Benchmarking
CHALLENGE 01 : BENCHMARKING
GIVEN CASE:
Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii is a married man who lives in Bangalore which is a highly crowded city. His Family comprises five members including his wife, a five-year-old boy, his father, and his mother. He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore once a month. Also, he will be using his car to commute to his office. His budget falls between 8 to 10 lakhs on road. Please suggest to him options so that he will buy a good car for his family.
Note: Pughazhyendhii is fond of big cars.
OBJECTIVES: 1. Report on Benchmarking.
2. To benchmark with presently available cars in the market for the following case.
3. Comparison between atleast 4 passenger cars.
4. To provide a proper conclusion for the report, suggesting a single suitable vehicle among the comparison made with images.
1. BENCHMARKING :
Benchmarking in the automobile industry involves a structured comparison between similar products, services or processes on some dimensions of performance.
Fror example:
It can be used to compare the availability and delivery of features in aproduct 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 on studying how to '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.
Types of benchmarking:
BENCHMARKING I : Involves product level comparison and analysis of vehicle safety comfort, engine efficiency and its performance.
BENCHMARKING II : Involves part level comparison focusing on specific BIW components like fender, hood, B Pillar, roof etc and analysing various properties such as material type, thickness, no of parts and overall weight.
Requirements of Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii according to conditions and the budget for vehicle.
- His family comprises five members including his wife, 5year old kid, his father & mother.
- He visits his native place Madurai which is 500 kms away from Bangalore once in a month
- He lives in Bangalore city which is highly crowded and commutes to his office daily
- Budget is between 8 to 10 lacs on-road price.
- He is fond of big cars
So he requires vehicle with following :
- 5-7 seater with comfortable seating
- Long range drive performance
- Speed and Efficient
- Enough Boot space for Luggage
- Enough Rear Leg room space
- As he commutes in Bangalore which is heavily crowded and roads with congested traffic Automatic Gear Transmission is best suited and also keeping in mind Fuel Economy is also key factor to save fuel costs. But Automatic Gear Transmission is expensive and Fuel consuming. But let us consider in requirements
- *As Indian roads are not that much good and vehicles with good ground clearance would be the best option and he is also fond of big cars Compact SUV's are best suited within his budget range currently available in market
COMPARISON OF 4 COMPACT SUV VEHICLES:
 |
 |
 |
 |
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Tata Nexon
XM
|
Mahindra XUV300
W4 1.5 Diesel
|
Renault Kiger [2022-2023]
RXZ MT Dual Tone
|
Ford EcoSport
Ambiente 1.5L TDCi
|
Engine & Transmission
| Acceleration (0-100 kmph) (seconds) | 12.88 | |||
| Engine | 1199 cc, 3 Cylinders Inline, 2 Valves/Cylinder, SOHC | 1497 cc, 4 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC | 999 cc, 3 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC | 1498 cc, 4 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC |
| Engine Type | 1.2L Turbocharged Revotron | 1.5 Turbo Diesel | 1.0L Energy | 1.5L DV5 (Diesel) |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Diesel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Max Power (bhp@rpm) | 118 bhp @ 5500 rpm | 115 bhp @ 3750 rpm | 71 bhp @ 6250 rpm | 99 bhp @ 3750 rpm |
| Max Torque (Nm@rpm) | 170 Nm @ 1750 rpm | 300 Nm @ 1500 rpm | 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm | 215 Nm @ 1750 rpm |
| Mileage (ARAI) (kmpl) | 17.5 | 20 | 19.1 | 21.7 |
| Driving Range (Km) | 773 | 840 | 767 | 1128 |
Dimensions & Weight
| Length (mm) | 3993 | 3995 | 3991 | 3998 |
| Width (mm) | 1811 | 1821 | 1750 | 1765 |
| Height (mm) | 1606 | 1627 | 1605 | 1647 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2498 | 2600 | 2500 | 2519 |
| Ground Clearance (mm) | 209 | 180 | 205 | 200 |
Safety
| Overspeed Warning | 1 beep over 80kmph, Continuous beeps over 120kmph | 1 beep over 80kmph, Continuous beeps over 120kmph | 1 beep over 80kmph, Continuous beeps over 120kmph | 1 beep over 80kmph, Continuous beeps over 120kmph |
| Puncture Repair Kit | ||||
| NCAP Rating | 5 Star (Global NCAP) | 5 Star (Global NCAP) | 4 Star (Global NCAP) | Not Tested |
| Airbags | 2 Airbags (Driver, Passenger) | 2 Airbags (Driver, Passenger) | 4 Airbags (Driver, Front Passenger, Driver Side, Front Passenger Side) | 2 Airbags (Driver, Passenger) |
Price
| Ex showroom price | ₹ 8.79 Lakh | ₹ 9.60 Lakh | ₹ 8.77 Lakh | ₹ 8.89 Lakh |
1. TATA NEXON
Tata Nexon is a 5 seater Compact SUV available in a price range of ₹ 7.79 - 14.25 Lakh. It is available in 52 variants, 1199 to 1497 cc engine options and 2 transmission options : Manual and Automatic (AMT). Other key specifications of the Nexon include a Ground Clearance of 209 mm and Bootspace of 350 litres. The Nexon is available in 8 colours. The mileage of Nexon ranges from 16.3 kmpl to 22 kmpl.
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Good Things
- Upmarket looks - Exciting and impactful design, proper no-nonsense SUV stance
- G-NCAP safety - A five-star NCAP safety rating ensure buyers get a very safe car
- Performance - The powertrains offer a satisfying mid/top-end grunt for most situations
- Spacious cabin - Despite the compact footprint, it is roomier than segment rivals
- Sorted ride/handling - Nicely tuned suspension offers apt damping at most speeds
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- Interior quality, fit/finish - Scratchy hard plastics, rough edges, panel gaps
- Low-end grunt - The diesel motor needs some revving to get off the line properly
- Infotainment screen - Slow responses, low-resolution screen, interface not intuitive Could be Better
2. MAHINDRA XUV300
Mahindra XUV300 is a 5 seater Compact SUV available in a price range of ₹ 8.41 - 14.07 Lakh. It is available in 16 variants, 1197 to 1497 cc engine options and 2 transmission options : Manual and Automatic (AMT). Other key specifications of the XUV300 include a Ground Clearance of 180 mm and Bootspace of 257 litres. The XUV300 is available in 8 colours. The mileage of XUV300 ranges from 0 kmpl to 20 kmpl.
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Good Things
- Looks handsome - The majority will agree that the XUV300 has an attractive front end
- NCAP safety rating - This SUV's five-star rating satisfies growing concerns about safety
- Equipment list - The top-spec variant has a long list of features, safety equipment
- Potent drivetrains - The engines respond well to throttle inputs and aid drivability
- Comfortable ride - One of the few cars that offer a plaint ride regardless of the speed
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Could be Better
- Needs a makeover - An update would help attract prospective buyers to the XUV300
- Interior fit/finish - It is not in the league of segment rivals such as the Venue/Seltos
- Petrol AMT gearbox - The engine feels less refined due to the discernible shift shocks
3.Renault Kiger
Renault kiger [2022-2023] is a 5 seater Compact SUV with the last recorded price of ₹ 6.00 - 10.77 Lakh. It is available in 20 variants, 999 cc engine option and 3 transmission options : Manual, Automatic (AMT) and Automatic (CVT). Other key specifications of the Kiger [2022-2023] include a Ground Clearance of 205 mm and Bootspace of 405 litres. The Kiger [2022-2023] is available in 9 colours. The mileage of Kiger [2022-2023] ranges from 18.2 kmpl to 19.61 kmpl.
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Good Things
- Sprightly performance - Capable powertrains offer adequate grunt for most situations
- Safety - Four-star rating for adult occupant protection in the GNCAP safety tests
- Easy manoeuvrability - Good all-round visibility, light steering, and compact footprint
- Interior space - Proper dimensions/wheelbase ensure it is on par with segment rivals
- Handsome - An affordable SUV that does not compromise on styling and road presence
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Could be Better
- Rear seating - Having three adults occupying the rear bench can be a tight affair
- Tall boot - Baggage needs to be lifted higher to clear the boot's high loading lip
- Cost cutting - Hard/scratchy plastics, quality is not as per segment standards
4. FORD ECOSPORT
Ford EcoSport is a 5 seater Compact SUV with the last recorded price of ₹ 7.91 - 11.70 Lakh. It is available in 31 variants, 999 to 1498 cc engine options and 3 transmission options : Manual, Automatic (TC) and Automatic. Other key specifications of the EcoSport include a Ground Clearance of 200 mm, Kerb Weight of 1220 kg and Bootspace of 352 litres. The EcoSport is available in 7 colours. The mileage of EcoSport ranges from 14.8 kmpl to 22.26 kmpl.
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Good Things
- Looks contemporary - Despite being outdated, it's handsome and has a rugged stance
- Ride quality - The shocks are absorbent over sharp-edged bumps at high speed
- Well-built cabin - Feels robust and well put together, stands the test of time
- Feature-rich - Is feature-loaded enough to stay relevant amongst segment rivals
- Sporty to drive - Superior chassis balance, direct and well-weighted steering
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Could be Better
- Narrow rear seat - Too small to hold three occupants without being a squeeze
- Inconsistent cabin plastic - Variation in the quality of plastic used all across
- Restrictive boot-lid - Sideways opening door makes it tricky to use in tight spaces
CONCLUSION:
Considering the budget & parameters like Safety, transmission and ARAI mileage the best suited vehicle for Mr. D. S. Pughazhyendhii and his family which comprises his wife, 5-year old kid, his father & his mother is TATA NEXON & RENAULT KIGER.