Comparison: 2015 VW Jetta Facelift - New vs Old

New vs Old VW Jetta

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta facelift comes with a handful of really subtle styling changes. It feels fresh but not really an all-new sedan. With the growing competition in the D segment, Volkswagen definately needed to push its four year old more aggressively. Now to understand what all has actually changed and improved in the new VW, we pit it against the outgoing car. It is a photo comparison between the old vs new Jetta based on the picture gallery below.

For the exterior, the refreshed Jetta receives a new three-slat radiator grille which lends a touch of boldness to the front fascia just like its big brother VW Passat. The front bumper has also been redesigned to accommodate wider looking air-intakes and new rectangular fog lights.

The bonnet and the side fenders are carried forward to the new car untouched. Moreover there are no noticeable changes to 2015 Jetta's side profile except for the new design alloy wheels.

At rear-end of the face-lifted Jetta the most noticeable upgrade is definately the new Audi-like LED tail-lamps. Other changes include a new redesigned boot lid which gives the backend of the car a more cleaner look. Also the rear bumper gets subtle revisions and new reflectors.

Comparing the interior of 2015 Jetta against the outgoing car, we find that the new cabin now comes with a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel just like the one used on VW Polo & Vento and the center console gets updated touchscreen infotainment system with a new piano black surrounds. There aren't any significant changes made to trim and upholstery but expect a possible option between all black and dual-tone interiors.

Overall the new facelifted 2015 VW Jetta is a familiar sight as the changes made to it seems to be more of an attempt to bring it in line with the VW family look. They are subtle and mainly cosmetic but surely helps to give the new car a fresh look and appeal.

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Video: Kawasaki Ninja 300 vs KTM RC 390

Ninja 300 vs RC 390

Kawasaki India launched the Ninja 300 in 2013 and since then has created big fan following for itself. The RC 390 is the full faired version of the Duke 390 and is relatively new entrant in the Indian motospace. While the engine specs are not similar but still they are the closest competitors attracting same segment of buyers. Also there is a big price difference between the two here whereas in international market the KTM and Kawasaki are priced very close to each other and are considered direct rivals.

Recently guys at Motorbeam pitted the KTM RC 390 against the Kawasaki Ninja 300 in a head to head battle and what follows is a crisp video review analyzing the strengths of both the machines. But we feel not everyone will agree with their conclusion.

Read more on: Auto News

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Comparison: 2015 Hyundai Verna Facelift - New vs Old

New vs Old Hyundai Verna

Hyundai Verna known as Solaris or Accent internationally has been appreciated for its fluidic looks and feature-rich cabin. It ruled the C+ segment of India auto market till the all new Honda City was launched in 2014. Now it plans to reclaim its top position with a new 2015 facelifted version. Here we will try and find how deep the changes are by comparing 2011 Verna with 2015 Verna facelift.

Looking at the front fascia comparison photo, it is clear that refreshed Verna gets a 2015 Sonata inspired face. It now comes with projector headlamps which seem to go deeper into the all-new front bumper. The trapezoidal front grille is replaced with a dual-slat chrome grille. Even the airdam is wider and lower now. The LED daytime running lights(DRL) are now missing from the headlamps and the fog lights get a boomerang shape.

The side profile of the car continues unchanged with same glasshouse. On comparing the rear we found very minimal changes. Facelifted Verna comes with similar shaped taillight but now sport LED like effect as seen in the Elite i20. Rear bumper has been redesigned with new contours, black lower lip and new reflectors.

This cosmetic update will help Hyundai Verna get over its mid-life crisis to reclaim top position and would ensure revived sales momentum for few years till the all new next generation model takes over.

Read more on: Hyundai

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Comparison: Tata Bolt Vs Indica Vista - 3 Mistakes

 
Bolt along with Zest is Tata’s make-or-break product. None of its hatchbacks like Indica Vista or sedans have been able to stand against the competition and the sales figure also tell the same story.

When a company faces such a critical situation it either gives up or fights back. Bolt is Tata’s fight back product. A product that Tata hopes will revive its fortunes in the automobile segment. Click here to read Tata Bolt Review

Front 3-Quarter: Tata Bolt vs Vista

Rear 3-Quarter: Tata Bolt vs Vista

Side Profile: Tata Bolt vs Indica Vista

Front: Tata Bolt vs Indica Vista

Dashboard: Tata Bolt vs Indica Vista

We expected that a car model carrying the whole burden of a company’s success would be built ground up to take it a quantum leap ahead of its predecessors. No doubt Tata has worked very hard to create a great product and to a large extent they have succeeded. But the first spontaneous reaction on seeing Bolt is ‘it looks to be a better Indica’ instead of ‘it’s better than Indica’. Bolt could have been a stronger product with a more individual identity had Tata done ’3 things’ differently. Things that would have helped them completely break away from the Indica image. We call them as “3 Mistakes”.

Mistake 1: Tata Bolt is built on the Indica Vista’s X1 platform. And yes, Tata has spent lot of time and effort to thoroughly re-engineer it before using it for Bolt (and Zest). But X1 is not a modular or a very flexible architecture. So using it as a base for the new car to ride on has vastly limited the possibilities for Tata designers to come up with a completely fresh design that would have given Bolt a radically new look. That’s the reason why we see a reflection of Vista in Bolt.

Mistake 2: Looking at the comparison photos specially the side profile, you will clearly notice that Bolt carries the same Vista glasshouse without any change. Sharing the same glasshouse means that the top half of both the cars will look the same. Glasshouse includes the windshield, rear and side windows, the pillars separating them (A, B & C) and the car's roof. So even though comprehensive sheet-metal changes have been made and new body panels added but still Bolt has that unmistakable Indica in it.

Mistake 3: The new 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine uses only two-valves-per-cylinder instead of the usual four. This will make it difficult for the engine to breathe under hard driving. Moreover this is not a completely new motor since it is based on the 1.2 Xeta engine that was used in petrol Indica. Tata aims to attract the youth with the aggressive looks of Bolt, the same segment that never felt attracted to the Indica range of vehicles. But this engine is not sophisticated enough to deliver an enthusiastic drive and may thus become another reasons for the intended segment of customers to move to the high powered competition.

Its always easier to point out mistakes in something new than fixing them. But still in the current situation Tata can’t afford to make any mistakes as they may not get another chance if Bolt fails to do well. Tata Motors could have made a better use of this opportunity to completely redefine what they stand for. Bolt has all the ingredients to be a great success in the hatchback segment if only it doesn’t get dragged by its makers past, Indica image.

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Comparison: Audi Q7 New vs Old - How Different

Audi's New Q7 vs Old Q7

The second generation Audi Q7 crossover for the year 2015-2016 is here. A casual look at the new SUV may not reveal much as majority of changes have been made under the skin. So to help you put things in perspective we have created a pictorial comparison between New Audi Q7 versus Old Audi Q7.

Audi Q7 Exterior: New Vs Old
Audi has not played much with its trademark conservative design approach while building the new version of its flagship SUV. There is nothing revolutionary about the exterior of the 2016 Q7 when compared with the earlier generation. But yes it does look sleeker and more youthful than before.

Side Profile: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Front: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Rear: Audi Q7 New vs Old

The designers at Audi managed to make it appears lower, wider and longer giving it a more wagon like look even though it is 1.5 inches shorter, 0.6 inch narrower and of same height.

This has been made possible with help of innovative design elements like lowering the front end of the new Q7 to make it appear less massive than the 1st gen model. Other styling cues include a sharper rendition of Audi's hexagonal shaped single frame radiator grille (as on face-lifted Audi Q3), a gently tapering roofline making the SUV appear lower than before and a more pronounced side profile crease giving it a more chiseled look.

Q7’s front and rear appear more edgy in comparison to the rounded looks of the outgoing model. The headlight housing has been completely redesigned into a more angular design packed with matrix LED clusters similar to those on the Audi TT. The LED DRLs inside the head lamp are shaped like a double arrow, lending it a sharper look. Taillights have become rectangular and now come with dynamic turn signals. Also new at the back is the redesigned license plate enclosure and the twin exhaust unit which is now rectangular. The wide tailgate has been carried over from the previous model.

Overall, the next generation Audi Q7 looks more macho than before but at the same time it has that pretty vibe to it, which is definitely new.

Audi Q7 Interior: New Vs Old
Audi claims that its 2016 SUV not only offers more headroom, but also features a longer cabin. There is an additional 0.8 inches between the first and second rows of seats, and head room has increased by 1.6 inches and 0.9 inches in the first and second rows, respectively.

Dashboard: Audi Q7 New vs Old

One of the most striking differences between the old and the new Q7 is the all-new dashboard design giving it a virtual cockpit feel. It comes with a minimalist design theme with only a few buttons visible, a 7 inch screen that rises from the dash and Audi TT sports car inspired digital instrument cluster. All the drama is further enhanced by the VW Passat borrowed HVAC vent louver that appears to stretch through dashboard’s entire width even though the actual air openings are still in the usual locations.

Audi Q7 Hidden Changes: New Vs Old
Audi has successfully managed to lower the new Q7’s overall center of mass by 2 inches, thus greatly improving big SUV’s handling abilities. This has been achieved primarily by mounting the engine lower in the chassis in comparison to the first generation model.

Front 3-Quarter: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Rear: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Front: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Dashboard: Audi Q7 New vs Old

Another significant improvement has been in reducing the wind resistance or the co-efficient of drag from 0.37 to 0.32. It has been largely achieved by fine tuning the exterior elements along with the underbody that’s almost completely lined. This makes the new Audi Q7 much more aerodynamic than the 1st generation model and more fuel efficient as well.

The 1st generation Q7 shared a platform with the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne. But since it was never offered with a low-range transfer case, its off-road capabilities were always limited. For the new generation Q7, Audi has switched to Volkswagen’s latest MLB Evo platform. Infact Q7 is the first SUV to make use of this advance platform and this has enabled Audi to offer loads of comfort and assistance systems previously unavailable in the vehicle.

Thanks to the new lightweight MLB modular-longitudinal architecture along with the use of ultra-high-strength steel, and the extensive use of aluminum, the new Q7 is about 325 kilograms lighter in 3.0 TDI form than its predecessor. This makes it more agile on and off road as well as more fuel efficient.

2016 Audi Q7 comes with a new all-wheel steering system. This system uses an electric spindle to turn the rear wheels by as much as 5 degrees and helps enhance the steering response. At low speeds the rear wheels steer opposite the front wheels, making the vehicle easy to park while also reducing the turning radius by up to 3.3 feet. At higher speeds the rear wheels follow the movement of the front wheels to aid stability. Thus you can expect the new Audi Q7 to be more maneuverable in comparison to last generation model.

For the first time buyers will have an option to get their new Q7 in diesel plug-in hybrid mode along with conventional options. It will come with a 3.0-liter TDI V6, electric motor, and 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. It’s the first plug-in to use a diesel V6 and all-wheel drive.

1st generation Audi Q7 crossover ruled the roads for almost 8 years. The new 2015-2016 Audi Q7 is better in every way. It rides on a new advance platform, is much lighter than before, has more cabin space with loads of technology fed into it and seems determined to conquer new frontiers.

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Survey: Maruti-Suzuki India’s Most Trusted Auto Brand

Trust is a complex concept to be measured and even more difficult to earn and maintain. Brand loyalty thrives on trust and higher this rating goes more consumers follow the brand. As per 'The Trust Report, India Study 2012', compiled by the Brand Trust Advisory, Maruti Suzuki is India’s most trusted automotive brand. Now that can’t be called a surprising revelation since it’s already a well known fact the Maruti commands lots of respect and trust in India and its reflection can be seen in its annual sales figure.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Alto has been rated as the top two most trusted cars and BMW leads the list of luxury car brands followed by Audi. Interestingly as per the report the second and third largest automobile maker in India, the Hyundai Motor and Tata Motors could not make it to the list of top ten trusted automotive manufacturers. Come on now, the quality of cars from Hyundai and Tata has improved a lot in recent years but it seems that even in the past year people continued to suspect cars from these brands.

"The report measures 61 tangible and intangible aspects of brand trust, which combine to encompass all positive behaviours and attitudes toward a brand," Trust Research Advisory CEO N Chandramouli said.

The survey was conducted between August-November 2011 and took into account the responses and views on 17,000 brands from over 2,700 participants across 15 cities in the country and has featured top 1,000 brands from several categories.

What we are more concerned about here is how our automotive brands performed on the trust factor. So checkout below the list of top ten automotive brands as per the Brand Trust Report 2012 which have managed to gain and maintain the trust of people of India all through the year of 2011.

Source: TrustAdvisory
Read More On: Maruti-Suzuki

Rank	Brand	Category
1	Maruti-Suzuki	Four-Wheeler
2	BMW	Luxury Cars
3	Hero Honda	Two-Wheeler
4	Toyota	Four-Wheeler
5	Honda	Four-Wheeler
6	Ford	Four-Wheeler
7	Audi	Luxury Cars
8	Skoda	Four-Wheeler
9	Hero	Two-Wheeler
10	Yamaha	Two-Wheeler

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Comparison: Maruti Suzuki Ertiga vs Toyota Innova - The Inevitable Competitors

Maruti Suzuki has entered the multi-purpose vehicle market with the launch of its Ertiga MPV at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The new Ertiga kick starts a new compact premium UV (utility vehicle) segment in India and will soon be joined by Chevrolet, Mahindra and others. So before the new players join the party let’s compare the pioneer of the mini MPV class, Ertiga with the ruling boss of this segment, the new Toyota Innova.

Pitching the new Ertiga (which means three rows in Indonesian language) against the recently facelifted Toyota Innova seems odd since they don’t belong to the same segment and are targeted at a different set of customer base. But going by the lack of options for MPV buyers in our automobile market the Ertiga vs Innova duel won’t feel out of place. The Utility Vehicle (UV= MPV + SUV) segment accounts for around 14 per cent of the total sale of vehicles in India and a 66 per cent of these are Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV), the segment where Ertiga is positioned.

(Checkout a detailed pictorial comparison between Ertiga and Innova below).

Innova has been ruling Indian hearts for many years due to its proven reliability and workhorse powerplant. Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga is new but coming from the stable of India’s largest automobile manufacture gives it a certain halo of trust in the eyes of masses. Though an MPV, the Ertiga has a very car-like styling and stance. The front resembles a buffed up Ritz hatchback while the peeled-back headlights are reminiscent of the new Swift which along with the pronounced wheel arches and a strong rising shoulder line gives it a bold stance. The rear has a distinct design with Honda Jazz like tail light. But it can still be easily identified from behind as a Maruti product with its trademark centrally located stop lamp at the bottom of the bumper.

With the launch of its Ertiga, Maruti not only intends to attract a new class of customers into its fold but also expects to take away many of the Toyota buyers who used to shop in the ‘Innova market’. Now that’s easier said than done. Ertiga does not make a style statement like say the Fluidic Hyundai but its appeal lies in the neutral ‘please all’ design and that’s what is going to help it be the choice of the whole family. So let’s try to decipher the new Ertiga while not forgetting what Innova has to offer.

Ertiga vs Innova: Target Base.

Toyota Innova is designed to move 7 people in comfort and can accommodate the 8th passenger in times of need. That’s one of the reasons what makes it a hit in the taxi segment as well as for personal use. Checkout Ertiga and you’ll find that it’s built to enable 6 people (4 adults + 2 kids) to travel together in peace and can still find space for one more rider if required. So what set of customers is Maruti Suzuki aiming at with its new MPV? Answer is - a conventional Indian middle class family with an average income and in need of space for 1 or 2 more people than what a usual hatchback or sedan can accommodate. Generally speaking, a complete family normally consists of 5 or 6 members: Parents (2) in age group 55-75yrs, self and spouse (age 25-45) and their 2 offspring’s (age 5-15). Till now people of this segment had to either choose a large 3 row SUV (15-20lakh) or had to stretch their budget to atleast the Innova territory. So with launch of Ertiga, Maruti intends to hit the sweet spot of Indian customers looking for a MUV at a price of a mid-size sedan.

Ertiga vs Innova: Structural Advantage.

Toyota cars are built to last and have comfortable interiors but boring looks and Innova is no different. Maruti Suzuki made vehicles are known to be value for money, practical by design and are loved for their highly fuel efficient motor and pleasing looks and Ertiga carries on this tradition. Technically speaking Innova is based on the old body on frame construction architecture and due to the inherent rigidity of this structure it can endure bad roads better. Ertiga on other hand is a modern MPV based on an extended Ritz platform, which itself is based on a modified Swift platform. Due to this monocoque construction it gets advantage over Innova in terms of better ride comfort, stability and handling.

Ertiga vs Innova: Space vs Utility.

Dimension Innova Ertiga Length (mm) 4585 4265 Width (mm) 1760 1695 Height (mm) 1760 1685 Wheelbase (mm) 2750 2740 Boot (liter) 400 135

The inside of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga looks spacious and a lot of credit for it goes to the all beige interior colour. It has 3 rows of seats just like a traditional MPV with a maximum capacity to carry 7 passengers at a time. But realistically speaking, shoulder room will be at a premium if 3 adults decide to sit in the middle row since Ertiga is only as wide as the all-new 2011 Swift. The seats of the middle row can slide forward/backward as required. The 3rd row is best left to kids or really short adults. Legroom & head-room are in extremely short supply there. Notice that the 2nd row seat has a 60:40 fold-down split. You can also completely fold down the 2nd and 3rd row of seats when more than 135 liter of boot space is needed. Ertiga is no match for the amount of room including the luggage space you get inside a full size MPV like Innova. On comparing the outer dimensions you will notice that Toyota is longer by quite a margin even though both have almost the same size of wheelbase. This is due to the fact that Ertiga has very short overhang and the loss of space inside make its proportions compact on outside. And a smaller body shell allows lots of flexibility to park and maneuver easily even in congested areas, giving it an edge over Innova.

Ertiga vs Innova: Engine & Fuel Efficiency.

Comparison	Innova (Diesel)	Ertiga (Diesel)	Innova (Petrol)	Ertiga (Petrol)
Power (ps)	102	90	132	95
Torque (Nm)	200	200	181	130
Fuel Economy (ARAI Kmpl)	12.99	20.77	10.35	16.02

Just like Innova, Maruti’s new UV also comes in both petrol and diesel versions. Suzuki’s highly acclaimed K-series petrol engine family is joined by its youngest member with the debut of the new K-14B VVT 1.4 liter petrol motor in Ertiga. But the main volumes puller will however be the 1.3 Liter DDiS Fiat derived Multijet turbo diesel engine, which is the same unit that powers the SX4. Its pulling torque power is equal to Innova’s 200Nm even though net power is lower. But being a smaller and lighter vehicle gives Maruti Ertiga the advantage of higher power to weight ratio and better mileage.

Ertiga vs Innova: Market Price.
Maruti Suzuki has the bandwidth to price Ertiga very competitively due to its large scale of operation, high amount localization and lots of component sharing like extended Ritz chassis and a specially tuned SX4 diesel engine. Also its dashboard is lifted straight out of new 2011 Swift..well almost. So a starting price of 6.5 to 7 lakhs should not be a surprise. New face-lifted 2012 Toyota Innova now comes with a base price of Rs 8,87,400. Now that’s quite a price difference but don’t forget that Innova is much bigger and more powerful than Ertiga.

Ertiga vs Innova: Conclusion.
By now it is clear that no matter in how much detail we try and compare Maruti Ertiga with Innova, the bottomline always remains the same i.e. both MPVs are different and by comparing one with other we do justice with none. Pitching Innova against Ertiga is just like comparing the mighty Ford Endeavour with the compact Skoda Yeti SUV. Ertiga and Innova are vehicles of different segment. Innova already rules the large MPV market and Ertiga don’t have any rivals yet to compete against in the compact MPV segment. But that is going to change soon when manufactures like Chevrolet, Renault, Nissan, Mahindra etc come to the market with their own version of mini MPV.

Read More On: Maruti-Suzuki

Photo Gallery: New Maruti Suzuki Ertiga vs Facelifted 2012 Toyota Innova

Ertiga vs Innova Front Side View

Ertiga vs Innova Front Grill, Headlight, Fog Lamp

Ertiga vs Innova Dashboard, Steering Comparison

Ertiga vs Innova Interior Space Comparison

Ertiga vs Innova Boot Space Comparison

Ertiga vs Innova Boot Space with 3rd Row Folded

Ertiga vs Innova Rear Comparison. Notice Bottom Lamp.

Ertiga vs Innova Front Profile View

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Facelift Spied & Compared

Chevrolet Cruze has been GM’s most successful model in India since its launch in mid-2009. But competition has been getting stronger with the launch of all-new VW Jetta, a refreshed Toyota Corolla and the upcoming debut of next generation 2012 Honda Civic this year. So with the heat rising in this segment Chevy can’t just sit back and enjoy its success. For quite sometime now we have been hearing about how GM intends to improve back seat comfort in Cruse and may launch facelift version this year. What you see here is the first clear photo of the new face of Cruze, thanks to our reader Mohitu who mailed it to us.

So going by this spy pic we can expect the facelift version to come with significant modifications to the front bumper design. The most obvious change is seen in the grille that no longer adopt the honeycomb model but horizontal lines that reinforce its character. Lower grille has been replaced with a single integrated slat. The fog light surrounds have a triangular shape, a bit like a Camry and includes LED daytime running lights.

Now all these changes are expected in the 2012 American version of Cruze facelift but how much will get filtered down to Indian spec is yet to be seen.

Read More On: Chevrolet

Spy Photos: 2012-2013 Chevrolet Cruze Facelift Comparison

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Survey: Honda Cars Stronger Than BMW & Merc

Honda cars have been found to be the best equipped to deal with potholes, saving drivers thousands of rupees in repairs each year, according to a new research by Potholes.co.uk. These results are based on warranty claims resulting from pothole damage in UK and gives out the names of top 10 best and worst susceptible car brands. According to the research, after Honda, the most ‘pothole-proof’ manufacturers are Toyota and Hyundai, with less than 2% of their cars suffering axle and suspension damage attributable to potholes and other road defects.

Chrysler came out as the most unreliable against potholes followed by hot shots like Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. These premium brands are known world over as being the manufacturers of some of the best cars and off road SUVs including Presidential vehicles. It’s difficult to imagine that those fancy low profile tires and large, expensive wheels that we see on luxury vehicles with their bulging sidewalls are not really strong enough to deal with what our roads have to offer. This survey doesn’t sound promising for their known credentials.

'We've found some cars have an uncanny ability to absorb the jolts from even the most severe road craters, while others aren't so resilient,' said Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct. According to their calculations in an average year, there is a 6 per cent chance of any car suffering such damage.

Since the government continues to struggle to solve the pothole problem, we consumers can at least be smart about our vehicle of choice. Scroll down to see the ranking compiled by potholes.co.uk.

Read More On: Honda

Top 10 Most Resilient Make Damage Rate Honda 1.4% Toyota 1.5% Hyundai 1.7% Nissan 2.0% Kia 2.1% Mitsubishi 2.2% Mini 3.0% Suzuki 3.1% Ford 3.4% Mazda 3.4%

Top 10 Least Resilient Make Damage Rate Chrysler 12.2% Smart 10.6% Mercedes 10.4% Land Rover 10.1% Jaguar 9.4% Saab 8.5% Fiat 7.4% BMW 6.8% SEAT 6.6% Vauxhall 6.4%

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