HPCL Presents Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026: Urban Car of the Year Nominations

The theme for the second edition - Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026 is ‘India’s Mobility Mission 2030: Clean Tech, Smart Manufacturing, Global Vision.’ The upcoming event will take the discussions further on the developments in the Indian automotive industry and facilitate exceptional contributions in the industry.

There are three nominations this year for the Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026 - Urban Car of the Year. Here’s a quick overview of the nominees:

The Tata Punch is one of the most monumental cars of this decade. Tata Motors first introduced the Punch back in 2021 as an entry-level micro SUV which is slotted below the Nexon in its product lineup. The Punch took the market by a storm with its top notch safety and SUV like experience packed in a small package. The Punch debuted with a blueprint of grandeur and in no time it became one of the fastest selling SUVs in the country. Tata Motors introduced its first major facelift earlier this year in January. The Punch facelift was introduced with revised design, updated features and new powertrain options. The Punch currently has a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 5.64 lakh. It is offered with two engine options. The first is a 1.2L 3-cyl naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 86.7bhp and 115Nm of torque, this engine is available with either a 5-speed MT or 5-speed AMT. The second is the 1.2L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 118.35bhp and 170Nm of torque. The Punch facelift comes loaded with safety and utility features like - 6-airbags, 360-degree camera, TPMS, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Wireless charging, C-Type ports, sunroof and more. The Punch is without any doubt one the best value for money offerings in the Indian market making it a worthy contender for the ‘Urban Car of the Year’.

Last year French automaker Citroen introduced the X-Series of its popular hatchback C3 in the Indian market. The Citroen C3X range currently starts from Rs 4.99 lakh. It is offered with two engine options - the 1.2L 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 80.87bhp and 115Nm of torque, this engine is mated to a 5-speed MT. The second engine on offer is a 1.2L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 108.49bhp and 205Nm of torque; this engine is available with either a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed AT. The Citroen C3X is a truly global product with rallying pedigree making it an ideal choice for customers seeking a fast hatchback with commendable suspension and handling. Citroen even claims that the turbo-petrol version of the C3X can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in under 10 seconds.

Tata Motors entered the premium hatchback segment in India for the first time back in 2020 with the launch of the Altroz, to rival the likes of Hyundai i20, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and others premium hatchbacks in the market. The Tata Altroz received its first major facelift last year. In the 2025 update the Altroz retained its silhouette but sported design, features and safety updates. The Altroz currently has a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 6.29 lakh. It is offered with two engine options. It gets a 1.2L 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 86.79bhp and 115Nm of torque; this engine is available with 5-speed MT, 5-speed AMT and 6-speed DCA. It is also offered with a 1.5L 4-cylinder diesel engine producing 88.76bhp and 200Nm of torque; this engine is mated to a 5-speed MT. It is currently the only hatchback in the country to be offered with a diesel engine.