What is a car facelift? Can They Save Me Money?

When searching to purchase a brand-new car, you often come across the term “facelift,” and you start wondering what is facelift in car. As a first-time buyer, it might be difficult for you to understand the jargon of the car industry as you don’t have in-depth knowledge of the mechanical workings of a car.

So, here we are helping you to understand all that you need to know regarding facelift in a car. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!

Facelift Car Meaning

When you search to buy a car, you should have thought about what is facelift in car. Isn’t it? Well, you might have thought about the facelift as a surgical procedure that gives its users a new tenancy of life.

This principle is applied to all cars either made in India cars or others and brings a host of design, interior and technical updates in order to elevate its appeal and bring it in line with other brand-new and recently launched cars in the automotive industry.

Exterior Changes of a Facelifted Car

With the help of facelifting, the cars are changed both from the outside and inside. Those things that need to be updated differ from model to model whereas exterior changes are redesigned by fitting bumpers, headlights, rear lights, etc. The latest kinds of alloy wheels are often included when fresh paint colours can also be made unrestricted to the buyers.

Interior Changes of a Facelifted Car

Changes in the interior of the facelifted car range from subtle to consequential. There are some times when new trim, upholstery alternatives, or new air vent designs are installed. Sometimes, a new steering wheel may also be fitted.

Bigger changes include entirely redesigned dashboards and completely different infotainment systems will be installed in these cars. There are features like ambient lightning that may or may not be installed or are made sophisticated and refined.

Apart from this, what types of equipment are to be included in various trim levels lean to be altered, or trims may be added or deleted ultimately.

Engineering Changes of a Facelifted Car

Facelifts also include upgrades to gearboxes, engines, safety aids, and chassis control systems. Some of the clear-running MPFI engines are introduced in the sale whereas the polluting ones are removed from the sale.

Either for the first time or in conjunction with engines that were not previously available with them, four-wheel-drive technologies may be made obtainable. Apart from this, enhanced gearboxes are also fitted sometimes.

A performance model might get a new, better adjustable damper, and sporty driving mode whereas a revitalised EV or Electric Vehicle may become obtainable with a big battery pack for a more generous range, or a smaller one for more reasonable standards.

Why Cars Are Facelifted?

Most car manufacturers release a new generation of the given model every six to eight years which is considered an average lifespan of a consumer good. Facelifts boost everyone’s interest in a model that has been flushed out from the memories of the youths.

This provides the platform for a fresh round of media exposure, dealerships, and advertising events. Apart from this, there are other reasons as well for bearing a facelift. Suppose, a brand-new car is launched whose ‘family look’ has been changed completely by its makers, as a result, the styling needs a rapid update in order to compare the car with its newer rangemates.

What is the Difference Between Facelift and Normal Cars?

No matter how well you know about cars, the concept of facelifting is confusing and when it comes to finding the difference between facelift and normal cars, it becomes way too rambling. As a result, you must understand how these two differ from each other.

Facelift

You would know that technology upgrades by the time and so is with the cars. When facelifting a car, the makers introduce minor tweaks, cosmetic changes, and limited technological upgrades, including the latest colour palette in order to improve the performance of the car.

They introduce these characteristics in order to help their vehicle match the competition in that domain. You must know that when it comes to facelifting a car, the vehicle receives only minor updates both on its interior and exterior.

For instance, a car model can get revised rear and front bumpers as a facelift. These updates are so minor that it is extremely difficult to understand the difference between facelift and normal cars, i.e., the new and old models. Let’s take Tata Nexon as an example of this.

Tata Nexon

Tata launched a facelifted car model in the market of India in 2020, i.e., Tata Nexon. This model looks like it has a substantial and notable makeover. Apart from this, the car is one of the safest cars in India, making it the most preferred cars among the people of India.

But the only change that was depicted was the bulbous lights and oversized headlights were substituted in order to give the vehicle an elegant and contemporary look. The rear part of the Nexon also had an updated taillight setup. When talking about the interior of the vehicle, the car is pretty much identical. Some of the additional features such as TPMS and the all-digital instrument cluster on the facelifted Tata Nexon were also spotted.

Normal Cars

Normal cars are conventional cars that have undergone small but significant changes in their exterior designs, technology, interior features, and even their basic platform. Normal cars generally involve the development of a car from scratch and symbolise the latest generation of the prior models.

These cars provide a possibility for car manufacturers in order to keep up with the most delinquent trends in the automotive industry, technology, and design.

What is the Cost of a Facelifted Car?

You must understand that the changes and updates that are made in a facelift are generally focused on some of the areas of the vehicle that are seamless and easy to alter or change, i.e., bumpers, lights, and so on.

You must know that these changes in normal cars, i.e., facelifting have made them one of the best and top-selling cars in India. However, these minor changes in the styling and specification of a car cost a lot of money to design, execute and market.

This cost has to be met and hence these significant and small changes increase the cost in the list of a car. How big the cost increase is completely depends on how significant the changes are. It ranges from a few hundred dollars to several thousand in a majority of the cases.

Should You Buy A Facelift Car?

Inherently, there are benefits of purchasing both pre-facelift models and post-facelift models. The changes can be minor over the original model, however, the facelifted cars are typically enhanced significantly. And, with this, you will become extremely happy by knowing that you are driving the latest model of your favourite car.

You will find several car dealers who are reluctant to drop the price when compared with the outgoing models that will likely be available for a wonderful deal.

Eventually, the facelifted car will be the best-looking and most technologically developed. When looking at the older generations of cars, you may find that there is not much difference between pre-facelift and post-facelift models.

In this case, it is always best to move forward with the upgraded version by assuming that it is within the budget. However, you must consider other crucial functions like service and mileage history.

Final Talk

Last but not least, you must know that car facelifts is one of the best way to keep a car model in a fresh look in the Indian automotive market. However, it is crucial to understand what is facelift in cars and the difference between facelift and normal cars before deciding whether you should buy a facelift car or not for yourself.

We hope that this blog will be beneficial for you. If you still swimming into the pool of doubts, then make sure to contact a professional car dealer who can help you immensely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is facelift in car?

Ans. A facelift maintains the basic styling and platform of the car, with aesthetic changes and alterations in the car. For instance, alterations to the front fascia (grille, headlights), bumpers, taillights, centre console, and certain body or interior trim accessories.

Q2. Why is it called a facelift?

Ans. The most important and common thing and the reason for facelifting a car tends to be changes to the rear end and front designs. It is amazing to see what kind of difference just a new set of lights can make on a car.

Q3. Is facelift good for cars?

Ans. Generally, there are several advantages of buying both pre-facelift and post-facelift car models as the changes done to the facelift can be minor over the original one. However, facelifted cars are typically enhanced significantly. And you will be happy to know that you have the latest model of your favourite car.

Q4. What is the difference between a facelift car and a normal car?

Ans. A car is said to be facelifted when there are just minor changes both in the interior and exterior of the car. When a car has a revised rear and front bumper with all LED taillights and headlights, then the car has gone through a facelift. Whereas, the normal car is the conventional one.