Benchmarking

                                                                                                        BENCHMARKING

What is Benchmarking?

            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. Here we are benchmarking few cars based on a case study.

                                                                 

CASE:

Benchmark with presently available cars in the market for the following 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 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 with options so that he will buy a good car for his family.

Note: Pughazhyendhii  is fond of big cars

                                                

STUDY REPORT:

            Here we are selecting four compact SUVs as Mr. Pughazhyendhii's family consists of five members and they often used to travel to their hometown which is 500km away from their current home. Also, Mr. Pughazhyendhii needs to use the car to commute to his office daily through Bangalore's traffic. It had mentioned that he is fond of big cars and budget falls between 8 to 10 lakhs on road. So, a compact SUV will be suitable for satisfying all these needs.

                                             

                         MODEL                           VARIANT

               1)  Mahindra XUV300             (1.2 W4)

               2)  Ford EcoSport                 (Ambiente 1.5L Ti-VCT)

               3)  TATA Nexon                      (XM)

               4)  Kia Sonet                        (HTE 1.5)

                  The Cars were selected by roughly estimating the Current on-road price. We are comparing these cars based on the factors such as seating and boot capacity, safety, price, fuel efficiency, torque, power, transmission, fuel tank capacity, comfort, etc.

1) Mahindra XUV300

                    This model takes its cues from the bigger XUV500 in terms of headlamp design and the characteristic tear duct lines. The squared-off bonnet and shoulder line is complemented with Mahindra’s chrome-finished grille and LED daytime running light. Similar to the Tivoli, the XUV300 gets a flared wheel arches design but at the rear, the taillights are completely new. Compared to the wrap-around design seen on the Tivoli, the XUV300 gets an LED taillights that look modern and get a very European design. The five-spoke 17-inch designer wheels gels well with the overall stance of the XUV300. Under the hood, the XUV300 will be offered with both petrol and diesel drivetrain options. We expect the same 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine from the Marazzo which produces 121bhp/300Nm to be joined by a 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

2) Ford Ecosport

                         EcoSport’s powerful new engine is designed to deliver superior performance on every road. Providing power at 122PS (90kW) and torque numbers of 149 Nm, this three-cylinder engine puts fun on your side. Changing gears is easier than ever in EcoSport. The Paddle Shift lever, right on the steering wheel, allows you to make the most out of EcoSport's 6 Speed Automatic Transmission. With the variety of benefits that the 2020 Ford EcoSport provides, it could be recommended as a commuter vehicle or even a family-friendly choice. Though it doesn't offer the most power, it can certainly provide quite a significant amount of city-handling that makes it a wise choice for both of these areas.

                            

                                                                                           

3) TATA Nexon

                     Tata Nexon is a compact SUV from the Indian automaker. Launched, in 2017, it received a facelift in 2019 and is offered across eight trim levels with BS6 compliant powertrain and added equipment. On the inside, the Nexon continues to be spacious with its well-laid-out cabin. You’ve got a revised instrument cluster with an all-digital readout. The floating infotainment screen gets mobile connectivity features as well. Apart from the new upholstery, the Nexon’s updated cabin also packs in new equipment to get it up to the mark with the competition. This includes a sunroof, fast mobile charger, rain-sensing wipers, and cruise control to name a few. It also has five Star G-NCAP safety rating.

                       

                       

                        

4) KIA Sonet

                   Kia’s X-factor with the Sonet is the segment-first automatic with the 1.5-liter diesel engine. The engine is refined, offers strong torque through the mid-range, which makes city driving a breeze. You would choose a diesel because you want to save up on the fuel bill by the month-end. Claimed at 24 kmpl, moderate driving will deliver around 18 on a regular note. Sonet also comes in 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol eng. Sonet has an easy-going, unhurried attitude on the move. Available in 6 Speed MT (100 PS Power) and First-in Segment (115 PS Power) 6 Speed Advance AT. Power is what drives the Kia Sonet to new adventures.

                     

                     

Comparison between Four Cars:

                           The four cars have to be compared with a variety of features in the following state...,

                     

                     Specifications:

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                   

                      Features:

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                      

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

Therefore, After doing deep research and considering the above data due to the following reasons, TATA NEXON satisfies the requirements of Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendl:

• Considering the Indian roads and their speed breakers and his fondness for big cars the SUV was selected.
• The TATA Nexon was selected because the SUV provides multi modes, which give the driver a stress-less drive in city traffics and can change his modes for his requirements.
• The ARAI-certified mileage of 17.4 kmpl with petrol will be more economical while having a long trip.
• The safety features of the Nexon will be an added advantage when compared to the competitors.
• The 5 stars rated SUV will also support the budget from 8 to 10 lakhs.
• Also, TATA Nexon is Indian made.

CONCLUSION:

                     I will suggest Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhii to buy TATA NEXON XM. The 5 stars rated SUV by the Global NCAP will be a good choice as per his budget and the car comes with multiple modes which give an extra-ordinary mileage up to 17.4 kmpl with petrol as per ARAI. For his office use, the Nexon will also give a classy look and the SUV will help him to have a stress-less driving after work. The NEXON stands apart in safety compared to its competitors like MAHINDRA XUV300, Kia Sonet, etc. Since Pughazhyendhi is fond of big cars the SUV features a bigger outlook and the outstanding mileage will make him happier when he visits his native place Madurai.