Benchmarking

BENCHMARKING 1:

Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii\'s family requires what Safe Car yet the value which offers an Equilibrium strike of Mileage, Maintenance with Good space, Features and a Social Status too of not to be owning a car which is of entry segment but one which offers Value.

With Transformation happening in Mindsets - Safety along with Good Interiors, Features are also making an important buying aspect.

Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii\'s major requirements in a car are:

• 5-7 seats for his family members.
• Budget: Rs. 8-10 Lakhs/-, on road price
• Good Mileage
• Good car for easy commuting within city and long drive as well.
• He is also fond of big cars.

Based on top selling cars in 2018-19 and keeping Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii\'s requiremnts in a car, I recommend following cars (mostly SUVs and sedan) to him:

• Maruti Ertiga (MPV)
• Ford Ecosport (SUV)
• Tata Nexon (SUV)
• Maruti Brezza (SUV)
• Hyundai Verna (Sedan)
  

1. Maruti Ertiga (Petrol):

On Road Price in Bangalore: ₹ 9 Lakh

Specifiactions Summary:

Mileage (ARAI) kmpl:	18 Kmpl to 26 Kmpl
Gear Box:	6 Speed
Fuel Type:	Petrol / Diesel / CNG
Transmission:	Manual / Automatic
Length Width Height:	4395*1735*1690
Seating Capacity:	7
Boot Space:	209 litres
Power:	93.87bhp@4000rpm
Torque:	225Nm@1500-2500rpm
Engine Displacement:	1248 CC / 1498 CC

Upside: Great ride quality over bad road. Now gets the smooth and refined Maruti Suziki DDiS 225 1.5-litre diesel motor. There\'s also a CNG variant on sale too but only in the VXI trim. Well thought out practical interiors with many people carrying and luggage distribution options

Downside: No diesel automatic option. No dedicated AC vents for the third row. Interiors could be a little more premium to keep up with the competition.

Verdict: The Ertiga seemingly does it all. But you will buy it more because you need it rather than want it. It doesn\'t have any glaring faults but it could also be a lot better.

2. Ford Ecosport (Petrol):

On Road Price in Bangalore: ₹ 9.7 Lakh

Specifiactions Summary:

Mileage (ARAI) kmpl:	14 Kmpl to 23 Kmpl
Gear Box:	5 Speed
Fuel Type:	Petrol / Diesel
Transmission:	Manual / Automatic
Length Width Height:	3998*1765*1647
Seating Capacity:	5
Rear Shoulder Room:	1225mm
Boot Space:	352-litres
Power:	98.96bhp@3750rpm
Torque:	205Nm@1750-3250rpm
Engine Displacement:	999 CC / 1498 CC

Upside: Nicely loaded lineup, great engine options and great handling.

Downside: Second row can get a little bumpy, there\'s no diesel automatic variant and loaded variants get a little pricey.

Verdict: The success of the Ford EcoSport can be attributed to its packaging. It offers great engines, good interiors with an appealing design and that very likeable SUVish stance.

3. Tata Nexon (Petrol):

On Road Price in Bangalore: ₹ 8.47 Lakh

Specifiactions Summary:

Mileage (ARAI) kmpl:	17 Kmpl to 21 Kmpl
Gear Box:	6 Speed
Fuel Type:	Petrol / Diesel
Transmission:	Manual / Automatic
Length Width Height:	3994*1811*1607
Seating Capacity:	5
Boot Space:	350
Power:	108.5bhp@3750rpm
Torque:	260Nm@1500-2750rpm
Engine Displacement:	1198 CC / 1497 CC

Upside: Funky looks grab a lot of attention: elements such as the dual-tone roof and the large 16-inch alloys stand out, Harman-tuned 8-speaker music system is a delight; easily the best in class, Practicality isn\'t compromised on - the cabin, as well as the boot, is spacious, Punchy diesel engine offers a nice blend of fun and frugality.

Downside: 1.2-litre turbo-petrol is noisy; feels uninvolving to drive, Few rough edges inside-out need ironing out.

Verdict: The Nexon brings a dose of freshness to the compact-SUV game. There\'s a lot to like including the design, features and the diesel engine. But, there are a few gremlins Tata needs to address with respect to fit and finish, so do keep an eye out for that.

4. Maruti Vitera Brezza (Ldi) (Deisel):

On Road Price in Bangalore: ₹ 9.62 Lakh

Specifiactions Summary:

Mileage (ARAI) kmpl:	24 Kmpl
Gear Box:	5 Speed
Fuel Type:	Diesel
Transmission:	Manual / Automatic
Length Width Height:	3995*1790*1640
Seating Capacity:	5
Rear Shoulder Room:	1400mm
Boot Space:	328-litres
Power:	88.5bhp@4000rpm
Torque:	200Nm@1750rpm
Engine Displacement:	1248 CC

Upside: Exterior design, interior design, features, road dynamics, Price.

Downside: Overall interior quality, less powerful engine.

Verdict: The new compact SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is a no-nonsense car for someone that wants to buy a reliable, stylish and yet, very well-equipped SUV with adequate performance.

5 Hyundai Verna VTVT 1.4 E (Petrol):

On Road Price in Bangalore: ₹ 9.97 Lakh

Specifiactions Summary:

Mileage (ARAI) kmpl:	17 Kmpl to 24 Kmpl
Gear Box:	6 Speed
Fuel Type:	Petrol / Diesel
Transmission:	Automatic / Manual
Length Width Height:	4440*1729*1475
Seating Capacity:	5
Rear Shoulder Room:	1315mm
Boot Space:	480
Power:	126.2bhp@4000rpm
Torque:	259.87nm@1500-3000rpm
Engine Displacement:	1368 CC / 1591 CC

Upside: Refreshed styling, Engine options, improved dynamics, refinement.

Downside: For all that it’s worth the Verna lacks safety equipment on the lower end variants, which can be a let down. Its suspension setup is soft and unless you can live with that body roll it’s not a good choice. That also makes it a complete no-no for enthusiastic drivers. More so because it’s handling is not up to the mark especially if you want to take sharp turns or drive fast. Another downside to the Verna is its rear seats which are a bit too low for comfort.

Verdict: It offers good mileage, in both its diesel and petrol avatars. Its pricing too is attractive and the wide array of variants makes it even more lucrative for buyers with specific budgets and needs. To top it all the Verna by virtue of being a popular Hyundai sedan also has good resale value, if you ever decide to part with one!

BENCHMARKING 2:

Since Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii is fond of big car and goes for a long drive once in a month, Ertiga could be a best choice. But won\'t be suitable enough for commuting in crowded city like Bangalore. So Ertiga won't be my first choice.

Though Ecosport is sturdy and well known for SUV, rear seats are not comfortable enough for 3 passengers but might have to squeeze in. Engine is also much noisy compared to other cars mentioned in the list.

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 rear seat comfortness for 3 passengers and adding punchiness to the drive, the Nexon bows down. A good suspension is not equally supported by some good steering dynamics.

As of now, the Brezza comes only in the diesel engine, but not in petrol. Not all brakes are disc as compared with S cross. The Brezza has got the lowest in segment boot space of 328 litres which could really trouble you while you are travelling with friends and family.

Since the hatchback is positioned as a premium car, the Baleno lacks the best or the premium touch in its interiors. Its uncomfortable for tall people.

Rear seats of Verna are a bit too low for comfort which is unacceptable for aged people. Its suspension setup is soft and unless you can live with that body roll it’s not a good choice. That also makes it a complete no-no for enthusiastic drivers.

Since Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii travels both in city and long distance I would like to recommend him a better SUV. Honda WRV would be my first choice, as it offers awesome bootspace with 363 ltrs and good spacious cabin for 3 passengers at rear seat. Cruise control in Diesel model gives definitely great driving relaxation. It also comes with great features like 2 power outlets, 2 usb points, Front center console armrest and high quality music system. Honda WRV is definitly worth its price compared to other SUVs with similar price and I strongly believe Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii will have a great experience with Honda WRV.