WEEK 1 BENCHMARKING

BENCHMARKING - I

Based on the top selling cars in 2018-19 I have selected 6 cars, 2 cars each from Hatchback, Sedan and SUV. As the requirement desires for daily use and long run all the cars I am going to mention are petrol varients.

• Volkswagen Polo
• Hyundai i20
• Volkswagen Vento
• Hyundai Verna
• Ford Ecosport
• Tata Nexon

Volkswagen Polo

In over the past five generations it has been sold more than 14 million units worldwide. In the present generation cars safety has become a prime feature. The new version of polo has got an auto emergency breaking system with pedestrian detection, a cruise control system where you can set the speed and if the car approaches a set distance it automatically breaking system slows down the car. As you live in Bangalore and there is lot of traffic this cruise control helps by automatic breaking so you can just concentrate on the accelerator. THe car might be small but it is spacious and has got big car technology. On road price is 8,62,000/-

Pros :

1. Performance ( 105 PS of Power 250 Nm of Torque)
2. Build Quality
3. Driving Dynamics

Cons :

1. Uncomfortable Rear legroom
2. Missing basic features

Hyundai i20

Despite the features in i20 it has got lot of legroom for thr front and rear end seats. All the rest features are same like the other standard cars. On road price is 9,29,000/-

Pros :

1. As mentioned earlier, the Elite i20 is a superb hatchback in terms of design. The sharp styling is targeted at youngsters, who often prioritise design over most aspects.
2. Features: The Elite i20 comes packed with features such as a reverse parking camera, an infotainment system with IPS display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
3. Safety: The i20’s top-of-the-line variant, the Asta (O) trim features 6 airbags, while the entire range comes with ABS and dual airbags as standard.
4. Automatic and cornering headlamps are a boon to drivers and the auto up/down anti-pinch windows ensure fingers are safe.
5. The ORVMs have a welcome option that automatically opens and closes, which creates a personal connection with the driver.

Cons :

1. No automatic gearbox option with the petrol or diesel engine.
2. Most of the safety features such as 6 airbags, cornering headlamps, anti-pinch windows, etc., are available with the top variant only.
3. The Elite i20’s 83 bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine is sluggish.
4. The base models of the i20 come with steel wheels, which is a let-down factor for a premium hatchback.
5. Keyless entry and the ISOFIX child seat restraints are limited to the top-end petrol and diesel variants.

Volkswagen Vento

Well noone can ever complain about the German built quality. It offers a dual clutch gear box which gives smooth shift in gears and good fuel efficiency. At high speed it feels so confident with unnecessary vertical movement. The greatest disadvantage is the design in this car has go no significant development since the past 10 years. On road price is 10,02,000/-

Pros :

1. Dynamic touch screen infotainment system. This covers up for the entertainment factor, which was lacking in its previous version.
2. Performance oriented engines. All its three motors give out a decent fuel economy while delivering good power output.
3. 7-speed DSG transmission. Its dual clutch mechanism allows an automatic gear shift without interrupting the power flow.

Cons :

1. Ground clearance. Quite low makes it look uncomfortable when it comes to huge bumps.
2. The base and mid range variants are missing out the new additions, which might not be well-received by the buyers.
3. No cosmetic updates. The new version with an old external design is a bit disappointing.

Hyundai Verna

The steering wheel in this car has got the most responsive pulses which makes almost par with the sports car. So it actually gives the feel like a sports car. A person with enthusiasm in sports cars can opt for this car. On road price is 9,10,000/-

Pros :

1. Design: The Hyundai Verna is based on Hyundai’s fluidic design, which makes the Verna the best-looking sedan in this segment. The cascading grille and the sharp design language give the Verna a sporty stance.
2. Engine: The Verna is offered with a choice of one diesel and two petrol engine. This helps Hyundai cater to a wider audience who are looking for a car that ticks multiple boxes.
3. Performance: The Hyundai Verna offers the best performance in the mid-size segment, be it with diesel or petrol. The choice of 1.6-litre diesel and petrol engines suit enthusiastic drivers as well as those looking for a car to commute in the city or enjoy long highway drives.
4. Features: The Hyundai Verna is one of the best-equipped cars in this segment. The Verna features a 7-inch infotainment system, voice recognition, automatic headlamps, cornering lamps, push-button start, and more.
5. Safety: The Hyundai Verna is well-equipped when it comes to safety as well. While dual airbags with ABS and EBD are standard across variants, the top-spec variant gets 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and more.

Cons :

1. Sluggish petrol engine (1.4): The 1.4-litre petrol engine is sluggish compared to the 1.6-litre engine. The engine suits city commutes, but on the highway, the bigger 1.6-litre engine performs better.
2. Headroom: The rear headroom and seating is a bit cramped compared to its competitors. This is owing to the sloping roof design and might be a problem if you take your family along on long trips.

Ford Ecosport

It is a Compact SUV which gives good stylish look as well asgood spacing. It has a sunroof on its top so the kids can enjoy the wind while going for a long ride. The back hood of the car contains a huge space for putting luggage. The rear seats can be bent forward and the space for luggage can be increased further more. On road price is 9,64,000/-

Pros :

1. Good cargo and storage space
2. Infotainment system and High-Tech features
3. Affordable price
4. Good handling

Cons :

1. Inconvenient cargo door
2. 3 cylinder lack AWD(all wheel drive)
3. Lack of safety info

Tata Nexon

It has provided a flexibility in the type of drive you want. You can choose among City drive, Economy drive and Sports drive. Tata has focused this time providing good storage capacity in the front end unlike ecosport. On road price is 8,43,000/-

Pros :

1. Styling:The Tata Nexon is designed as an urban crossover. The body is heavily sculpted and comes with a dual-tone paint scheme along with a contrasting coloured roof. It receives a good amount of cladding on all the sides. However, the black-plastics are restricted to the lower section of the car only.

2. Great fit and finishes: The new Nexon is an extremely sturdy car, just like the other cars from Tata, but that’s not where it ends. The vehicle opens up to a whole new world of premium quality fit and finish, much more than what you normally expect from a car at that price.

3. Standard safety: It is extremely good in terms of safety. Features like two airbags, ABS and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) are given as standard across all the variants.

Cons :

1. Lack of space: The Tata Nexon is an invaluable car in this segment, undoubtedly. However, when it comes to being comfortably spacious, the car is nothing fancy. The 350-litre boot space may seem to be at par with other cars in the same field, but the story isn’t the same when you enter inside. The car has a good room to accommodate four adults. However, the addition of a fifth individual may be uncomfortable for the people of the rear row.

   Riding dynamics: The Tata Nexon does have a powerful engine under the hood and is way more powerful than some of its competitors like Honda WR-V and Maruti Suzuki S-Cross. However, when it comes to adding punchiness to the drive, the Nexon bows down. A good suspension is not equally supported by some good steering dynamics.

BENCHMARKING - II

Polo vs i20

Vento vs Verna

Ecosport vs Nexon

All the cars are in the range 8 to 10 lakhs on road. Even if Volkwagen Polo has good features and smooth driving flexibility it costs 8,62,000. For the same price we can buy a much spacious car like SUVs. So I don't recommend Polo. i20 has got much space and legroom compard to polo but the features are not par with standard cars. And putting 9,29,000 only for a hatchback is not recommended because at the same price we can get a Sedan or SUV.

Volkswagen vento is something o be considered because of the built and quality are good. But the price is 10 lakhs where at the lower price we can buy a more stylish car which gives you a feel of sports car. So Verna is something I would recommend on the first place.

Ford Ecosport is compact SUV which looks conjusted when you see the interior but is spacious when you sit and feel it. Ecosport also gives you a sports look and it is a terrain vehicle. I would recommend Ecosport on the second place Tata nexon is a new version car so it is still in developing stage which i don't recommend.

Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii has a family so he should be willing to give the family a smooth and spacious drive at the same time not compromising on his likes as he is fond of cars. As he goes to office daily in the car Sedan looks much professional than a SUV. And he uses car for going to Madurai every month which is 500kms from Bangalore, so SUV is better in that case compared to a sedan. Finally what I would recommend is to go with Verna because it has got a better music system and cool look which serves his purpose for office and also long drives. And the rest is your choice to choose between Verna or Ecosport.