Maruti scores hattrick in 2007 J.D. Power APEAL

After topping the charts in customer satisfaction for the 8th consecutive year, Maruti has scored a hat trick with its three models leading their respective segments in India New-Vehicle Design and Performance.

SINGAPORE: 12 December 2007 — Three Maruti models, as well as models from Mahindra-Renault, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda rank highest in their respective segments in new-vehicle design and performance in India, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout StudySM (APEAL) released today.

The study now examines nearly 100 attributes covering 10 vehicle factors: vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); driving dynamics; engine/transmission; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy.

The Mahindra-Renault Logan (entry midsize), Chevrolet Optra (premium midsize), Toyota Innova (MUV/MPV) and Honda CR-V (SUV) each rank highest in their respective segments. The Mahindra-Renault Logan is a new model in 2007, while the Honda CR-V has been redesigned.

The new Maruti Zen Estilo ranks highest in the compact segment with a score of 814 on a 1,000-point scale, and performs particularly well in seven of the 10 factors, including vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; seats; HVAC; engine/transmission; visibility and driving safety; and fuel economy. The Maruti Swift leads the premium compact segment with a score of 787, while the Maruti SX4 ranks highest in the midsize segment with a score of 835.

Earlier:-
For an eighth consecutive year, Maruti Suzuki ranks highest in customer satisfaction with authorized dealership service, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) StudySM released today.


Even in Initial quality Study Maruti models were second to only Chevrolet.
So clearly Maruti deserves its market share of 55% and i guess it would remain the leader for quite some time. Now a thing i would like to mention here is i have found AUTOCAR India to especially biased towards Hyundai in their opinions and reviews conducted in the magazine and also in Hindustan Times Bike&Car section on Wednesdays.

AutoCar India has repeatedly rated Maruti model to lack quality, refinement and resale value especially in their Santro vs Wagon R vs Estilo comparisons. I found it to be completely ridiculous, that Hyundai Santro has a better resale value as compared to Wagon R. Any one who has tried to buy a second hand car would agree that getting a Wagon R is really tough as compared to a Santro. For every Wagon R you would find 7 to 8 Santro which are all priced about 70% to that of a Wagon R in a second had car market.

Related :-
Chevrolet scores in J.D Power Asia Pacific 2007 In Initial Quality Study
Pictures and details of Maruti Suzuki's new World car A-Star
Maruti Suzuki Splash to replace Wagon R in 2008

Read it from J.D. Power here & here

New cars expected soon on Indian roads in 2008

New Car launches for 2008:
Was reading a lot these days about almost every automobile manufacturer bringing in a new model or two by year end or next year in India. Today an article on the Economic times compelled me to write about them. According to The ET atleast 20 new cars would be launched in India by next year end, amongst which the 1 Lakh Tata car also called as The peoples car, is the most hyped about and awaited car.
Update:- Tata 1 lakh car launched.
Picture of Santa Fe

Hyundai:-
The first car that would hit the roads would be Hyundai PA / P-A (i10) which would be positioned between Santro and Getz. Rumors are that the Hyundai Pa might also replace Santro which has been around for quite a while now. Another suv Hyundai Santa Fe is also expected in the fist half. The Santa Fe is available in 2.7 litre 185 bhp and 3.3 litre 242 bhp V6 engines. Price in overseas markets varies from $21,145 to $26,145. The Santa Fe can easily accommodate 7 persons.

Picture of Maruti Suzuki SplashMaruti :-
Maruti would be launching a hatchback called as The Splash in 1.1 / 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 Litre diesel engines and would compete with the Hyndai Pa and would also eat into the market Share of recently launched Zen Estilo and Wagon R if at all it is not discontinued. Another Models would be Swift Sedan and diesel version of sx4.
Update:- Pictures and details of Maruti Suzuki's new A-Star

Picture of Skoda Fabia
Skoda :-
The Skoda Fabia is one of the most comfortable and spacious hatchbacks that has been doing well in the European markets. When launched in India it would be available in 1.2 lite petrol engine and 1.5 lite diesel. The design is extremely attractive and features un heard so far in any of the indian Hatachbacks. It would we priced around 5 to 6.5 lakhs and would compete with Getz, Swift, Uva, Honda Fit/ Jazz.

Picture of honda Fit Jazz
Honda :-
A completely new version of Honda city to take on Verna, SX4, Fiesta, etc. , a new HatchBack The Honda Fit/Jazz. in the small car segment and a new Accord in the premium segment. Honda Fit/Jazz is one spacious hatchback that i am personally waiting for which would be available in 1.4 litre cvt or 1.5 litre vtec engine or both would be real sporty and fun to drive car and very much successful world over.
Mahindra:-
Mahindra & Mahindra will introduce the new 2.2 litre engine for Scorpio (Eagle) in early 2008. A Logan HatchBack is also expected soon which would be as bad as the logan sedan as far as design is concerned but a wide bodied 5 door hatch back and extremely spacious one. And a big Ingenio competing with Toyota Innova.

Picture of Fiat Grande PuntoFiat:-
Fiat would bring in the diesel palio and the much awaited and successful hatchBack The Grande Punto which will have a 75bhp engine same as that in the Maruti swift. It would be another Spacious (Grande) car in the premium small car segment competing with the swift, Fit/Jazz, Getz, etc.
GM:-
Chevrolet Captiva a 5 seater suv with a 2 lite diesel engine capable of pumping 148 bhp and expected price os 20 lakhs in India. I am not very sure how successful this suv would be. But as far as the medium and premium small cars are concerned Indian buyers would be spoilt for choices.
So great year ahead for the 4 wheeler buyers in India. Stay tuned as i will cover each of these cars in greater detail over next few months.

Update:- We can expect to see almost all the new cars for 2008 in the upcoming Auto Expo 2008 in delhi.

Related:-
1) Hyundai launches new car i10
2) Honda Jazz
3) Volkswagen Passat now in India
4) Skoda India launches new Laura Ambiente
5) i10 gets excellent reviews
6) Hyundai i30
7) Suzuki splash to replace wagon R
8) Skoda Fabia launched in India

New Maruti Zen Estilo

Even more confusion.
Last month i was confused and had tough time making a call between Maruti Wagon R and Santro. After visiting both the showrooms and taking the test drives, asking lot of friends for opinions finally decided to book a Wagon R Lxi. BUT then Maruti Udyog introduced the all-new Zen Estilo.
For the first time ever maruti has retired a model completely and introduced a new one.
Estil0 = Style. But technically speaking this is not at all a zen. This more like a funky Wagon R , it also reminds of cute lil Matiz. The Alto, Wagon R and the Zen Estilo are spun off the same platform. The 1061cc 16-valve four-cylinder motor that develops 64 bhp at 6200 revs and 8.5 kgm of torque at 3500 rpm.
The cheapest version of the car will have a showroom price of Rs 319,403 in New Delhi.

So the question is should i consider my self lucky that i havent booked the new WagonR (new withe aggressive styling and face lift) ??? i dont know Because i am confused once again.

Santro / Wagon R / Zen Estilo ???