata Punch ICNG measures 3827mm in length, 1742mm in width, and 1615mm in height. The Hyundai Exter CNG on the other hand measures 3815mm in length which is shorter by 12mm, width of 1710mm that is 32mm narrower, and 1631mm in height which is 16mm taller. The Punch ICNG features wheelbase of 2445mm, and ground clearance of 187mm, where as the Exter CNG features wheelbase of 2450mm that is 5mm longer, and ground clearance of 185mm that is lower by 2mm. The Punch ICNG got a boot space of 210 litres while Exter boot space is not known as of now. Both the SUVs comes with same fuel tank capacity of 37 Litres Petrol and 60 litres of CNG.
| Tata Punch ICNG | Hyundai Exter CNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2-litre Revoltron Engine | 1.2-litre Bi-Fuel (CNG) |
| Displacement | 1199cc | 1197cc |
| Power | 86.6 bhp – Petrol 72.49 bhp – CNG | 81.8 bhp – Petrol 67.72 bhp – CNG |
| Torque | 115 Nm – Petrol 103 Nm – CNG | 113.8 Nm – Petrol 95.2 Nm – CNG |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT |
| Fuel Efficiency | 26.99 km/kg | 27.10 km/kg |
When it comes to Powertrains, the Tata Punch ICNG is powered by the 1.2-litre Revoltron Engine producing 86.6 bhp and 115 Nm of torque in Petrol Mode, and 72.49 bhp and 103 Nm of torque in CNG Mode mated to 5-speed Manual only Gearbox. The Hyundai Exter on the other hand comes with 1.2-litre Bi-Fuel Engine that produces 81.8 bhp and 113.8 Nm of torque in Petrol Mode, and 67.72 bhp and 95.2 Nm of torque in CNG Mode paired to 5-speed Manual Gearbox, and fuel economy is 27.10 km/kg.
| Features | Tata Punch ICNG | Hyundai Exter CNG |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | Halogen Projector |
| Taillamps | LED | LED |
| Wheel Size and Type | 16-inch alloy wheels | 15-inch alloy wheels |
| Auto Power Window | Yes | Yes |
| Seat Upholstery | Fabric | Fabric + Leather |
| AC | Auto | Auto |
| Rear AC vents | – | Yes |
| Instrument Cluster | Analog | Digital |
| Infotainment System | 7-inch | 8-inch |
| Android Auto/Apple Carplay | Wireless | Wired |
| Voice Commands | Yes | Yes |
| Sunroof | Single-Pane | Single-Pane |
| Wireless Charging Pad | Yes | Yes |
| Height Adjustable Driver Seat | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-Dimming IRVM | Yes | – |
| Cooled Glovebox | – | Yes |
| Paddle Shifters | – | Yes |
In Features, the Punch ICNG misses out on Cooled Glovebox, Rear AC vents, paddle shifters, digital instrument cluster, and bigger infotainment system while the Exter CNG misses out on Auto-Dimming IRVM, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
| Safety Features | Tata Punch ICNG | Hyundai Exter CNG |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | Two Airbags | Six Airbags |
| Camera | Reverse-Parking Camera | Reverse-Parking Camera |
| Parking Sensor | Rear | Rear |
| Rain-Sensing Wipers | Yes | – |
| ABS with EBD | Yes | Yes |
| ESC | – | Yes |
| TPMS | – | Yes |
| Traction Control | – | Yes |
| Cruise Control | – | Yes |
| Auto headlamps | Yes | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | Yes | Yes |
| ISOFIX | Yes | Yes |
| Disc Brakes | Front Disc | Front Disc |
In Safety, the Punch ICNG misses out on Cruise Control, Traction Control, Tyre-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Six Airbags, while the Exter misses out on Rain-Sensing Wipers.
| Tata Punch ICNG | |
|---|---|
| Variants | Price (Ex-showroom) |
| Pure CNG | Rs. 7.10 lakh |
| Adventure CNG | Rs. 7.85 lakh |
| Adventure Rhythm CNG | Rs. 8.20 lakh |
| Accomplished Dazzle CNG | Rs. 8.85 lakh |
| Accomplished Dazzle S CNG | Rs. 9.68 lakh |
The Tata Punch ICNG is available in five variants – Pure CNG at Rs. 7.10 lakh, Adventure CNG at Rs. 7.85 lakh, Adventure Rhythm CNG at Rs.8.20 lakh, Accomplished Dazzle CNG at Rs. 8.85 lakh, and Accomplished Dazzle SS CNG at Rs. 9.68 lakh. Tata offers 3 years/1,00,000 km warranty period for the Punch ICNG and can be extended for additional 3 year/1,25,000 km.
| Hyundai Exter CNG | |
|---|---|
| Variants | Price (Ex-showroom) |
| S CNG | Rs. 8.24 lakh |
| SX CNG | Rs. 8.96 lakh |
The Hyundai Exter CNG is available in two variants – S CNG at Rs. 8.24 lakh and SX CNG at Rs. 8.96 lakh. The Hyundai Exter CNG has a warranty period of 3 years/Unlimited kms that can be extended up to 7 years/1,00,000 km.
In the end, the decision to buy which CNG model depends totally on you, however, if you’re looking for an feature-loaded SUV, then the Hyundai Exter CNG is the right choice given its got more features than Punch ICNG, good engine performance with great fuel efficiency, spacious, and little premium but you lose out on boot space, where as if you’re looking for an SUV that does not looses boot space, powerful engine, spacious, and almost the same features as the Exter CNG, then the Punch CNG is the right choice as well. So, which CNG SUV are you going to buy?