Benchmarking

BENCHMARKING

Benchmarking in Automotive Industry:

Benchmarking involves a structured comparison between similar products, services or processes on some dimensions of performance. For example it can be used to compare the availability and delivery of features in a product and in this form often provides the basis of consumer tests and reviews. These look at products and services and provide recommendations based on which is best or some form of ranking amongst competitors.

It is particularly useful when comparing not only performance but also practice – in other words what do the different organizations do to enable that performance to be delivered? And applied in this way it is a powerful tool in process innovation sin e studying how the ‘best’ achieve their performance can provide powerful clues for changing the way processes operate. Process benchmarking of this kind can operate at several levels:

• Between similar processes in the same factory or service branch.
• Between different factories or service branches.
• Between different competing organizations.
• Between different sectors using the same process.

Whilst if offers a significant learning opportunity benchmarking between competing organizations is harder than the other three because competitors do not want to disclose their process information since it is a source of competitive advantage to tem. So benchmarking of this kind often involves a third party who can collect the data, make the comparison and provide feedback but all on a confidential basis.

Exercise 1:

Aim: Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii’s family requires safe car which gives good mileage, Low maintenance, Good space, economy features and Social status too.

Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii's major requirements 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 2022-23 and keeping Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii's requirements in a car, I recommend following cars (mostly SUVs and MUV) to him.

1. Maruti Suzuki brezza (subcompact crossover SUV)
2. Renault Triber (MUV)
3. Tata Nexon (subcompact crossover SUV)
4. Kia Sonet (Compact SUV)
5. Hyundai Venue (Compact SUV)
6. Mahindra KUV 100NXT (Compact SUV)

1. Maruti Suzuki brezza (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 9.89 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage: 19.8 to 19.9 kmpl

Gear Box: 5 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3995 X 1790 X 1685

Seating Capacity: 5

Space: 328 Litres

Power: 75.8kW @6000 RPM

Torque: 136.8Nm @ 4400 RPM

Engine displacement: 1462cc

Good Things:

• Lots of features - Gets a slew of notable features that add convenience.
• Interior space - The cabin feels airy with ample storage spaces all over.
• Tall seating - Offers a commanding driving position with good outward visibility.
• Ease of driving - Light controls and the compact proportions make it nimble.
• Service network - Is backed by Maruti Suzuki's exhaustive and robust network.

Could be better:

• Engine lacks punch - The mid-range grunt could have been more exciting.
• Pricey - Top-end variants are expensive when stacked against segment rivals.
• Ride quality at slow speeds - Conspicuous vertical movement over broken roads.

2. Renault Triber (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 7.61 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage: 18.2  to 19 kmpl

Gear Box: 5 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3990 X 1739 X 1643

Seating Capacity: 7

Space: 328 Litres

Power: 72ps @6250 RPM

Torque: 96Nm @ 3500 RPM

Engine displacement: 999cc

Good Things:

• Practical cabin with lots of storage spaces.
• Good boot space of 625 litres.
• Triber can be turned into a two-seater, four seater, five-seater, six-seater or even a seven-seater vehicle.
• Received 4-Star GNCAP safety rating
• Available with an AMT automatic as well.

Could be better:

• Engine feels underpowered on highways or with a full load of passengers.
• No diesel engine option.
• Missing features: No automatic climate control, alloy wheels or fog lamps.

3. Tata Nexon (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 9.55 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage (ARAI): 16.3 to 22 kmpl

Gear Box: 6 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3993 x 1811 x 1606

Seating Capacity: 5

Space: 350 Litres

Power: 120kW @5500 RPM

Torque: 170Nm @1750- 4000 RPM

Engine displacement: 1199cc

Good Things:

• Spacious cabin with comfortable rear seats.
• Comfortable ride quality.
• Looks attractive and modern.
• 5-star NCAP safety rating.

Could be better:

• Engine refinement is lacking.
• Infotainment system feels dated.

4. Kia Sonet (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 9.30 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage : 18.2 to 24.1 kmpl

Gear Box: 5 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3995 x 1791 x 1642

Seating Capacity: 5

Space: 392 Litres

Power: 83ps @6000 RPM

Torque: 115Nm @4200 RPM

Engine displacement: 1197cc

Good Things:

• Flamboyant styling - Great concoction of modern/youthful looks with a rugged stance.
• Refined motors/gearboxes - Peppy/smooth performance, good refinement, frugal.
• Easy to drive - Compact size, steering that's light with reasonable feedback.
• Good quality - Quality and fit/finish are on par with segment expectations.
• Boot capacity - Reasonably sized boot good for occupants to last seven days.

Could be better:

• Firm ride quality - Never feels settled, bounces at high speeds under full load.
• Rear seat space - The rear bench is a squeeze for anything more than two adults.
• Rear visibility - Is hampered by the chunky C-pillars and compact rear windscreen.

5. Hyundai Venue (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 7.68 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage (ARAI) : 17.5 kmpl

Gear Box: 5 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3995 x 1770 x 1617

Seating Capacity: 5

Power: 83ps @6000 RPM

Torque: 113.8Nm @4000 RPM

Engine displacement: 1197cc

Good Things:

• Updated styling makes the Venue look more butch and upmarket.
• Dual-tone interior is classy, good quality of materials in the cabin too.
• Powered driver’s seat, Alexa/Google Home connectivity, Digital driver’s display added to an already expansive feature list.
• 2 Petrol, 1.5 Diesel, 1.0 Turbo - plenty of engine options to choose from.

Could be better:

• No diesel-automatic or CNG power train on offer.
• Narrow cabin means the Venue is still best suited for four.
• Silly feature omissions like auto day/night IRVM and powered seat height adjustment

6. Mahindra KUV 100NXT (Petrol):

On-Road price in Bangalore: 7.56 Lakhs

 

Specifications summary:

Mileage : 18.2 kmpl

Gear Box: 5 Speed Transmission

Fuel type: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Length X Width X Height: 3700 x 1735 x 1655

Seating Capacity: 6

Space: 243 Litres

Power: 82bhp @5500 RPM

Torque: 115Nm @3500-3600 RPM

Engine displacement: 1198cc

Good Things:

• SUV-ish looks - The SUV-like appearance improves the looks of this compact hatchback.
• Space - Despite compact footprint, there's good head-/knee-/shoulder-room throughout.
• Practicality - Utility-wise, it scores high for under-seat and rear floorboard storage.
• Unique multi-seating - An interesting approach to squeeze in a front middle seat.
• Ride - Uneven surfaces are taken in with ease at low speeds, good ground clearance.

Could be better:

• Ergonomics - Off-set pedals, dash fouls with driver's left leg, visibility isn't great.
• Uninteresting to drive - Slow steering, floaty ride/intense body-roll at higher speeds.
• Rear seat - Lack of lateral support due to the absence of contours on the rear-bench.

Though Renault triber is economic and well known for MUV, Space is more so it can hold 7 people easily but the engine displacement of the vehicle is not acceptable. Also engine feels underpowered on highways or with a full load of passengers.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the good vehicle with boot space of 328 Litres which could be little trouble when you travel with family and friends. A good suspension is not equally supported by some good steering dynamics.

Mahidra KUV 100NXT is very low boot space of 243 Litres and also have less mileage compared to its size. But the engine performance is good. But seating capacity is arranged for 6 people because the grear lever is placed on dash board.

Hyundai Venue is engineered for 5 people and the mileage is low compared to engine capacity.

Kia Sonet is not comfortable for long rides because the rear seat is little conjusted and the vehicle bounces in full load at high speed.

Tata Nexon comes with 6 Speed transmission system. Also it has power boot also the vehicle have high safety rating. Spacious cabin with comfortable rear seats also suitable for long rides.

Since Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii travels both in city and long distance I would like to recommend him a better SUV. Tata Nexon would be my first choice, somehow the mileage is little low as it offers good boot space with 350 ltrs and good spacious cabin. Tata Nexon is definitely worth its price compared to other SUVs with safety ratings If he want more features he can look into top varients. So I strongly believe Mr . D.S. Pughazhyendhii will have a great experience with Tata Nexon.