Maruti S-Cross has BETTER initial quality than Hyundai Creta: JD Power

The Hyundai Creta is currently the best selling SUV in the country since some time now. It is challenged by the Renault Duster, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross and the newly launched Nissan Kicks in the segment. However, according to the JD Power Initial Quality survey, the Hyundai Creta has much more initial quality problems when compared to the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross. This survey studied the problems faced by buyers during the initial time of their ownership period. In the SUV segment, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross had lesser initial problems when compared to the Hyundai Creta.

The survey we are talking about is based on responses from 7,710 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle from December 2017 through October 2018. The study includes 75 models from 13 makes. The study measures problems experienced by new-vehicle owners during the first two to six months of ownership and examines more than 200 problem symptoms in eight problem categories (listed in order of frequency of reported problems): engine/ transmission; heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC); driving experience; vehicle exterior; features, controls and displays; vehicle interior; audio, entertainment and navigation (AEN); and seats.

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross has a PP100 score of 55 while the Hyundai Creta has a PP100 score of 69. PP100 here refers to problems per 100 cars, which is a unit made for use in this survey. Therefore, lower the PP100 value, better the car has fared in the survey. Apart from the S-cross and Creta, the other SUV which has been featured in the SUV segment is the Mahindra XUV500 which has a PP100 score of 75. The SUV segment average PP100 score is 76 and all the aforementioned cars have scores which are less than that.

Talking about the cars, the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, as its names suggests, is a crossover designed vehicle which offers the practicality of an SUV along with the nimbleness of a hatchback. However, it has been regularly going down the sales chart and is among the least sold Maruti Suzuki vehicles in India. The Hyundai Creta, on the other hand, is designed more like an SUV in terms of exterior design. It is also a regular feature of the monthly top ten selling cars and is one of the best equipped car in the segment. Hyundai has also plans to launch the new generation of Creta next year and it will also have a seven seater version.

What is surprising here that despite being a top seller, the Creta lags behind the S-Cross when it comes to Initial problems faced by the customers. This will come as a good news for Maruti Suzuki which has been under hammer since some time now regarding build quality among other things. Also, it means that Hyundai needs to put some extra effort in the upcoming new Creta.

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