Benchmarking

Comparison between Nissan Magnite, Tata Punch, Renault Kiger and Hyundai i20

Introduction

According to the requirements given in the question, the models taken for benchmarking are Nissan Magnite XL Turbo, Tata Punch Camo Rhythm Adventure AMT, Renault Kiger (O) MT and Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 MT. All these models are very popular in the Indian Automotive market which turned out to be a great success for the respective manufacturers. Here in this study, all these models are compared with each other according to their price, features, dimensions, safety parameters, engine and transmission and the most suitable car for the given customer is found. Benchmarking means the process of comparison of similar products on some dimension of performance. So literally we are doing the benchmarking process of these four car models.

NISSAN MAGNITE

Nissan Magnite XL Turbo is the petrol variant in the Nissan Magnite lineup and is priced at ₹ 8.19 Lakhs (on road price, Bangalore). It returns a certified mileage of 20 kmpl. This XL Turbo variant comes with an engine putting out 99 bhp @ 5000 rpm and 160 Nm @ 2800 rpm of max power and max torque respectively. Nissan Magnite XL Turbo is available in Manual transmission and offered in 5 colours: Onyx Black, Sandstone Brown, Blade Silver, Flare Garnet Red and Storm White.

Pros	Cons
Turbo engine delivers peppy performance.	Only the top end versions have got Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
4 stars ASEAN NCAP safety rating	Ride quality is basic.
Along with ABS and EBD, ESP, hill hold control and traction control are present.	Tiny dealership and after sales network (won’t be an issue in Bangalore).
Good legroom

Figure 1. Nissan Magnite

Figure 2. Nissan Magnite Dashboard

My rating for Magnite XL Turbo variant is 8.0/10

TATA PUNCH

Tata Punch Camo Adventure Rhythm AMT is the petrol variant in the Tata Punch lineup and is priced at ₹9.52 Lakhs (on road price, Bangalore). It returns a certified mileage of 18.8 kmpl. This Camo Adventure Rhythm AMT variant comes with an engine putting out 84 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 113 Nm @ 3300 rpm of max power and max torque respectively. Tata Punch Camo Adventure Rhythm AMT is available in Automatic (AMT) transmission and offered in 2 colours: Foliage Green with Black Roof and Foliage Green With White Roof.

Pros	Cons
Offers AMT transmission for below 10Lakhs price range which is quite helpful for busy roads.	This version has no ESP, hill hod control and traction control.
5 stars global NCAP safety rating	No turbo petrol or diesel.
Offers Android Auto, Apple car play and voice command.	Cabin is not welcoming for 5 adults, suits only 4.
Stability during high speeds.

Figure 3. Tata Punch

Figure 4. Tata Punch Dashboard

My rating for Tata Punch Como Rhythm Adventure AMT variant is 7.5/10.

RENAULT KIGER

Renault Kiger RXT (O) MT is the petrol variant in the Renault Kiger lineup and is priced at ₹ 9.89 Lakh (on road price, Bangalore). It returns a certified mileage of 19.1 kmpl. This RXT (O) MT variant comes with an engine putting out 71 bhp @ 6250 rpm and 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm of max power and max torque respectively. Renault Kiger RXT (O) MT is available in Manual transmission and offered in 2 colours: Stealth Black and Moonlight Silver.

Pros	Cons
4 Stars Global NCAP Rating.	Need to pay more than 10 Lakhs for turbo petrol variants.
Smooth clutch and gear shifting.	Cost cutting is evident in the quality of plastics used.
One of the most stylish cars available in Indian market.
Have ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control and traction control.
Best in class boot space of 405L

Figure 5. Renault Kiger

Figure 6. Kiger Dashboard

My rating for Kiger (O) MT variant is 8.5/10

HYUNDAI I20

Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 MT is the petrol variant in the Hyundai i20 line-up and is priced at ₹ 9.84 Lakhs (on road price Bangalore). It returns a certified mileage of 20.3 kmpl. This Sportz 1.2 MT variant comes with an engine putting out 82 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 115 Nm @ 4200 rpm of max power and max torque respectively. Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 MT is available in Manual transmission and offered in 5 colours: Starry Night, Titan Grey, Typhoon Silver, Fiery Red and Polar White.

Pros	Cons
Offers 3 years / 100000kms manufacturer warranty whereas the others offers only 2 years.	Headroom is not sufficient when compared to the rest of the models.
Have cruise control and voice assist.	Price is high to pay for a hatchback
Stylish Design	3 stars global NCAP rating, which is less compared to the other models.

Figure 7. Hyundai i20

Figure 8. i20 Dashboard

My rating for i20 Sportz 1.2 variant is 6.5/10

Conclusion

Upon considering these cars, the car which I found most suitable for the given customer is Renault Kiger. It seems to be a complete all rounder in terms of looks, features, safety parameters, comfort, mileage and performance. Though the variant which I studied lacks turbo engine, 71 hp power seems enough for daily commute through busy roads of Bangalore. If the customer is willing to pay a few more thousands of rupees, he can also opt for a model with turbo engine which offers a peppy performance. Driving the Kiger in traffic is also effortless. The steering and controls are light, visibility is good from the driver’s seat, and the driving position is also good. Altogether, Kiger seems the optimum option for the customer and I highly recommend this car.