Benchmarking

ANSWER:

Benchmarking Means: Benchmarking is a process of measuring and comparing the performance, quality, or characteristics of a product, service, or system against recognized standards or competitors. It is commonly used in business and technology fields to evaluate and improve performance.

Benchmarking is not just making changes and improvements for the sake of making changes, benchmarking is about adding value. No organization should make changes to its products, processes, or organization if the changes do not bring benefits. When using benchmarking techniques, an organization must look at how processes in the value chain are performed.

Benchmarking at several levels:

• Between the same processes in the same factories.
• Between the same processes at different factories.
• Between the competing organisations.
• Between different sectors using the same processes.

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, five-year-old boy, his father, and his mother. He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore once in a month. Also, he will be using his car to commute to his office. His budget falls between 8 to 10 lakhs on the road. Please suggest to him with options so that he will buy a good car for his family.

NOTE: He is fond of Big Cars.

STUDY REPORT:

Here I am going to select a compact SUV for 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, five-year-old boy, his father, and his mother. He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore once in a month. Also, he will be using his car to commute to his office. His budget falls between 8 to 10 lakhs on the road. Please suggest to him with options so that he will buy a good car for his family.He is fond of Big Cars.So a compact SUV would be a best option for Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii.

SELECTED CARS :

• Maruti Suzuki S Cross
• Hyundai Venue
• Tata Nexon
• Mahindra XUV 300

Cars were selected based on a rough approximation of Ex showroom price is

Here,

• Maruti Suzuki S Cross starts from 8.61 lakhs
• Hyundai Venue starts from 6.99 lakhs
• Tata Nexon starts from 7.64 lakhs
• Mahindra XUV300 starts from 8.61 lakhs

We are comparing the cars based on the Boot and seating capacity,fuel efficiency,torque,power,comfort,fuel tank etc.

Maruti Suzuki S Cross:

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross petrol is powered by a 1.5-litre K15B engine that is capable of producing 103bhp and 138 Nm of torque. This engine is offered with a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic unit. Also on offer is the brand’s SHVS mild-hybrid system. The model is available in four trims that include Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha.

The new Maruti Suzuki S-Cross petrol version comes equipped with an array of features such as the SmartPlay infotainment system, cruise control, climate control, engine start-stop button, leather upholstery, dual front airbags and a height adjustable driver seat.

Hyundai Venue:

Hyundai entered the sub-four metre SUV segment with the debut of the Venue back in May 2019. The model is currently available with three engine options across seven variants that include E, S, S(O), S+, SX, EX(O) Exe, and SX (O).

Exterior highlights of the Hyundai Venue include a split headlamp design, projector headlamps with LED DRLs, projector fog lights, LED tail lights, 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, a shark fin antenna, roof rails, and silver skid plates.

Inside, the Hyundai Venue receives features such as an electric sunroof, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, flat-bottom steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, Hyundai BlueLink connectivity, wireless charging, cruise control, rear AC vents, and a sliding front armrest.

The Hyundai Venue is available with three engine options that include a 1.2-litre NA petrol motor, 1.5-litre diesel, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol motor. The 1.2-litre NA version, which produces 82bhp and 114 Nm of torque, is offered only with a five-speed manual transmission. The 1.5-litre diesel mill produces 99bhp and 240 Nm of torque, and is paired to a six-speed manual unit or a six-speed automatic unit. The 1.0-litre TGDi engine produces 118bhp and 172 Nm of torque, and comes mated to an iMT unit or a seven-speed DCT unit.

OVERVIEW

• Hyundai Venue has been launched at a competitive price which makes it a strong recommendation.
• The venue is the first car in India to give a dual-clutch transmission option in its automatic variant.
• Hyundai is also one of the biggest players in Car servicing sector of India.

BASIC SPECIFICATION

Engine Type U2 CRDi Diesel

Capacity, Cylinder 1492 cc, 4 cylinders

Max Power (kw@rpm) 98.6bhp@4000

Max Torque (Nm@rpm) 240.26@1500-2750

Transmission 6-speed manual

Length x Width x Height (mm) 3995 x 1770 x 1605

Boot Space (liter) 345

Turning Circle Radius (mm) 5.1

PRICE MILEAGE

Diesel-Manual – 8.90 lacs City – 18 to 19 km/L

Diesel-Auto – 9.10 lacs Highway – 20 to 21 km/L

HIGHLIGHTS

• Premium Driving Experience with a smooth ride
• Blue Link Option (smartphone connection with your car for enhanced safety)
• Comes with 3 years of warranty with Roadside assistance
• Comes with an Air purifier that cleans the air in the car to maintain a healthy cabin atmosphere.
• Comes with a wireless phone charger
• Has an option of six airbags for better safety
• Comes with Eco Coating Technology that keeps the air conditioning system in an initial state for a long time.
• The sloping roof profile reduces forward airflow resistance and rear spoiler effect for improved fuel economy and driving stability.

NEGATIVES

• Rear space is slightly low compared to other cars in the segment.
• Ground Clearance is low compared to other cars in the segment.
• Doesn't have an option of Sports Mode.

Tata Nexon:

Early in 2020, Tata introduced the Nexon facelift in India with a fresh set of cosmetic and feature updates. Taking things to the next level, the company introduced the Nexon Dark in July 2021.

The Tata Nexon is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine generates 118bhp at 5,500rpm and 170 Nm of torque at 1,750rpm. On the other hand, the 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 108bhp at 4,000rpm and 260 Nm of torque at 1,500rpm. Transmission options include a six-speed manual gearbox and an optional AMT unit.

The Nexon is now sleeker and features a chiselled look instead of the earlier muscular and rounded-off look. The compact SUV gets a new dual-barrel projector headlamp setup with integrated tri-arrow LED DRLs. The lower air dam is now larger and it features a large ‘tri-arrow’ themed grille. The vehicle rides on 16-inch wheels with a modern set of alloy wheels.

The Tata Nexon gets a neat and uncluttered dashboard layout. The compact SUV gets a new steering wheel featuring a smaller horn pad with premium looking multimedia and cruise control buttons. Behind the steering wheel is a fully digital instrument cluster along with an updated seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Currently the only car with BS6 diesel engine in India.
• 1st Indian car to get 5 Star Safety Rating by Global NCAP.
• Comes with the 'Car Connect' feature (A major safety system that lets you operate the car by your smartphone.
• The braking system includes ABS, EBD, and ESP SYSTEMS.
• EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) system distributes the braking force in all four wheels equally to avoid disbalance of the car in the sudden application of brakes.
• ESP (Electronic Stability Program) controls the excessive wheel-slip in the slippery road and prevent roll-over on tight cornering.
• Massive boot capacity (3001), Spacious rear side (enough for 3 members), Xpress cool system,3 Driving Modes Dual front airbags.

NEGATIVES

• Lacks practicality in terms of basic storages like Cup Holder and Side Door space.
• Front View Judgement might affect first-time drivers.

Mahindra xuv300:

Mahindra launched the XUV300 compact SUV in India in February 2019.

Under the hood, the Mahindra XUV300 is available with a choice of two powertrains that include a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. The former produces 109 bhp and 200 Nm of torque while the latter produces 115bhp and 300 Nm of torque. Transmission options include a six-speed manual unit and an AMT unit.

Exterior highlights of the Mahindra XUV300 include projector headlamps with LED DRLs, a grille with chrome inserts, fog lights, contrast silver-coloured skid plates, electrically adjustable ORVMs, LED tail lights, an integrated spoiler, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Mahindra XUV300 comes equipped with a sunroof, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and BlueSense technology, cruise control, steering-mounted controls, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start-stop, and an auto-dimming IRVM. Safety features on the model include seven airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, reverse parking camera, ESP with roll-over mitigation, cornering brake control, TPMS, all four disc brakes, seat-belt reminders, impact sensing auto door unlock, and speed sensing auto door lock.

CONCLUSION:

Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is a 5 seater SUV available in a price range of a 8.61 - 12.59 Lakh. It is available in 7 variants, a 1462 cc engine option and 2 transmission options : Manual and Automatic (Torque Converter). Other key specifications of the S-Cross include a Ground Clearance of 180 mm, Kerb Weight of 1130 kg and Boot Space of 353 litres. The S-Cross is available in 5 colours. The mileage of the S-Cross ranges from 18.43 kmpl to 18.55 kmpl.

Tata Nexon is a 5 seater Compact SUV available in a price range of a 7.42 - 13.74 Lakh. It is available in 70 variants, 1199 to 1497 cc engine options and 2 transmission options : Manual and AMT. Other key specifications of the Nexon include a Ground Clearance of 209 mm and Bootspace of 350 litres. The Nexon is available in 7 colours. The mileage of Nexon ranges from 16 kmpl to 22.4 kmpl.

Given the condition, the best car that will be suitable for Mr. Pughazhyendhii will be TATA NEXON and Maruti Suzuki S Cross for final one.

TATA NEXON Suits all of the requirements of Mr. Pughazhyendhii, His 5 family Members will feel comfortable in this car, thanks to its spaciousness. Also, owing to the traffic in Bangalore, the diesel variant of the car will be more suitable for him for better pickups And better handling. Tata Nexon also comes with major safety upgrades which already gives this car a superior edge over the others. The ample amount of boot space also ensures enough luggage that can be carried by him to Madurai and lastly the Mileage offered is very good. In short TATA NEXON is a value-for-money Product.