If you’re looking for a compact car with SUV characteristics, then the Tata Punch and Citroen C3 might be on your list. They look pretty appealing and come in almost the same price range. So which of these cars should you bet on? Let’s try to find the answer through their detailed comparison.
Here’s a specifications based comparison between the new Tata Punch and the Citroen C3 –
Dimensions
| Citroen C3 | Tata Punch | |
| Length | 3,981mm | 3,827mm |
| Width | 1,733mm | 1,742mm |
| Height | 1,586mm (1,604 with roof rails) | 1,615mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,540mm | 2,445mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180mm | 187mm |
| Boot Space | 315-liters | 366-liters (as per ISO V215) / 319 liters (as per ISO 210) |
| Kerb Weight | 958 – 1,035 kg | 1000 – 1,035kg |
| Tyre Size | 195/65 R15 | 185/70 R15 / 195/60 R16 (depending on the variant) |
As the above table reveals, the Tata Punch is slightly wider and taller; however, the Citroen C3 is much longer and has a bigger wheelbase, which means it should offer better cabin space than the Tata offering.
Specifications
| Citroen C3 | Tata Punch | ||
| Engine | 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol | 1.2-litre turbo petrol | 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol |
| No of Cylinders | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Power | 82PS | 110PS | 86PS |
| Torque | 115Nm | 190Nm | 113Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 5-speed MT / AMT |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Claimed Fuel Efficiency | 19.8 | 19.4 | 18.97 kmpl (MT), 18.82kmpl (AMT) |
- Both the cars come with 1.2-litre petrol engine options, and you will definitely feel their 3-cylinder nature inside the cabin.
- Speaking of the engine output, both the naturally aspirated units provide almost equal amounts of power & torque. The Punch also benefits from the two-pedal convenience, but it feels jerky & noisy. Nevertheless, the Citroen C3 has an edge with its turbocharged petrol engine, mated to a more sophisticated 6-speed manual transmission. And despite being more powerful & torquier, it offers better fuel efficiency than the Tata Punch.
Features
| Common | Wheel arch cladding, LED DRLs, fabric seats, remote keyless entry, floating touchscreen infotainment system, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, steering mounted audio & telephony controls, height-adjustable driver’s seat, 4-speakers, digital cluster, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, etc. |
| Exclusive in Citroen C3 | Front fog lamp, front skid plate, and wireless smartphone integration. |
| Exclusive in Tata Punch | Bigger alloys, automatic projector headlamps, rain-sensing wiper, push-button start, auto AC, rear armrest, puddle lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable OVRMs with auto-fold function, two additional tweeters, reverse camera, cruise control, day/night IRVM, Traction Pro modes (AMT only), rear wiper & washer, rear defogger, and much more. |
The Citroen C3 will surely disappoint you in the feature department. In fact, it also misses out on various essential features like day/night IRVM, power-adjustable side mirrors, rear defogger, and so on.
Price
| Tata Punch | Citroen C3 | |
| Rs 5.93 – 9.49 lakh | Rs 5.88 – 7.10 lakh (naturally aspirated) | Rs 8.15 lakh (turbocharged) |
Verdict
On paper, Tata Punch seems like a good package, ticking all the boxes correctly. However, the Citron C3 has the upper hand in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. Also, it has been developed keeping comfort in mind as its top priority. So if you want a compact cross-hatch with good performance, superior ride quality & comfort, and features aren’t that important, the C3 might be the right choice for you. In contrast, Tata Punch will entice you in every area except performance.
