I had driven up there in the morning to check if they had the tire sensor, and if not, they order for it.

BHPian Rajain recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Guys

For those around Bangalore here is something I felt I must share.

In one of the recent long drives I got a flat and the roadside puncture guy found a faulty air value (TPMS was getting activated). And the puncture man while fixing the tire broke the tire pressure sensor defunct.

The TPMS kept showing malfunction on the screen and I had to get it fixed. Regular tire shop - Madhus and Tire Empire said cannot fix it and take it to Ford. I have not been to a Ford service centre in more than an year and never in Bangalore. Here is my experience of JSP Ford at Hosur Road today.

I had driven up there in the morning to check if they had the tire sensor, and if not, they order for it. Turns out they not just had it, they were ready to do the job immediately. I met Prathap (service manager). The team at JSP was super. They were confident, they were polite, knew the job - told me half an hour and fixed the stuff within 20 minutes. I was informed that parts are easy, there has been no disruption on parts for Ecosport, Ford Endeavour and Fiesta. For Ikon and Fusion they need 2-3 days and the parts come. This was very very reassuring.

Overall, besides the parts, I can also add that the place was spic and span, the toilets were cleaner than a 5 star hotel, tea coffee and basic snacks were easy, customer lounge had magazines, channel TV, neat clean sofas, and AC working. The service advisor updated me 3-4 times, the cost was within estimate and the job was done within half an hour.

There was spring in the feet of the staff that worked there and the energy everyone had was top of the line. Not once did it look like a workshop of a car company that closed. In fact there was even a Ford Mustang getting serviced there and I was informed that parts of the Mustang is also no issue.

This whole experience really stands out like a Toyota or a Maruti and Hyundai experience.

I would rate an overall service experience at 10 out of 10 at JSP Ford, Hosur Road.

Cheers

Rajain

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Overall, Blue is giving us trouble here and there, but we haven’t been left stranded on the road and it still drives fabulous.

BHPian Sangwan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Updates:

My phone's storage was full, so I don’t have all the pics anymore. Let’s look at each Santa Fe.

Blue:

Blue has been a headache overall but like I said earlier, its cleaner inside out and there is no creaking sound when it drives. In the last post, I mentioned about the horns and the headlights issue.

Horn:

There are two horns on each side, they are located at a very weird position, below the headlights and either you must move the headlights from their place or remove the front bumper. I removed the bumper to check them out, overall, an easy process but what I found out was the bumper holding brackets on right side are broken. So, there was this ugly gap when I fixed it back.

As you already know, I want to fix cars myself but sometimes I don’t have the confidence when it comes to wiring and electricals. I checked the wiring; it seemed fine and then decided to just check prices/shapes of horn available for Santa Fe. I found out that Canadian Tire (it’s a retail store chain) has a different set, so the whole setup would need to change, and the OEM horn would be coming from US, and I would be paying for shipping too. In order to avoid all this, I went to a shop, but this time went to a different one, on recommendation of a colleague of mine and turns out it wasn’t the best decision. I was on the phone attending a call and when I came back, instead of a simple plug and plaything, this shop’s worker had chopped off the wiring and is making his own connection. I wasn’t happy but the damage was done and at least the horn was working. Damage to pocket $100.

Also, gave a temporary fix to bumper, by applying this plastic paste on the inside. It holds it well.

Lights:

While the horn was worked on, I asked them to have a look at the light issue too. The high beam headlight on left side was not working, they looked but said more diagnosis was needed and I was running short of time. So, paid the bill and went out my way. Not coming back here.

I went to my original mechanic on a weekend and showed him the issue, after trying few things, he said the projector lamp bulb holder (don’t know if it’s the right word or not) needs to be changed as he and I didn’t believe it was a wiring issue, as there were no cuts or any other issue. But the problem was they didn’t have it with them, and I need to buy it from Hyundai. I wasn’t sure about the overall assessment and decided if I am going to Hyundai, might as well get it fixed from them.

I fixed an appointment, and the dealership was charging me $160/180 (not exactly sure which one was it) as “diagnosis” fee and I will be charged later for the actual issue. Turns out, it was the wiring which was short circuiting and blowing up fuses. Damage to pocket was $570. Ouch!

Battery:

This was unexpected. My wife goes to office at 7 in the morning and I start at 1 PM, so one car is always free if incase the other has an issue. Blue would not start, and my wife just called me. It was a cold December morning and I asked her to take the Black Santa Fe and I will deal with this one. I called my friend, he and I took the battery out and got it tested, as that probably was the reason according to me. Turns out, I was right. The battery was done, and a new battery was needed. I found out that my car was having wrong size battery in it, so I got the correct one this time. Also, while getting the battery out, the positive terminal holding bracket got damaged, it was already rusted and when I was getting out, it developed a crack.

I fixed the new battery in place, but this bracket was not holding the position, it became loose and as a result car would not start. Somehow, wife and I managed for the rest of the week and on weekend I got it fixed. Total Damage to pocket was $217+20.

The broken terminal (Sorry for the filthy engine bay):

You might think we’re done for now, but unfortunately, we are not, there is more.

Brakes:

So, when I bought Blue, I got the rotor and brake pads replaced. Note that it has been 30,000 Kms and besides few incidents I or my wife were not hard on brakes, and I casually asked the guy who was changing the oil as it was due, and he said that the rear ones are okay, but the front ones need replacement. He said that if I don’t do it now then it might affect the rotors and so I said yes because it costed me $800 when I had to change all 4 rotors and brake pads. I will attach pic for you guys, please let me know if it was really done or I was taken for a ride. I did check the new pads, they surely looked far-far better than the ones I had on my car now. Damage to pocket: $160.

Overall, Blue is giving us trouble here and there, but we haven’t been left stranded on the road and it still drives fabulous. There is a minor leakage somewhere, its not draining out the oil or anything but it has to fixed too, but the mechanic said that I can carry on using the car, and don’t really need to worry. I am keeping a close eye on the level of oil every now and then and will get it fixed somewhere in the future.

The old brake pads:

The current reading is 198,XXX KMs. We are getting close to 200K milestone.

Black:

There is really no real update besides the unfortunate incident which happened on last Saturday. The current odometer reading is 213,XXX KMs. I got the oil changed at 210K and during this whole time from the last to current oil change, there were no issues.

Wipers:

The wipers were not changed since I bought this car from the previous owner, and it has been more than a year now. They were making this awful noise and I understood that it was time. I replaced all three of them, front and back. When I was replacing the wiper blade on right side of the car, my son was helping me (he is just 4 years old) and so I was not being conscious and didn’t take the wiper all the way to the lock position, it was somewhere in the middle, and it went down on windshield. I checked right away, and everything felt fine but in the next 2 hours, I had this awful crack in the windshield, and it has stopped finally but it’s there and somewhere in the future I will either get it fixed or it will make me loose some more bucks when its time to sell.

New Ride?

In the last post I mentioned that I might start writing an ownership review of a new ride, but I didn’t go for it. In the last post you can see I spend so much on Black, so I was not happy and thought well we already have one car for my wife, so maybe I should buy something else, and get myself a Manual car. I really want a manual car, I hate automatics! No matter how convenient they are, they are boring and once I get the housing situation sorted, I will go after a manual for sure.

Well, this was the update till now. I really don’t hope to update this thread with more expenses but with only good things to say. Sometimes, I have this strong feeling to go for a nice car but then when these two Santa Fes run without an issue, then they make me so happy as I am not paying EMIs which would also affect our borrowing capacity when we go for a housing loan. Some pics for you guys:

On a snowy evening:

At Tsawwassen mills (its a mall) parking lot:

Snow pics:

Blue at a bank's parking lot:

Blue getting the oil change and brake pads fixed:

This is how the windshield is for my wife on most of the winter mornings:

Come to the daark side:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Storme was driven by me for 15000 km last year, despite the downtime of 2 months for AC repair & accident repair.

BHPian PrasannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just posting the 75,000 km milestone. The 75k service was done at 73,000 km. Storme has run 2000 km since service:

I have been using the chauffer for sometime now. Storme is driven by 2 of my drivers, both involuntarily lug the engine at times. I have to remind them to downshift

It does feel relaxed to enjoy the comfort of the rear seat while being driven, specially on rural roads like these.

Storme was driven by me for 15000 km last year, despite the downtime of 2 months for AC repair & accident repair. This year, Storme is being used more. In Feb, Storme has been used for 1500 km. I have firmly told my drivers to not exceed 90 kmph on highways. The result is seen in increased FE

Storme is put to use 4 days a week, while I drive the Punch & Altroz the remaining 3 days. Surprisingly, Punch is as costly as Storme to run per km. I haven't used the Punch extensively on highways yet though.

I haven't gotten the sun film pasted on rear windshield yet. I need to do it when I find time.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Once on the sand, i presume I need to activate AWD lock.

BHPian abhi182 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Probably a very basic question but I need to take my old XUV500 on the beach tomorrow on the Konkan coast.

Now I understand the basics of driving on sand and have done it many times earlier with old school 4wd vehicles. However with the newer electronics, i had a basic question regarding this vehicle.

Once on the sand, i presume I need to activate AWD lock. Once this is done, does the ESP automatically get disabled?

If not, I presume I need to switch it off by pressing and holding the ESP button next to the AWD lock.

Are these assumptions correct or do i need to factor in something else as well?

Here's what BHPian abirnale had to say on the matter:

To be precise:

Yes, lock it yourself (press that tiny button!). The AWD manual locking when you know that you need it, is a appropriate choice to save valuable 1-2 seconds before your wheels start digging in sand!

ESP will not switch off automatically - you need to manually switch them off. (Another tiny button to press!)

Yes, when you are in trickier situations, ESP cutting off will ensure that individual wheels are not braked basis what computer thinks is right - thereby letting you decide whatever you want to do! ESP has it’s own brain also coupled with various other situations not just suited for AWD but for general roll-over mitigations etc, when you are on slow crawl mode on sand, just switch it off.

Also note that, there is a threshold above which you are not going to be able to switch off ESP and cannot switch on AWD. ESP above 80 kmph is by default ON (Read user manual - this may be 60kmph). AWD will turn off automatically beyond 60 or 80 kmph something - read user manual if there is a definite number there.

For your use case of sand driving, ESP OFF, AWD ON, sticking to speeds of 20kmph or lower is good idea. And I am sure you will be careful about looking at the sand if it’s too soft where the behemoth 2 ton vehicle regardless of these aids may get stuck anyway.

Here's what BHPian .anshuman had to say on the matter:

Yes, its a good idea to lock the AWD before entering the sandy patch. Activating the AWD lock will not turn off the ESP/Engine traction control, to turn of these you will have to press the ESP button once. There is no brake traction control in this car.

Do remember the Borg Warner AWD will self disengage beyond 40kph. Avoid doing stressful stuff like Donuts in Sand, its an dry clutch pack based system that doesn't last very long and its not serviceable.

PS: I have owned XUV500 AWD for few years and have done a lot of offroad driving.

Here's what BHPian dhanushs had to say on the matter:

Yes, locking the rear prop saves you a second or two.Not sure if the ESP gets disabled automatically.

Switch of the ESP manually. This will allow for more capability in sand, without Engine Torque Control of ESP.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Front seats are equally good in both cars. One difference is Creta's seat holds me tighter from the back and is ventilated.

BHPian vattyboy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction:

I bought Creta last month, after driving both my cars inside the city and out on the highways, I am penning down a side-by-side comparison of my Jeep Compass Limited Optional Vs. My Creta SX Optional Diesel AT.

I have driven Creta close to 4000 km as I want to give myself sufficient time before comparing both cars.

Looks:

I noticed that Creta looks bigger from the front while Compass looks bigger from the rear. The design language of Compass feels more subtle with straight lines due to which, its design is still looking good in 2024. Creta feels more modern and sporty.

My pick: Tie.

Dashboard and Centre Console:

Creta's feels more premium to look at while Compass feel more premium to touch, due to a lot of soft-touch materials.

Creta's big 10.25-inch infotainment screen, use of piano black finish around the gearbox area and new steering design make its cabin feel 1 segment above the Compass in looks. But compass aces in soft touch feel department i.e whole dashboard and top half area of front doors are made up of soft-touch leather. Although Creta don't have soft touch points but the plastic quality touch and feel is good.

My pick: Creta.

Boot Space:

On paper, Creta has 433L boot space and Compass has 5L more i.e. 438L, but in reality, Creta's has better space management so it takes approximately 1 more Cabin Bag than Compass.

My pick: Creta

Door Thud, Feel and Ergonomics:

Compass- doors have so much weight in them. They give a reassuring thud and make me feel safe like I am Sitting in a Solid Tank.

Creta- Ergonomics is better in the doors of Creta. The door armrest is placed at a better angle than the Compass. The weight of doors is sufficient I would say which I can find in most of the cars on sale so nothing special about it but,

Hyundai focuses more on the Silent closing of the doors i.e. according to the weight they have, they could give a more thud but instead, they close very silently.

My pick: Compass.

Front Seats:

Front seats are equally good in both cars. One difference is Creta's seat holds me tighter from the back and is ventilated.

The size of the compass Headrest is too big which is a deal breaker for the person sitting at the rear because it blocks the view of the road for rear passengers but in Creta, the rear seats are placed slightly higher than the front seats plus the headrest size is decent so I can view the road while sitting at the back.

My pick: Creta.

Rear Seats:

Creta- Rear seats have a 2-step recline so the recline angle is better and the cabin also feels wider at the rear.

Compass- Seat cushioning is better in Compass, it also has better legroom and knee room but less shoulder room than Creta.

My pick: Compass

Continue to read on BHPian vattyboy's Creta vs Compass comparison for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Overall maneuverability has improved and steering inputs are more refined.

BHPian Mithun Sathianat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Here is a quick review on the MMG Lift Kit which I used approximately for 500kms.

The good's:

• Stance - My Thar looks like a proper truck. As the front shockers are height adjustable, one can lift it from 2 to 3.5 inches with out a strain on the CV angle. With bigger tires, my front fender sits 38 inches from the ground.
• Ground Clearance - The droop in the front has gone now and ground clearance (measured at rear differential) has increased to 300+ mm which is a spike of 3 inch.
• No Swaying - Swaying character of initial batches of Thar has gone completely. The recent batches has relatively less sway compared to initial batches.
• Lighter Steering - Steering has gone lighter. Earlier Thar's have lighter steering than recent batches. But, it has got even more lighter
• Better control - Overall maneuverability has improved and steering inputs are more refined.
• Articulation - Especially the rear shocks have a very long travel
• Power delivery - With 265/75/16 MT's, I felt there was a lag in power which I already mentioned in my review of tires. This lag has vanished now and I feel the vehicle is more smooth now.
• Braking - Braking has improved marginally.

The bad's:

• Stiff Ride - My Thar with 265/75/16 MT's with 28 PSI had a plush ride which is gone now due to the stiffer suspension set up. The road undulations are transferred to the cabin. There is no swaying, but there is up-down movement. No issue on smooth roads.

Issues faced:

Rear Shock Bushes came out after a serious off-roading due to which there was squeaking noise. I have replaced those by applying glue as mentioned by Gagan from MMG and its all good now.

I wish the kit came with extended heavy duty rear sway bar links as well as the stock sway bar links seems to be bit strained with the lift. May be it will be ok if I re-adjust the same. I need to check that out. Gagan assured me that its absolutely fine and will not have any issues.

Rear Sway bar links:

Posting few pics here on the stance:

Bibendum's NE Expedition Thar alongside mine:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Got both headlights changed under warranty. The right side DRL was fading out and looked yellow.

BHPian Atharva14 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

24.5K Kms update on my Taigun:

Update 1:

The clutch master cylinder was changed at 23k Kms. The clutch pedal used to sink in at almost very light pressure and get stuck. Parts were ordered in a week and was replaced. Since it is a hydraulic clutch, it uses the same oil from the brake oil reservoir, which requires the bleeding process to be done again. Drove for 1.5K kms after that and the clutch is just fine.

Update 2:

On my third driver-side window motor now. The first one part no. XY-a changed within 10 days of delivery.( April 2022). The second time, part no. XY-b changed to add the missing autofold orvm in my topline variant. (May 2022)

The third time, part no. XY-c changed recently because the window just stopped rolling down out of nowhere. According to the SVC, this motor is the latest one developed and is less prone to failure. Let's see how much time this motor holds up to. Post motor change, the window roll up down has slowed down considerably, compared to the other window. Software updated to the latest version for the auto up/down as well.

Update 3:

Got the puddle lights (logo projection) installed from the service center as well.

A new accessory and costs 3K for a pair. Attached Detailed video of the installation.

Got JK Tyre treel tpms installed from a tyre shop. Cost 3k for installation, tyre alignment, and balancing.

Update 4:

Got both headlights changed under warranty. The right side DRL was fading out and looked yellow. The left one had no issue but SvC went ahead and claimed both headlights under warranty. Installation requires bumper removal to unscrew the headlights. Got the new ones installed and the beams aligned properly at the svc.

Update 5:

VCDS Tweaks:

• Digital tachometer
• Fogs on with high beam and passing.
• Brake light on as hazard light while boot/bonnet open.

Update 6:

Added 60w auxiliary lights. Comes in 3 different modes and a separate switch to control it. The throw is good. Gave it power through the ignition fuse. Foglights have 100 W LEDs from Durvient.com

Other than that, wrapped the front chrome part of the bumper and alloy wheels in gloss black, according to my taste. Quick DIY.

 As of now, no highway trips. Overall efficiency stands at 11.5kmpl for Mumbai's Peak traffic time.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Kept the bag inside and closed the boot for dusting and then the car locked itself with all my keys inside

BHPian dee_dust recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Managed to lock the car with keys inside!!

A quick car dusting exercise turned out to be a bigger headache than I imagined. Own a 2022 Seltos iMT HTK+ with keyless entry. Opened the boot without unlocking the car with House and Car keys in the shoulder bag. Kept the bag inside and closed the boot for dusting and then the car locked itself with all my keys inside . Finally, found a flaw with the keyless security system , and was unperturbed as I normally have a spare house key at a friend's place in the society and we both had a function to attend in an hours' time. But as luck would have had it, not the keys that I required.

Now I turned to Kia RSA and was quickly connected. Lady on the phone did mention that an expert technician would be sent as it was related to a Keyless remote issue and some damage (handle breakage) may occur. Requested her to connect with the technician before travelling. Meanwhile, was quickly thinking of visiting Kia Showroom/SC which is less than a Km away for any workaround and browsing Youtube videos on possible entry options into the car.

RSA technician called in 5 mins and understood the issue. He said he wouldn't be able to open the car without breaking the window as new age cars with such security mechanisms are not easy to open e.g sliding down a scale on the drivers window , etc. Now breaking a window or quarter panel glass was something I wasn't prepared for. Decided to either get someone rappel in my house balcony or get a locksmith to work his magic on the door.

Had to spend the night at friends joint and understood the importance of easy accessible spare keys. Things worked out next afternoon as a daredevil did enter my house(with proper safety equipment) and could get to my spare key.

Any alternative suggestions on what could have been done, as some of us may have gone through something similar in the past.

Point to remember: If your car allows to open the boot without opening the car via the keyless remote, make sure that you do not keep the keys inside or ensure to open the car first and then the boot. Hope this helps

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information

Honda's proven reliability and after-sales service should ensure a fuss-free ownership experience for the Elevate.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hyundai Creta facelift:

2024 Facelift Review Link

First Review Link

Kia Seltos:

2023 Facelift Review Link

First Review

Honda Elevate:

What you'll like:

• Smart styling with the right amount of muscle and clean lines
• Reliable and proven 1.5L i-VTEC engine is rev-happy & delivers adequate performance
• Pick between a slick 6-speed MT for some engagement or a super-smooth CVT Automatic for effortless urban commuting
• Superbly tuned suspension! Comfortable ride quality with sorted handling
• Clean interior design with good cabin space. Has a big 458L boot too
• Honda's proven reliability and after-sales service should ensure a fuss-free ownership experience
• Safety features include ADAS Level 2 tech, 6 airbags, hill start assist, lane watch assist, ISOFIX and ESP

What you won't:

• 1.5L NA offers satisfactory performance, but the competition offers way more powerful turbo-petrols and faster dual-clutch automatics
• CVT is great for urban commuting but out on the open roads, it's more suited to a sedate driving style
• No diesel or hybrid powertrains on offer. Competition offers both for those with high-running. We can't figure out why the City's wonderful Hybrid system wasn't adapted for the Elevate
• Lots of missing features by current standards. You don't get auto wipers, ICE with a subwoofer, a 360-degree camera, a powered driver seat, ambient lighting and more
• Lacks the feeling of "contemporariness" or the "wow" factor, be it in styling, powertrain, features & technology
• Honda Sensing ADAS system is intrusive at times on the highway; requires the driver to adapt to it and be comfortable using it

Review Link

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara:

What you'll like:

• A competent hybrid car for the mass market
• 20+ km/l FE in city driving conditions makes the Grand Vitara cheaper to run than a diesel!
• Lower emissions will appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers. And those who aren’t ready for an EV yet
• Toyota’s reliability & expertise in hybrid systems is very reassuring in the Maruti
• Seamless Hybrid system that makes driving a breeze. A car you will enjoy driving in traffic
• Maruti's AWD system provides impressive soft-roading capabilities. Can get you out of tricky situations when touring
• Compliant ride quality coupled with balanced driving dynamics
• Well-equipped with features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, wireless smartphone charging, connected car features, wireless Android Auto + Apple CarPlay and more
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

What you won't:

• Practicality is compromised due to reduced boot space in the full-hybrid variant
• Interior quality and fit & finish are underwhelming at this price point
• AllGrip AWD is only available in a single MT trim. Missed opportunity to market a USP
• Interior is narrow and doesn't feel as roomy as some competitors. Rear seat is best for 2 adults
• Lacks the outright performance of the competition. Runs out of steam above 110 km/h
• Not as engaging to drive as the German competitors, or the Creta / Seltos turbo-petrols
• NVH levels from the drivetrain are surprisingly poor for a hybrid. Sounds from the 3-cylinder engine, electric motor and brake vacuum pump filter into the cabin
• The Honda City’s Hybrid system is smoother, more sophisticated & more refined
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, premium audio + subwoofer, electric seats, electric parking brake, LED interior lighting, etc.
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

Review Link

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder:

What you'll like:

• Very good attempt at making a mass-market hybrid car
• 20+ kmpl FE in city driving conditions makes the Hyryder cheaper to run than a diesel!
• Seamless hybrid system that makes driving a breeze. A car you will enjoy driving in the city
• Lower emissions will appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers. And those who aren’t ready for an EV yet
• Toyota’s reliability & expertise in hybrid systems is very reassuring
• Compliant ride quality coupled with balanced driving dynamics
• Well-equipped with features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, wireless smartphone charging, connected car features, wireless Android Auto + Apple Carplay and more
• Only Crossover in this segment to provide AWD capability
• Toyota’s after-sales quality is usually regarded as top-notch by owners
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

What you won't:

• Practicality is compromised due to reduced boot space in the full-hybrid variant
• Quality of interior plastics feels more “Maruti” than Toyota. Frankly, the S-Cross cabin feels better in quality
• Interior is narrow and doesn't feel as roomy as some competitors. Rear seat is best for 2 adults
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, premium audio + subwoofer, electric seats, electric parking brake, LED interior lighting, etc.
• Lacks the outright performance of the competition. Runs out of steam above 110 kmph
• Not as engaging to drive as the German competitors, or the Creta / Seltos turbo-petrols
• NVH levels from the drivetrain are surprisingly poor for a hybrid. Sounds from the 3-cylinder engine, electric motor and brake vacuum pump filter into the cabin
• AWD available only on the MT (not the AT) and the mild-hybrid (not full-hybrid)
• The Honda City’s Hybrid system is smoother, more sophisticated & more refined
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

Review Link

Skoda Kushaq:

What you'll like:

• A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
• Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include 6 airbags (sadly MT only), ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks / litre
• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant
• At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
• Missing some now expected features [b]such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & regular USB ports
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Review Link

Volkswagen Taigun:

What you'll like:

• Has its own fresh, European character and complements its cousin (the recently launched Skoda Kushaq) nicely in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs
• Unmistakably VW styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment!
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include up to 6 airbags, ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats (weirdly 1.0 TSI only), sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• Advantages over the Kushaq = a top AT variant with 6 airbags, design that stands out more, cabin 'feels' better, fabric seats are executed in a nicer manner...
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks/litre
• GT customers will need to choose between the rock (potential DQ200 transmission problems) and a hard place (GT manual variant misses out on many top-end features)
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Interior colour scheme and quality don't feel up to traditional VW standards. Some polarising details too (chrome outside, painted plastics inside...)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. Many VW owners find it expensive too
• Missing some now-expected features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & rear window blinds
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
• Kushaq's 'clever' touches are missing = no spot on top of the dashboard to place a deity, no smartphone holders on the front seatbacks, no ticket clip on the windshield, no elastic band in the doorpad to keep items in place, or even something as simple as the small reflective tapes on the doorpads

Review Link

Citroen C3 Aircross:

What you'll like:

• Well-sized crossover with a funky yet likeable design
• Offers the practicality of a 5+2 seater. Many families will like having that option
• Good-looking cabin that's practical too. Plenty of storage spaces
• Quick 1.2L turbo-petrol mated to the 6-speed MT is fun-to-drive
• Sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package
• Massive 511-litre boot that can be expanded to 839 litres. Flexible cargo and seating options are available
• Features like a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, connected car features, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, indirect TPMS, and a rear parking camera with sensors
• Lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What you won't:

• Missing plenty of features = side & curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, sunroof, climate control, wireless charging, cruise control, rear AC vents, auto headlamps and more
• Single powertrain on offer. No Hybrid or diesel engine options
• Quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
• Third row of seats is best for kids / children only
• Cabin width makes the middle row seat suitable for 2 adults, not 3
• Very sad audio. 4 speakers + 2 tweeter system feels very basic
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Review Link

MG Astor:

Review link

MG Hector:

Facelift Review Link

First Review Link

Tata Harrier:

Facelift Review Link

Automatic Review Link

First Review Link

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Spares are hideously expensive. The clutch replacement along with the pressure plate costed me 1lakh.

BHPian kevinpaulreddy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am an owner of Jeep Compass 2.0 D. Having driven the Jeep compass for over 4.5 years, here is my honest take on the car.

I will start with the down sides first as most of you out there would have already heard what this baby can do:

• The fit and finish inside the cabin for a 20 lac plus car is not up to the mark by any standards, especially the doors, the cabin light assembly and the glove compartment. the rattling noise has been there since day 1 and continues to haunt me till date. I would have complained about it for not less than 20 times to the service center in Gurgaon but they were unable to find a permanent fix for it. I finally gave up and decided to not pursue it. This way I keep my sanity because there is no resolution to this issue. I will live with it till I have the car.
• The battery does not last more than 14 months. Nobody is sure of the issue but the battery will go kaput between 12 to 14 months. My most recent battery was an Exide battery with 36 months warranty and they replaced it free of cost after the original one went kaput in 12.5 months. This is my 4th battery so far.
• The 2nd gear has an issue and you will experience lack of torque in second gear. It is a design flaw and there is no fix to it. I have had my clutch assembly and the pressure plate replaced at 96K KM and was hoping that it will eliminate the issue but it didn't change anything.
• The clutch pedal is very hard compared to other cars. I moved from a Mitsubishi Cedia to Jeep Compass and it was pain-full getting adjusted to the harder clutch. In retrospect, I feel I should have bought an automatic transmission.
• Approach angle is horrendous for a car that claims to be an SUV. My brothers Maruti Celerio is able to tackle certain terrain better than the Jeep.
• Spares are hideously expensive. The clutch replacement along with the pressure plate costed me 1lakh. An alternator bearing replacement costed me 13K. A regular service costs about 20k and a major service costs about 45K.
• The headlights are useless (Regular halogen) The throw of the light is inadequate. I do a lot of cross country driving and I struggle every time it's dark.
• The lug nuts had a tin cover welded onto them which did not allow me to use my OEM lug wrench. I got the tin cover removed by a welder and now the bolts are of size 16 and the wrench is size 17. As a temporary fix I bought a size 16 wrench off amazon. As silly as it may sound, it is true.
• Steering rack went bad and it costed 1lac to replace. Jeep does not repair it. It's a known issue and yet they continue to loot the customers.
• A constant noise from the drive terrain that is by design as per the engineers.
• The gear shifter does not feel as snug as you would like a car in this price point. It is very wobbly.
• Engine mount C has been replaced twice already.

Now lets move on to what I love about this baby of mine:

• The driving dynamics are as good as they can be. It's confident at high speeds.
• Steering feedback is top-notch and goes where you point the steering.
• No dearth of torque and once the turbo kicks, it's a wild animal.
• Noise insulation inside the cabin is excellent.
• The seats are extremely comfortable for long drives.
• Gets off the block quicker than you can anticipate and deals with high speeds like a boss
• The music system is excellent
• Built quality barring the cabin rattling noise is very topnotch.
• Excellent on turns making it an ideal car for the hills.
• Hill assist and auto handbrake work well in tandem to make driving effortless on inclines.
• AC is very effective and is still working after 4.5 years and no repair work so far not even a gas top-up has happened.
• Seating position and visibility is also good.
• The materials used in the cabin justify the cost and they have lasted the test of time with negligible signs of wear and tear.
• Excellent road presence.

I will conclude by saying that though there are a lot of upsides to own a Jeep, there are enough frustrating downsides which if not fixed would mean that I personally will not go for a Jeep product in the near future.

Regards,

Kevin