News is that the Jeep Compass will soon receive updates in the guise of a facelift variant that will have updated headlights, updated front grille and bumpers. Changes to the interiors are also on the cards including an all new Infotainment System called the UConnect 5. Apart from having Android Auto and Apple Car Play, this connected Infotainment System also features Amazon Alexa and can receive updates over the air. In terms of size, the screen size goes up to a massive 12.3 inches which would be one of the highest in class if introduced in India. It has become

The refreshed look could appeal to buyers in the premium SUV segment. The facelifted Jeep Compass would compete with MG Hector, Hyundai Creta 2020 Kia Seltos, Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc.

We also hear that there is also a seven- seater Compass based SUV in the pipeline which is expected to compete with Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4 and Isuzu MU-X but will most likely be introduced early next year.

Tata motors is getting ready to launch the new Tata Altroz turbo in the coming months. Ahead of launch, images of the Altroz turbo petrol seemed to have popped on the features and downloads section of the official website. As previewed by the Spy images, the car looks similar to the standard Altroz except for that ‘iturbo’ badge on the rear fascia next to the right side tail lamp. Apart from the new badging there seem to be no changes to the exterior.

The Altroz turbo petrol will be offered with a 1.2-litre turbocharged Revotron 3 cylinder petrol engine that produces

The Turbo petrol option could be available on the XT, XT(o), XZ and XZ(o) variants. These turbo petrol variants will be available with a Sport mode instead of the Economy mode and also include Engine auto Start/Stop system.

The ‘Tectonic Blue’ shade from the Nexon will also be made available on the Altroz. The top spec variants are also expected to receive new features such as 60:40 split folding rear seats as well.

Pricing for the new turbo petrol equipped version is expected to start from Rs.7.99L for the XT variant and go up to Rs.8.75L for the XZ(O) variant. (All prices ex showroom) Stay tuned for further updates on the Tata Altroz turbo version.

   Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) have now revealed the crash test results of three more best selling cars, under its Safer Cars for India initiative. The entry-level variant of each was chosen for the crash test.

    Global NCAP crash tests cars at a speed of 64kmph, which is 8kmph higher than the stipulated test speed under Indian safety norms. The Indian safety norms were upgraded in October 2019, and is now at par with, and ahead in some areas, in terms of safety norms, compared to markets like USA and Brazil.

All

November 2020 crash tests:

• Maruti Suzuki S-presso  : Adult : 0 stars.  Child :  2 stars

• Hyundai Grand i10 Nios : Adult : 2 stars.  Child : 2 stars

• Kia Seltos                          : Adult : 3 stars.  Child : 2 stars

Maruti Suzuki S-presso:

The S-Presso got an appalling zero star for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. The S-Presso offers only driver airbag as standard. The body structure was rated as unstable along with the footwell area. Child occupant protection was poor with the poor performance of the restraint systems. The S-presso does not offer 3-point belts in all positions as standard and has no ISOFIX Child Restraint Systems (CRS).

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios:

The Grand i10 Nios achieved a disappointing two stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. The Grand i10 Nios offers dual airbags and pretensioner equipped seatbelts for front passengers as standard. Its structure and the footwell area were rated as unstable. 

Child occupant protection showed poor results due to the absence of ISOFIX Child Restraint Systems. The Grand i10 Nios does not offer standard 3-point belts in all seating positions and does not offer standard ISOFIX anchorages.

Kia Seltos:

The Biggest disappointment is that the best selling Kia Seltos Crossover SUV achieved only three stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. The Seltos offers dual front airbags and pretensioner seatbelts as standard. Its structure was rated as a borderline case unstable and the footwell area too was rated as unstable. Child occupant protection showed poor results mainly because of the absence of ISOFIX Child Restraint Systems. The car does not offer standard 3 point belts in all seating positions and has no ISOFIX anchorages standard.

The USA and Australian spec Kia Seltos had scored a full 5 star rating at the USNCAP and ANCAP tests respectively.

Domestic Manufacturers such as Tata Motors and Mahindra secured a full five-star rating for models including the Mahindra XUV300, Tata Altroz and Tata Nexon while the Mahindra Marazzo, Tata Tiago and Tata Tigor scored four-star ratings earlier this year.

These stark contrasts show the double standards of global manufacturers of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Kia towards Indian consumers.

We recommend consumers to choose safer cars and drive safe.

Airbags are not a substitute for seatbelts, passengers must always wear seatbelts.