[AYP]

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-

[Reinhard]

A nice thread! Thanks for starting it. I'm tempted to post quite a few - but not able to upload images from office . So will keep quiet and watch as the list evolves.

That said - On the very first entry - the SCross - I have the exact opposite opinion. I LOVED the original look and never really managed to make peace with the facelift's grille. It just keeps reminding me of various types of fish.

[madhukarmohan]

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.

[ballfry]

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

[AYP]

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-

[MotorDev]

Cars that, in my opinion, have hit the ball out of the park

- Kia Seltos (2023)
- Tata Safari (2023)
- MG Hector/Hector Plus (2023)

Why?

Kia Seltos

- Kia has made numerous changes, enhancing the car's premium appearance. The already good-looking Seltos now stands out even more.

- Inside, the facelifted cabin gives off a luxurious feel; it's almost like stepping into a high-end car such as BMW or Audi .

Tata Safari

- Tata has truly made the Safari a head-turner. The facelift has elevated an already good-looking car to new heights.

- The interior is a significant upgrade from the pre-facelift version, displaying a premium feel that is simply impressive.

MG Hector

- While there weren't many changes to the Hector's exteriors, MG nailed it with the interiors, achieving a truly premium look.

Why the Safari instead of the new Harrier

- I feel Tata has somewhat compromised the design of the Harrier with the new colour scheme and other changes, taking it a bit too over the top. This is purely my personal opinion, and I mean no disrespect to any Harrier owner. It's still a fantastic 5-star car .

[McLaren Rulez]

I love how the S-Cross features in both best and worst facelift threads!

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

I love how the S-Cross features in both best and worst facelift threads!

That’s because beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. As they say one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

For example, IMO, the first facelift of the Nexon looked good, but with the 2023 one it’s lost its charm but there are others with a different point of view.

These differences in opinion would vary from person to person, model to model, and nothing is really conclusive and it would just be a personal viewpoint.

[ike]

How about the Thar? It did get a facelift in 2023 with new features and more importantly the bumpiness was taken care of to an extent.

[kosjam]

I would not have been caught dead getting into a 2017 Venue, when it was launched.



Come 2023, the new Venue is good enough that I went ahead and bought it.

[PrasannaDhana]

Innova and Innova crysta

Every newer fortuner facelift

Brezza 2021 vs latest

Last Gen Thar and New Thar

XUV5OO and XUV7OO

Elite i20 vs New i20

Nexon gets better with every update too


Cars that went the opposite direction

Scorpio

Verna

Creta

[lordrayden]

This is a very good thread! But not for what you think.

What I think is the most beautiful car of all time might look like a pile of turd for someone else. In other words, looks are VERY VERY subjective. But this simple fact escapes a LOT of people. I believe this thread will be a good eye opener for many who will surely find their most ugly or beautiful cars here.

[Dead_Pedal]

Ford Ecosport 2018 facelift is one of many I can think of and the forum official review also says so. A comprehensive update with a lot of meaningful features. Titanium+ diesel manual was arguably the best vehicle one could get below 16 lakh on road.

[GTO]

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:

[Sanjunair5]

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!