⚡ The Punch EV Saga: The Beginning – Part 5 ⚡
(Translated from Malayalam with the assistance of Gemini AI)
In my previous posts, I covered my past experience with the Nexon EV, why I chose an EV again, and how I eventually picked the Punch 40 over the Nexon 45. Now, let’s look at what features and conveniences I had to compromise on by dropping the Nexon 45. Since the last two posts were quite detailed, I have kept this one as concise as possible.
🔸 What did I miss out on by skipping the Nexon 45?
• Rear passenger seat weight sensors: Without weight/occupancy sensors in the rear seats, the seat belt alarm keeps beeping if the rear belts aren't buckled in—regardless of whether anyone is sitting there. It is a genuine annoyance in daily use.
• Tweeters: Although the Punch EV has provisions for up to 10 speaker units (4 speakers + 4 tweeters + 2 dashboard slots), even the top-spec variant comes with just 4 basic speakers. Worse, you cannot even purchase official tweeters as an accessory. I really don't understand Tata's bizarre cost-cutting logic here. While the sound output isn't terrible, as someone who listens to music on long drives, the lack of tweeters is a noticeable downgrade.
• Fog lamps: Only the top-end Empowered+ S variant gets front fog lamps. On the Empowered trim, there isn't even an option to install official fog lamps as an accessory.
• Express cooling: Without the one-touch Express Cooling feature, cooling down a hot cabin parked under the direct sun and then adjusting it back to 24°C is cumbersome. Since the controls are mapped to a capacitive touch panel, fiddling with temperature settings and blower speed while driving is quite tricky.
• Rear AC vents: When even the updated Tiago.ev gets rear AC vents, skipping them on a small SUV like the Punch EV makes no sense. That is definitely a glaring omission.
• Rear disc brakes: Personally, I don't miss this too much, but as an added safety layer, it would have been nice to have. After transitioning to an EV, my driving style naturally became much smoother and predictive, drastically reducing hard braking. Even when driving in Regen 0, tapping the brake pedal lightly recuperates good energy through blended braking compared to older models.
• Separate modular components: In the Nexon 45, apart from the 3-in-1 combo unit, most systems are modular and separate. Once the warranty expires, if a component fails, you can replace just that specific part. In the Punch 40, Tata uses an integrated 6-in-1 box. This isn't entirely a disadvantage, as high integration improves space management and vehicle efficiency, but out-of-warranty replacement costs could be higher.
• Tyre life: On my old Nexon Prime, the factory tyres lasted an impressive 1.29 lakh km before replacement. I doubt the Punch will match that, given the known wheel alignment issues and inner-edge tyre wear. Only time will tell.
• Front-mounted charging port: You can look at this from two perspectives. Because the motorized port is right on the front nose, even a minor front bump could damage the mechanism and leave you stranded without charging—which is why I count it as a risk. On the plus side, it stays much cleaner than the Nexon's rear quarter setup, which routinely collected road grime.
(To be continued...)
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