Fun to drive, feels like driving a high powered go kart, sharp handling and good pickup
BHPian SchnelleKurven recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
I recently test-drove the Tata Punch EV Empowered+ LR Variant.
Pluses:
- The car looks nice and well differentiated from Tata Punch ICE, especially at the front
- Fun to drive, feels like driving a high powered go-kart, sharp handling and good pickup
- Loaded to the gills with features; more importantly with all safety tech
- One-pedal driving is possible in re-gen mode 3. The use of paddle shifts to change regenerative braking settings is a nice touch.
- LR has decent enough range, 300 kms in the real world, AC Fast Charging Available
- Cheapest practical EV option (MG Comet serves a unique use case)
- 8 Year Warranty on battery pack, extended warranty options available
Minuses:
- At 15 lacs plus on the road, seems overpriced at a 50% premium over the corresponding Tata Punch ICE top-end model; payback period of 5 years @ 10000 km/year
- A brand new electronics-loaded product from Tata is a short and long-term reliability question mar
- The rotary 'gear' selector is fiddly to use
- Raised Floor (due to battery pack) compared to that of Punch ICE makes for an odd seating position, especially on the rear seat
- Recent Nexon EV price drop, yet to flow down to Punch EV
- Nosediving global resale prices of EVs vs. ICE Vehicles
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