In those days, till the Santro facelift happened, facelifts were sticker or paint job with tiny nips and tucks here and there.
BHPian AYP recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
This thread is to point out the instances of a manufacturer hitting it out of the park(in terms of aesthetics) in the process of facelifting a car. Let me do the honours-
Maruti Suzuki:
The S-Cross never achieved success in its early stages. It was panned universally for its looks and this was a major reason why it didn’t find success. With the facelift, Maruti worked on the exterior design and what we got was a smart looking car which went on to achieve moderate success.
The ugly duckling:
The smart looking facelift:
Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
In recent times, nothing touches the Harrier / Safari facelifts. An already handsome car made drop-dead gorgeous and with meaningful mechanical updates too (EPS, 5-star GNCAP safety).
This thing looks like a 60-lakh car!
The Seltos Facelift looks awesome too. And with meaningful updates under the hood (158 BHP turbo petrol):
Initially didn’t like the 2017 Octavia Facelift, but grew to love it! So classy. A well-maintained example turns my head even today:
Others that did it well:
2022 Kodiaq Facelift with the adaptive dampers. The sport & comfort modes make a noticeable difference:
The XUV500 Facelift. Toned down the extravagant / weird face of the original. The wonderful AT gearbox followed soon after:
Here’s what BHPian madhukarmohan had to say on the matter:
Jeep Compass is a worthy mention. Minimal changes outside, but the all new interior makes a huge difference from it’s previous generation. It is such a huge step up in quality to an already excellent vehicle.
Here’s what BHPian ballfry had to say on the matter:
I think the V213 E-Class LWB or the W213 E-Class SWB.
Personally I think there are takers for the car pre-facelift too, but the sportier front end is very much to my liking.
Stately & Regal vs Stately, Regal and Sporty:
BHPian AYP replied:
Tata”
The Nexon when launched back in 2017, had a polarising design. Many people didn’t find the white elements to their taste. The front profile reminded many people(including me ) of the old Indicas and the Indigos. However, they really hit the right notes with the 2020 facelift. The 2023 facelift has elevated the looks of the Nexon to a different level.
Nexon 2017:
Nexon 2020:
Nexon 2023:
Here’s what BHPian Sanjunair5 had to say on the matter:
The real McCoy of facelifts has to figure in this thread! The Santro 2003 facelift called Santro Xing! A 2004 version of the same was my first car! Gosh! I feel so old!!
In those days, till the Santro facelift happened, facelifts were sticker or paint job with tiny nips and tucks here and there. And mostly did not involve any sheet metal changes. The Maruti 800 facelift, (I believe it was in the late 90s or early 2000s) though it got a new rear hatch, tail lights, headlights, and dash, did not significantly alter the appearance of the car. Similarly, Esteem’s facelift (I believe it was the early 2000s) was a headlight/tail light/dash change that pretty much maintained what was already there.
The 2003 facelift of the Santro was more dramatic. New headlamps, tail lamps, grill, hatch, fenders and I believe all external body parts except the doors got some or the other change. May be a new steering wheel too, not sure what else changed inside. The pre-facelift had a sort of oddball design and that toothy grill was not to everyone’s taste. The facelift ensured that the design was no longer polarizing and improved the mass appeal of the car tremendously. While the Santro was always a successful model, sales surged after the facelift and cemented the Santro brand in auto folklore!
Keyword: Which car makers hit it out of the park with their model facelifts