Benchmarking
1. What is BENCHMARK?
ANS:- In automotive industry it is a comaprision between similar products,processor service on the same dimension of performance.
EX:- In India different manufacturers have different benchmarks like TATA MOTORS in its safety , MARUTI SUZUKI in mileage , HYUNDAI in fit and finsish and diesel engine refinement, FORD in service and performance, HONDA in petrol engine performance, VW AND SKODA for handeling,etc
Even different Cars have also set a benchmark in certain field like HYUNDAI VERNA for its 1.6 diesel engine refinement and performance, HONDA CITY in petrol engine performance, TATA NEXON and MAHINDRA XUV3OO for safety TOYOTA FORTUNER AND INNOVA for reliability, FORD ENDEAVOR for on-road ride and handeling and off-road capabilty, SKODA RAPID for handeling and performance,etc.
Process benchmarking of this kind can operate at several levels:-
- Between several process in the same factory or service branch.
- Between different factories or service branches.
- Between different competing organization.
- Between different sectors using the same process.
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2. Different vehicle comparision:-
Accordind to budget and numbers of member in family and daily driver as well as for long route with Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii preffernce following cars have been shortlisted for him :-
- TATA NEXON
- MAHINDRA XUV300
- FORD ECOSPORT
- SKODA RAPID RIDER PLUS
1. TATA NEXON
TATA NEXON(****)
KEY FEATURES :-
- RESPONSIVE AND EFFICIENT ENGINES (PETROL AND DIESEL)
- RIDE AND HANDLING BALANCE
- SAFETY FEATURES (ABS, EBD, BA, HILL HOLD, DUAL AIRBAGS, CORNOR ESTABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL) ACROSS THE TRIMS.
- DRIVE MODES(ECO, CITY, SPORT)
Tata motors INDIA'S 3rd largest automotive company had came with a suprime product named NEXON with a great road presence in a mass market segment MINI SUV. It's rivals are mahindra xuv3oo , ecosport. It has diesel and petrol on offer.a turbocharged Petrol engine which is a 3 cylinder 1.2L unit, produces the power of 118 bhp and 170Nm torque , where diesel engine which is a 4 cylinder 1.5L unit, produces 110 bhp and 260Nm torque and both are mated with 6 speed manual and 6 speed AMT. This car gives you a full safety package across the trim of ABS, EBD, BA, HILL HOLD, DUAL AIRBAGS, CORNOR ESTABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, infotainment system with android auto and apple carplay, automatic climate control, drive modes (eco city sport) , day and night IRVM, electric adjustable and retractable orvms , cooled glove box, umbrella holders in door pannel, automatic headlamps and wipers, it also has connected car features .The price comes with a attractive package of ex-showroom 7.09 lakh to 10.69 lakh for petrol and ex-showroom 9.34 lakh to 12.02 lakh for diesel ( all in manual ), automatic comes in ex-showroom 8.59 lakh to 11.29 lakh in petrol and 9.92 lakh to 12.62 lakh. Most VFM varient for nexon is XZ varient for ex-showroom 8.99 for petrol and 10.32 for diesel. This car is one of the safest car in the country with crash test rating of 5 star in GLOBAL NCAP.
BAD ASPECTS:-
- POOR FIT AND FINISH
- INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LOOKS BIT GIMMICK
- DUAL AIRBAGS AT TOP TRIM
MILAGE:-
- ARAI:- 17.4(P) MANUAL
- ARAI:- 16(P) AMT
- ARAI:- 22.4 (D) MANUAL
- ARAI:- 22.4 (D) AMT
- CITY:- 12-14(P)
- CITY:-16-17(D)
- HIGHWAY:-16-18(P)
- HIGHWAY:-20-24(D)
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2. MAHINDRA XUV3OO
MAHINDRA XUV3OO(**)
KEY FEATURES:-
- BEST IN SEGMENT PETROL AND DIESEL ENGINE
- AMAZING LEG ROOM HEAD ROOM FOR FR AND RR
- FEATURE LOADED
- 7 AIRBAGS AT TOP TRIM
MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA has a mass market in SUV segment but they were lacking in sub 4 meter suv , after launching XUV3OO mahindra and mahindra has completed their lineup. XUV3OO is a rebagged car of ssangyong TIVOLI which is a south korean company, with a joint venture mahindra launched XUV3OO. This car is a rival of tata nexon, ford ecosport, hyundai venue.It has both petrol and diesel engine on offer , 1.2L turbocharged petrol which produces 109 bhp and 200Nm torque, where diesel engine produces 115bhp and 300Nm torque,both are mated with 6 speed manual and 6 speed AMT. This car gives you a full safety package across the trim of ABS, EBD, BA, HILL HOLD, 7 AIRBAGS, TRACTION CONTROL, infotainment system with android auto and apple carplay, 2 zone automatic climate control , automatic day and night IRVM, electric adjustable and retractable orvms , cooled glove box, different modes for steering (city, comfort, track), automatic headlamps and wipers. The SUV is a bit higher price of ex-showroom 7.95 lakh to 11.12 lakh in petrol and 8.70 lakh to 11.90 lakh in diesel for manual , for automatic 9.95 lakh to 11.76 lakh for petrol and 10.62 lakh to 12.55 lakh in diesel in ex-showroom. Most VFM varient is W6 9.40 lakh in petrol and 9.99 lakh in lakh in diesel. This is one of the safest car in country with 5 star rating in GLOBAL NCAP.
BAD ASPECTS:-
- HIGH PRICE POINT
- POOR SALES AND SERVICE
- ONLY 259 L BOOT SPACE
MILAGE:-
- ARAI :-17(P) MANUAL/AMT
- ARAI:-20(D) MANUAL /AMT
- CITY :-12-13(P)
- CITY:-15-17(D)
- HIGHWAY:- 16-17(P)
- HIGHWAY:-19-21(D)
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3. FORD ECOSPORT
FORD ECOSPORT(*)
KEY FEATURES:-
- BEST IN CLASS HANDLING
- BEST IN CLASS AUTOMATIC
- 6 AIRBAGS
Back in 2013 ford comes with a great idea of saving taxes in SUV segment with ecosport with sub 4 meter concept, from there this segment has a great hike. It comes with a 1.5L 3 cylinder petrol engine with 121bhp and 149Nm torque and 1.5L diesel engine with 99bhp and 215Nm torque, mated with 5 speed manual and 6 speed torque conveter unit. This car has the least features in its segment but gets all the essential ones like ABS and EBD, DUAL AIRBAGS as standard and top end gets HILL HOLD, TRACTION CONTROL, 6 AIRBAGS, infotainment support andriod auto and apple carplay, connected car features, automatic climate control , automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, autodimming irvm , electric adjustable and retractable orvm,cooled glove box , center arm rest with storage, key less entry. Ex-showroom price of SUV is 7.99 lakh to 11.19 lakh in petrol and 8.69 lakh to 11.50.The VFM varient is TITANIUM ex showroom 9.79 lakh for petrol and 9.99 for diesel.
BAD ASPECTS:-
- REAR ROW NOT VERY COMFORTABLE
- STIFF SUSPENSION SETUP
- LOW PACE PETROL ENGINE
- NO AUTOMATIC IN DIESEL
MILAGE:-
- ARAI:- 21.7 (D) MANUAL
- ARAI:- 15.9(P)MANUAL/AT
- CITY:- 16-17(D)
- CITY:- 10-11(P)
- HIGHWAY:-18-20(D)
- HIGHWAY:- 13-14(P)
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4. SKODA RAPID RIDER PLUS
SKODA RAPID RIDER PLUS(***)
KEY FEATURES:-
- MOST VFM CAR UNDER 10 LAKH
- AFFORDABLE AT
- BEST IN CAR HANDLING
- EXCELLENT LEGROOM, HEADROOM, AND LUGGUAGE AREA
SKODA RAPID is a oldest car among all the above and now it is comes with most VFM price point and features with AT. Rapid comes with a good build quality as it comes from VW group as handling is not a issue. It comes with 1L turbocharged petrol engine which produces 109 bhp and 175 Nm torque mated with 6 speed manual and 6 speed AT.The features it offers is ABS,EBD,BA,SEATBELD REMINDER, ANDROID AUTO APPLE CARPLAY, AUTOMATC CLIMATE CONTROL , ONE TOUCH ALL UP AND DOWN POWER WINDOW, ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE ORVM , MANUAL ADJUST IRVMS, DUAL AIRBAGS. Sedan comes at a attractive price of 8.20 lakh ex-showroom for manual and 9.69 lakh for AT ex-showroom.
BAD ASPECTS:-
- HIGH SERVICE COST
- LESS SERVICE NETWORK
MILAGE:-
- ARAI:- 18.97 MANUAL
- ARAI:-16.24 AT
- CITY:-14 MANUAL
- CITY:- 13 AT
- HIGHWAY:- 17 MANUAL
- HIGHWAY:- 15 AT
CONCLUSION :- The car compared above are one of the best cars in their own field and choosing one is very difficult, at after seeing all the aspects my suggestion to Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii is TATA NEXON is a overall package with ride handling RR comfort and boot space great companion for long drives.
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WHAT IS UNDERBODY COATING?
ANS:- UNDERBODY COATING is a corrosion protective coat done in the underbody and mud flap side area of the car.undercoating include fiberglass, ceramics, rubber, asphalt and silicone.
purpose of underbody coating is to avoid rusting , reduce the tyre noise, insulate heat, avoid damage from stonechips, avoid rusting of fuel tank.
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