Now more than ever, you may have all the kudos that come with owning an SUV without breaking the bank. Up until now, we’ve recommended the Tata Punch, but can the Citroen C3’s fresh perspective succeed?
Tata Punch vs. Citroen C3: Body Style, Size, and Interior Capacity
Despite Citroen’s insistence that the C3 is a hatchback, the 154 mm longer Tata Punch, which is obviously influenced by SUVs, more than holds its own. Citroen has done an excellent job of bringing its family face to this more economical package, and the result is a lovely vehicle. If you want your C3 to really stand out, you may opt for these orange accents.
With its two-step grille structure and split headlight style, the Punch also takes design cues from the Harrier and Safari. The abundance of contrasting grille and cladding complements this SUV-inspired style.
The Tata Punch silhouette is somewhat muted by its more contoured bodywork, thick cladding, floating roof, concealed rear door handles, and fashionable 16-inch alloy wheels. With a ground clearance of 180 mm, the Citroen C3 seems more proportional than the Punch, which is 7 mm lower. Although the bodywork isn’t quite as outgoing, the orange accents nevertheless serve to brighten things up. However, the noticeable reduction in budget is evident with the 15-inch steel wheels, indicator lamps positioned on the fender, and flip-type door handles.
The Tata’s back end maintains its larger, heavily-cladded appearance while also receiving LED taillamp accents. However, Citroen’s elaborate taillight design and contrasting panelling are close behind. While both the C3 and the Punch have high load lips, the Citroen has carved out a flatter area, and the Punch has a bigger boot at 366 litres compared to 315 litres.
Interiors, Space, and Features of the Citroen C3 vs. the Tata Punch
Inside, you’ll find more of the same SUV motif. The Citroen C3 and Tata Punch bolster the ambiance with their contrasting textures and colours. The Punch’s high dashboard and contrasting horizontal features make it seem more like an SUV, while the C3’s softer colour palette and bright orange contrasting panels make the inside feel more spacious.
However, the polymers used in both are of acceptable grade. On the surface, the cabins in both appear to be well-assembled, but a closer inspection reveals differences. Both cars had a few misaligned panels that we discovered. We saw that parts of the Tata’s fittings were already flaking out in the trunk and engine area, while the Citroen’s dash moulding had rough edges. Tata Punch’s heavier-feeling doors and leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel help it claw background. In addition, the switchgear, which is standard on more expensive models, has a more robust and well-dampened feel.
In terms of interior room, the Citroen C3 is superior. A lighter mood is created by the bigger windows. The roomier footwells and broader seats accentuate this feeling. The chairs’ excellent contouring and back/thigh support make them much more comfortable than they seem. Punch, on the other hand, will likely be more pleasant to sit on for extended periods of time due to its superior cushioning and considerable contouring. Even the cloth has a little plusher feel, yet the close fit can be too much for some people with larger frames.
The rear of the Citroen C3 maintains a similar vibe, however getting in and out is more of a challenge due to the high sill and the little gap between the seat and the B-pillar. This stands in sharp contrast to the Tata Punch’s ALFA design, which has doors that open at a 90-degree angle, and the excellent hip point of the Tata seats. The C3 and Punch both make a similar sacrifice in terms of interior comfort once inside. Both give comparable support but the Tata has better-defined bolstering.
The front and rear cushions are identical, but the Tata makes it easier to settle into a comfortable posture by including a centre armrest and strategically positioned door armrests. Space for a third adult is more easily found in the Citroen because to its longer wheelbase, broader bench, and greater leg and knee room. On the other hand, the Tata eliminates the centre hump to provide more legroom for the third passenger.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint, the Citroen C3 is superior to the Tata Punch. With its stacked cubbies and many little niches, the middle tunnel offers greater room for small goods, while the front door pockets are better constructed. Not only does the Citroen have two back charging outlets, but the Tata also fails to achieve this.
The C3’s striking lack of frills is immediately apparent while perusing its feature set. The single standout feature is the 10.2-inch touchscreen that comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. An eco-driving indication, what3words navigation, and optional linked technology are all on the 7-inch Tata Punch unit, which isn’t as user-friendly but has its advantages. The long list of amenities continues with automatic headlights and wipers, many driving modes, a convenient semi-digital instrument display, temperature control, auto-folding mirrors, cruise control, and more.
None of these are given to the Citroen. You won’t even have the standard fare of a trip meter or tachometer, which are amenities to which we’ve become used. Not even a dead pedal or key reminder is there. Additionally, the rear power window controls are located in the middle, and there is no dedicated lock/unlock button.
Comparing the Citroen C3 with the Tata Punch: Security Details
The Citroen C3’s lack of luxury amenities carries over into its glaring absence of safety equipment. Citroen should have given this matter greater priority, in our opinion. There isn’t much here save for the required safety gear. Consequently, you won’t find an ISOFIX child seat mount, a rear camera, a washer/wiper, or a dimmable rear-view mirror. The fact that you can start the automobile without even touching the clutch is a real risk. On the other hand, the Tata Punch has all these features and yet manages to get a five-star safety rating from Global NCAP. One negative aspect is that there is no ESC.
Driving Impressions of the Citroen C3 vs. the Tata Punch
The Citroen C3 and the Tata Punch are both attractive options for first-time drivers because of how simple they seem to operate. Comfortable seating, height-adjustable seats, and excellent vision thanks to bulged front haunches make these vehicles ideal for manoeuvring in confined places.
One 1.2-liter gasoline engine producing 86PS and 113 Nm is available for the Tata Punch. This fully equipped Punch is more directly competed with by the 1.2-liter turbo that produces 110PS and 190 Nm, however the Citroen C3 also offers a comparable powertrain.
Driving a Citroen C3 with this PureTech powertrain is like being on top of the world. In terms of refinement and power delivery, it is among the best compact turbo-petrol. Unlike the Punch, there aren’t any noticeable vibrations at the beginning, and after that, you have a broad and linear powerband to work with. With few gear changes to worry about, you may leisurely navigate through traffic. Also, the lag is well-managed, so you won’t be taken off guard by unexpected acceleration spikes. Some powerful performance is also a result of this. With an acceleration time of 11.3 seconds from 0 to 100 kmph, you’re going to be well behind the pack in a traffic jam. It eliminates the need to worry about overtaking.
The only major issue is the clutch, which doesn’t allow for smooth shifting since it’s too bouncy and disengages too abruptly. We don’t recall this happening in our earlier encounters with the C3, so it could be a problem specific to our test vehicle. Although the Punch does not have an additional sixth gear, the gearbox is noticeably more accurate and user-friendly.
At this point, the C3’s engine provides more thrills than the Punch can provide. When left alone, however, the Tata may fulfil all your needs for a little runabout. Although starting on inclines might be problematic due to the lack of low-end grunt compared to the Citroen, the Revotron motor is just as manageable as the one in the C3. You still have a broad powerband, but the performance isn’t as good. This does imply that an additional downshift or two will be required for overtaking and closing traffic gaps. Given the Tata’s superior efficiency, however, we don’t believe you’ll mind putting up with this.
For those who like driving or embarking on road vacations, the Punch and C3 also have much to offer. At highway speeds, both vehicles exhibit excellent straight-line stability and a composed ride. At this price range, it is encouraging to note that both vehicles provide a feeling of security in this circumstance. Because of this, they also have a sensation of being stifled while navigating bends; the Citroen is noticeably more composed in this regard, although both vehicles will satisfy the majority of drivers. Again, there’s a little difference in how the two cars handle the road; the Tata’s lighter wheel makes it somewhat simpler to manoeuvre in congested areas, but we like the C3’s steering because of the extra accuracy it provides as you go deeper into a curve.
When it comes to the quality of the ride, the Tata Punch is clearly the winner. It has that characteristic Tata toughness while yet making sure you’re comfortable, even on rough roads. You won’t feel most bumps and potholes in the cabin. This is in stark contrast to the Citroen, which struggles to conceal these faults while traveling at modest speeds. However, this becomes much better at higher speeds, when both seem to be excellent at providing a level, smooth ride.
Price and Verdict: Citroen C3 vs. Tata Punch
In typical Citroen style, the C3 offers a new spin on the concept of a budget family vehicle. When it comes to aesthetics, interior spaciousness, and ride quality, it’s about as excellent as it gets for the money. It would have been more challenging for the Tata Punch to meet its no-frills pricing point if it had been better packaged. With its extensive list of equipment, somewhat more SUV flair, decent fuel economy, and competent driving characteristics, the Punch now provides more of what a new or budget-conscious vehicle buyer could need.
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