Automotive Benchmarking

AUTOMOTIVE BENCHMARKING:

Benchmarking is a process of measuring the performance of a company’s products, services, or processes against those of another business considered to be the best in the industry.

By studying companies with superior performance, breaking down what makes such superior performance possible, and then comparing those processes to how your business operates, you can implement changes that will yield significant improvements.

For example, suppose it takes 30 minutes to produce your product. Is the 30-minute measurement good or bad? The only way for you to know is to compare against other data, such as the time it takes another organization to produce a similar product. If another organization can produce the same type of product in less than 30 minutes, you can use their time as a benchmark for measuring your own processes and procedures.

OBJECTIVE OF BENCHMARKING:

The objective of benchmarking is to use the data gathered in your benchmarking process to identify areas where improvements can be made by:

• Determining how and where other companies are achieving higher performance levels than your company has been able to achieve.
• Comparing the competition’s processes and strategies against your own.
• Using the information, you gather from your analyses and comparisons to implement changes that will improve your company’s performance, products, and services.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS OF BENCH MARKING:

1. Select a subject to benchmark.
2. Decide which organisations are companies you want to benchmark.
3. Document the current process.
4. Collect and analyse the data.
5. Measure the performance against the collected data.
6. Create a new plan based on the performance which getting from the benchmark process.
7. Implement the changes

CASE:

Mr. D.S. Pughazhyendhi is married man who lives in Bangalore which is 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 road. Please suggest to him with options so that he will buy a good car for his family.

Note: Pughazhyendhi is fond of big cars.

IMPORTANT POINTS NOTED FROM THE ABOVE CASE:

• D.S. Pughazhyendhi uses his car to commute daily to his office.
• He visits his native place Madurai which is 500kms away from Bangalore.
• He is fond of big cars.
• Number of commuters was 5 members including his child, wife and parents. For this SUV is the best choice because it has a enough space for the seating and have enough space of leg room when they travels a long distance.
• The budget is from 8 to 10 lakhs.
• He lives in Bangalore which is crowded city so the Automatic Transmission is the best choice but due to the budget constraints and for fuel efficiency, manual transmission is preferred.

CARS TO BE PREFFERED:

1. Renault Kiger.
2. Tata Nexon.
3. Maruti Vitara Brezza.
4. Mahindra XUV 300.

RENAULT KIGER:

Renault Kiger is an under 4 meters sub compact SUV vehicle which is suitable for daily commute and also for long drive as well. It is available with Manual and Automatic transmission. The engine capacity is 999cc which is good enough for the 5-seater car which provides a good amount of power and torque for the better riding.

Renault Kiger equipped with advanced safety gear and an accredited Global NCAP safety rating of 4-star for adults and 2-star for child which represent the solid build quality of car.

The Renault Kiger is a tough, dynamic SUV, generously proportioned and luxuriously appointed. The sporty and muscular exterior is pure SUV, while the new Kiger's long-wheelbase gives it plenty of space inside. The smart cabin has been specifically designed to inspire sharing and accessibility.

Key specifications:

• ARAI Mileage – 18.24 kmpl.
• City Mileage – 14.0 kmpl.
• Fuel type – Petrol.
• Engine Displacement – 999cc
• No of cylinder – 3
• Max Power (bhp@rpm) – 98.63bhp@5000rpm.
• Max Torque (nm@rpm) – 152nm@2200-4400rpm.
• Seating capacity – 5
• Transmission type – Manual & AMT.
• Boot Space – 405 Litres.
• Fuel Tank capacity – 40 Litres.
• Body type – SUV.

Safety specifications:

• 4 Airbags.
• ABS & EBD.
• Rear view camera.
• Front parking sensor.

Dimensions:

• Length – 3991mm.
• Width – 1750mm.
• Wheelbase – 2500mm.

Key Features:

• Power steering.
• Anti-Lock Braking System.
• Driver Airbag.
• Automatic Climate Control.
• Multi-function steering wheel.
• Front power windows.
• Air conditioner.
• Passenger airbag.
• Alloy wheels.
• 7-inch Digital Driver’s Display.
• Drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport.
• Push button start/stop.
• LED headlamps.
• Wireless phone charging.
• Cruise control.
• A PM2.5 air filter (standard across the range).

Variants available in Renault Kiger:

The 2022 Renault Kiger is totally available in 5 variants such as RXE, RXL, RXT, RXT(O) and RXZ.

Price:

On road price in Bangalore city starts from 7.25 lakh onwards and changes based on the different variants available in the market.

CRASH TEST REPORT:

PROS:

• The Renault Kigeris one of the stylish, good-looking and feature-loaded cars available in the segment. The plus point of the SUV is its design highlighted by a chrome grille, tri-octa pure vision LED headlamps, alloy wheels, LED taillights, C-shaped LED tail lamps, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, dual-tone body colour options and more.
• The Kiger is available in 4 trims - RXE, RXL, RXT and RXZ, further classified into 24 different grades based on engines, transmission choices and dual-tone options.
• The key highlight of the cabin is the 8.0-inch touchscreen, which gets wireless smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it may not be the biggest in the segment, but it offers a crisp view of the menu, and the touch is tactile.
• The Kiger scores in the performance department as well. The 1.0-litre turbo engine is fun to drive punching out 99 bhp enough for a peppy ride.

CONS:

• The 71 bhp 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor on the Kiger is not the most refined unit out there. Also, there's a slight hint of turbo lag at lower speeds.
• The Kiger is an attractive looking car, however, we can't rule out the excessive use of plastics that have been made to keep the costs low. Though the overall quality is good, however, there are a few areas where plastic becomes scratchy. Soft-touch plastics on the top trim could have a better deal.
• The Renault Kiger also misses out on a sunroof, which is a big drawback here. Its close rivals like the Kia Sonnet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and the Mahindra XUV300 already have sunroof as a feature.
• Also, there's no connected car tech offered on the Kiger, which we believe is a big miss here.

TATA NEXON:

Tata Nexon comes under 4-meter sub compact SUV in the segment. It is the top most selling vehicle in India currently. It designs looks are very aggressive and gives a bolder look. Tata Nexon got 5 stars in Global NCAP crash test which is the first 5 star rated car which is manufactured by Indian car company. It comes with both manual and automatic transmission system.

Tata offers the Nexon in five broad trims: XE, XM, XZ, XZ+, and XZ+(O). The carmaker also offers it in a Dark edition. It is a five-seater sub compact SUV vehicle.

Tata Nexon comes up with two engine displacement types such as 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine (120PS/170NM) and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine (110PS/260NM) which is paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission and an optional 6-speed AMT.

The kerb weight of Tata Nexon is more than 1200 kgs which represents the strongest build quality of the car.

Key Specifications:

• ARAI Mileage – 21.5 kmpl.
• City Mileage – 18.5 kmpl.
• Fuel type – Diesel.
• Engine Displacement – 1497cc
• No of cylinder – 4
• Max Power (bhp@rpm) – 108.49bhp@4000rpm.
• Max Torque (nm@rpm) – 260nm@1500-2750rpm.
• Seating capacity – 5
• Transmission type – Manual & AMT.
• Boot Space – 350 Litres.
• Fuel Tank capacity – 44 Litres.
• Body type – SUV.
• Ground Clearance – 209mm.

Key features:

• Power steering.
• Power windows front.
• Anti-lock braking system.
• Air conditioner.
• Driver airbag.
• Passenger airbag.
• Automatic climate control.
• Alloy wheels.
• Multi-function steering wheel.
• Harman sound system.
• IRA connected car tech.
• Rain sensing wipers.
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android auto and Apple car play.
• Auto AC with rear AC vents.
• Cruise control.
• Digital instrument cluster.
• Ventilated front seats.
• Air purifier.
• An auto dimming IRVA in the top spec variant.

Safety specifications:

• 4 airbags which includes dual front airbags.
• Rear parking sensors.
• ABS with EBD and ESP (Electronic Stability Program).
• ISOFIX child fit anchorages.
• Rear camera.

Dimensions:

• Length – 3993mm.
• Width – 1811mm.
• Wheelbase – 2498mm.

Different types of variants:

The Tata Nexon is available in multiple variant options that include XE, XM, XM(S), XZ, XZ plus, XZ plus dual tone, XZ plus (O), XZ plus (O) dual tone, XZ plus Dark Edition, and XZ plus (O) Dark Edition.

The AMT variant options include XMA, XMA (S), XZA Plus, XZA Plus dual tone, XZA Plus Dark Edition, XZA Plus (S), XZA Plus dual-tone (S), XZA Plus (O), XZA Plus (O) dual tone, and XZA Plus (O) Dark Edition.

Price:

On road price in Bangalore starts from 9.22 lakh onwards and changes with based on the different variants available in the market.

Crash test report of Tata Nexon:

Pros:

• While the Nexon has a quirky exterior design, it comes with one of the most spacious cabins in the subcompact SUV segment.
• The Global NCAP's 5-star safety rating applied to both the pre-facelift and the latest version of the Tata Nexon.
• Depending on the variant, the Nexon also gets decent features like - projector headlights, LED DRLs, alloy wheels, LED taillamps, touchscreen display, and sunroof.
• The 1.5-L diesel engine is not just powerful and refined but is extremely reliable in the long run as well. The driveability of this engine is impressive and the driving mods definitely make it more suitable for almost all the situations.

Cons:

• While the Nexon's cabin is spacious, the plastic and other materials used inside could have been better.
• The Nexon gets a 1.2-L turbocharged petrol engine which puts of decent power output figures for a car of this size. However, the refinement levels of this motor are not great and it does get vocal when pushed hard. In addition, the heavyweight of the vehicle too takes a toll on the overall performance of the car.
• While the slow city ride quality of the new Nexon is decent, it is nowhere close to what we have seen in other Tata cars. The overall ride quality does tend to get a little jiggly on low speeds.

MARUTI VITARA BREZZA:

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was initially launched in Indian market in February 2016. Maruti Vitara Brezza is one the best sub compact SUV vehicle in the segment and a 4-star rated car in Global NCAP. It is one of the premium vehicles from the Maruti Suzuki. It is a 5-seater car.

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is powered by a 1.5-litre K-Series petrol engine that produces 103bhp and 138Nm of torque. It is offered with a five-speed manual transmission and an automatic transmission with Smart Hybrid technology.

Exterior Design: The exterior highlights of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza facelift include projector headlamps with LED DRLs, new grille, new 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, LED tail-lights and a revised rear bumper for freshness.

Interior: The vehicle gets fabric upholstery with an all-black theme. The vehicle gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming IRVM, sliding armrest, cooled glovebox, a reverse parking camera, and the Smart Play infotainment system.

Key specifications:

• ARAI Mileage – 18.76 kmpl.
• Fuel type – Petrol.
• Engine Displacement – 1462cc
• No of cylinder – 4
• Max Power (bhp@rpm) – 103.26bhp@6000rpm.
• Max Torque (nm@rpm) – 138nm@4400rpm.
• Seating capacity – 5
• Transmission type – Manual & AMT.
• Boot Space – 328 Litres.
• Fuel Tank capacity – 48 Litres.
• Body type – SUV.
• Ground Clearance – 198mm.

Key features:

• Power steering.
• Power windows front.
• Anti-lock braking system.
• Air conditioner.
• Driver airbag.
• Passenger airbag.
• Automatic climate control.
• Alloy wheels.
• Fog lights front.
• Keyless entry system.
• Front and rear power windows.
• Electrically adjustable ORVM.
• Cruise control system.
• Multi information display with Tripmeter and fuel level indicator.

Safety features:

• Anti-theft security system.
• Reverse parking sensor with infographic display.
• ISOFIX child seat restraint system.
• Reverse parking camera.
• ABS with EBD.
• Hill hold.
• Child-proof rear door locks.

Dimensions:

• Length – 3995mm.
• Width – 1790mm.
• Wheelbase – 2500mm.

Different types of variants available:

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is offered in 9 variants namely LXI, VXI, ZXI, ZXI Plus, VXI AT, ZXI Plus Dual Tone, ZXI AT, ZXI Plus AT, ZXI Plus AT Dual Tone. The cheapest Maruti Vitara Brezza variant is the LXI which has a price tag of Rs. 7.84 Lakh while the most expensive variant is the Maruti Vitara Brezza ZXI Plus AT Dual Tone which commands a price of Rs. 11.49 Lakh.

Price:

On road price of Maruti Vitara Brezza in Bangalore starts from 9.57 lakh onwards and the price varies with respect to the different types of variants.

Crash test report:

Pros:

• The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has a conventional SUV design giving it a bold stance as well as a great road presence. The overall aesthetics are underlined by the chrome grille, LED projector headlights, LED DRLs, diamond cut alloys, roof rails and more.
• The SUV comes equipped with features like Smart Play Studio 2.0 touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and navigation. Other key features are automatic climate control, push start-stop button, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, and cruise control.
• The Vitara Brezza comes equipped with dual front airbags, Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist, parking sensors and seatbelt reminder making it one of the safest SUVs in its segment. In fact, it has already received a four-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test.
• The automatic variant of the Vitara Brezza is the most fuel-efficient offering in its class returning fuel efficiency of 18.75 kmpl while the manual version delivers a frugal 17.03 kmpl.

Cons:

• While the Vitara Brezza comes loaded with several features, there's no sunroof on offer. In fact, most of its rivals in the segment get one.
• The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza also misses out on connected car tech. We think this is a big miss, considering there's a big demand for the same.
• The 4-speed torque converter on the Vitara Brezza is outdated now and feels a bit sluggish. A slicker, more engaging gearbox would have been an attractive deal here.
• No diesel engine on offer. Most of its rivals get a diesel engine offering an option for customers to choose a powertrain as per their needs.

MAHINDRA XUV 300:

The Mahindra XUV 300 is one the best compact SUV in the segment. Mahindra launched XUV 300 compact SUV in India in February 2019.

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 109bhp and 200Nm of torque while the latter produces 115bhp and 300Nm of torque. Transmission options include a six-speed manual unit and an AMT unit.

The Mahindra XUV gives a bolder look and road presence in appearance and also got 5-star rated in Global NCAP which represents the best build quality in the segment. It is a 5-seater car. And it also had 7 air bags in top end variant.

Depending upon the variant and fuel type the XUV300 has a mileage of 17.0 to 20.0 kmpl & Ground clearance of XUV300 is 180mm

Key specifications:

• ARAI Mileage – 20 kmpl.
• City Mileage – 20kmpl.
• Fuel type – Diesel.
• Engine Displacement – 1497cc
• No of cylinder – 4
• Max Power (bhp@rpm) – 115bhp@3750rpm.
• Max Torque (nm@rpm) – 300nm@1500-2500rpm.
• Seating capacity – 5
• Transmission type – Manual & AMT.
• Boot Space – 259 Litres.
• Fuel Tank capacity – 42 Litres.
• Body type – SUV.
• Ground Clearance – 180mm.

Key features:

• Electric Sunroof with anti-pinch.
• Front parking sensors (Segment First).
• Cruise control.
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with android auto and apple car play.
• Rain sensing wipers.
• Longest wheelbase (2600mm) which have a bigger space of interior cabin.
• Auto AC and connected car tech.
• Multi-functional steering wheel.
• Adjustable boot floor.
• Adjustable headrest for 2^nd row middle seat.
• Smart watch connectivity.
• Electrically adjustable ORVMs.
• Auto dimming IRVM.

Safety features:

• 5-star rating in GNCAP.
• ESP with roll over mitigation.
• Hill start assist.
• Front parking sensors.
• ABS with EBD.
• Corner braking control.
• ISOFIX/child seat anchors.

Dimensions:

• Length – 3995mm.
• Width – 1821mm.
• Wheelbase – 2600mm.

Different types of variants:

The Mahindra XUV 300 offered in 4 variants such as W4, W6, W8 and W8 (O).

Price:

The on road price of Mahindra XUV 300 in Bangalore city starts from 10.23 lakh onwards and the price varies with respect to the different variants.

Crash test report:

Pros:

1. Ride and Handling -

The XUV300 boasts the longest wheelbase and is also the widest car in the segment. This provides this car with great driving dynamics. While the long wheelbase gives the Mahindra XUV300 supreme high-speed stability, the wide track makes it a fun car while tackling tight corner at significant speeds. In addition to this, the overall suspension setup of the XUV300 gives the car commendable ride and handling balance. The ride quality of the vehicle is definitely one of the best in the segment.

Moreover, the variable steering settings also help the driver have better control over the vehicle in various situations. The hardcore driving enthusiasts will definitely love the overall driving dynamics of the XUV300. The visibility from the driver's seat too is impressive and one of the best in the segment.

2. Safety Features and Equipment

The XUV300 scored a perfect five-star rating in the GNCAp safety tests and is also the safest 'Made in India' car currently sold in India. In addition to this, the Mahindra XUV300 also happens to be the only car in the segment to feature disc brakes in all four wheels s standard and seven airbags on the top variant. Other standard features include the availability of ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard across the range. The build quality of the vehicle is definitely one of the best in the segment which also gets cars like the Tata Nexon.

3. Premium, Well-Built, and a Comfortable Cabin

The fit and finish levels inside the cabin are commendable and the quality of the plastic feels premium. In all, the cabin feels solid and will definitely age well over the ownership years. In addition, the XUV300 is also the first car in the segment to offer dual-zone climate control in the higher variants. The seats are extremely comfortable and provide class-leading comfort to the passengers. There are a lot of storage spaces inside the cabin which makes it an extremely practical car for everyday usage. Moreover, the overall sound insulation is great and the passengers are not disturbed by the external sounds.

4. Powerful Engines

Powering the XUV300 are two engine options which include a 1.2-L turbo-petrol engine and a 1.5-L diesel engine. Both, the petrol as well as the diesel engine boast a class-leading torque output of 200 N and 300 Nm respectively. The refinement from these engines is impressive and the turbo-lag too is almost negligible. This makes this vehicle a great companion during urban commute as well as on the highways

Cons:

1. Boot Space

With a boot carrying capacity of 257 litres, the XUV300 gets a smaller boot when compared to its rivals. In addition to this, the loading bay is comparatively high which not only takes a toll on the overall boot space but also makes it difficult to load and unload heavy luggage. On the positive side, the boot is wide and offers a lot more usable space than most other cars.

2. White Interiors

The dual-tone white-black colour scheme inside the XUV300 makes it look premium and airy but can be difficult to maintain in the longer run. While the white colour looks extremely upmarket, it does get soiled very easily.

3. Missing Features

While the car comes with a long list of features, a few essential and feel-good features like rear ac vents, wireless charging, front-seat ventilation and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel are missing from the package. The rear parcel tray too is absent, even on the top variant and is offered as an optional add-on.

4. No Proper Automatic Gearbox

Those who are wanting to buy a petrol automatic version of the car will have to wait as the rumours suggest that the brand is working on launching a new petrol auto variant of the XUV300. Currently, there are no automatic variants on offer [as of Dec 2020] for the petrol-powered trims of the XUV300 while a 6-speed AMT can be had with the diesel engine.

Conclusion:

By comparing the above 4 models of cars from different brands, I would suggest Tata Nexon for Mr.D.S. Pughazhyendhi’s Family. Because tata Nexon offering best and more important features in tech and safety than the other 3 models and Mahindra XUV 300 also offers close to the Tata Nexon but some features are missing and the price is expensive than the Nexon.

The Tata Nexon is the 5-star rated car in GNCAP which is safest car in the compact SUV segment and it is also having the well spacious interior cabin which gives a comfortable journey for the passengers.