Mahindra Bolero Overview
Mahindra has been the undisputed leader in SUV space for years now. A large share of this credit goes to its best selling machine, the Bolero. Having topped the charts for nine years on the trot, Mahindra has sold close to a million units of the SUV till date. To keep it in tune with the times (and benefit from a break in taxes) Mahindra recently added the sub 4-metre version of the Bolero, dubbed the Power+ to the variant list. Let’s take a closer look at the Bolero and find out why it has been the cash-cow for Mahindra.
The Bolero has always been a no-frills ‘fill-it, shut-it, forget-it’ SUV. It continues to score on that front even seventeen years since it was first introduced. If you are eyeing the Bolero, we’d recommend the Power+ because it isn’t just cheaper, but is also refined and more efficient compared to the CRDe-powered version. Yes, it does have a bit of ergonomic issues and isn’t as well-specced with features as one would expect at the price point – but it does offer peace of mind in terms of longevity. check for Mahindra Bolero price in Mumbai at Tryaldrive.
Mahindra Bolero Look
In terms of looks, design, and style, Mahindra Bolero seems inferior to none. It’s sturdy looks and robust design gives it an aggressive appeal which is enhanced by its hawk-eye headlamps.The car mainly targets large families that need to travel along with lots of baggage especially in country sides, the flat design and appearance of the car points towards the same. The vertically segmented grille underlined by a body toned bumper with fog lights imparts a bold look to its front fascia
The side profile, on the contrary, is marked by unique body graphics, foot-steps, large windows, and gates that allow easy ingress and egress from the car. The rear is marked by crystal finished tail lights and a spare wheel. A ground clearance of 180mm helps keeping its lower side safe from rubbles and harmful objects over rough roads.The ribbed roof provides required rigidity to the top and improves helps improving its aerodynamics. The smooth finish provided by Mahindra blesses the car with an impressive on-road appearance that makes it suitable for 1-tier, 2-tier, as well as 3-tier cities and towns.
Mahindra Bolero Comfort
Before commenting on the interior, we have to acknowledge the fact that a big chunk of the Bolero market comes from rural or semi-urban markets where price and utility are the most important criteria. The Bolero Power Plus is available in three trims – SLE, SLX and the top-spec ZLX that we have tested. The interior is basic and is set in beige and brown faux wooden appliques. The dashboard is straight out of the 90s with the rectangular AC vents and a 1-DIN music system. It gets manual air conditioning with a defogger that doesn’t seem to work.
The music system looks like an aftermarket fitment and gets USB input along with Bluetooth telephony. The dated analogue instrument cluster has been replaced by the new all-digital console, something that should be a hit amongst Bolero buyers. It is quite comprehensive and reads out speed, engine revs and fuel gauge amongst other things. The centrally mounted multi-function display on the dash reads distance to empty and average fuel consumption along with date and time. My only complaint with the new console is that I have to sit askew on the driver seat with my one hand on the window sill to have a full view of the cluster.
Speaking about the seating, the front seats, like the jump seats in the back, are chair-like. There is hardly any lateral support for the front seats, but the seat seemed to be of appropriate size to be comfortable for people of most sizes. The driver posture has to be upright to be able to manage the near flat steering wheel. In spite of the limited legroom for the second row the shoulder room is enough for three to seat comfortably and gets a pull-out rear armrest. There are hardly any storage spaces apart from the small rectangular door pockets and the two 1-litre bottle holders in the front row. The SLX and ZLX get all-four power windows but with no switches in the back though.
Surprisingly, the NVH insulation of the Bolero is quite good. The road noise percolation into the cabin has been restricted along with the engine noise and is excellent for that segment of cars. For more details on Mahindra Bolero check Ksd-media
Mahindra Bolero Transmission
Now, one of the key highlights is the detuned 1.5-litre three-cylinder ‘mHawk D70’ turbodiesel motor from the more powerful TUV300 and NuvoSport. It is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. Despite being less powerful than its former siblings, this engine produces 70bhp of power, which is 7bhp more than the regular Bolero. This peak power is available at 3,600rpm and 195Nm of torque between 1,400-2,200 rpm. As a result, there is a lot of pulling power from the word go. And since there is lots of torque available at lower rpm, low speeds of about 20kmph can easily be done even in the third gear. There is hardly any need to constantly downshift, unless you want to do a quick overtake. And even if the gear stick is long, it is easy working through gears. Overall drivability is good and a light clutch further makes city driving a breeze. The engine is refined, responsive and doesn’t sound rough or forced even at high revs. What comes as a pleasant surprise is the low NVH levels. Mahindra has well insulated the cabin and one can hardly hear the engine or tyre noise.
As the sedate driving makes for a pleasant ride, traversing an unknown terrain with the Bolero doesn’t require one to think twice. The Bolero gets independent suspension with coil springs in the front, while the rear is equipped with a leaf spring arrangement. With a good ground clearance of 180mm, a rock-solid body-on-frame chassis and a sturdy structure, one can tackle the bad patches at ease. Not just small bumps, but big potholes with sharp edges are also taken in its stride. However, the side-to-side movement of passengers on-board increases on these roads due to the soft suspension set-up. At high speeds, the vehicle’s behaviour becomes a bit aberrant. Straight-line stability is good but every bump, every irregularity on the road, makes the ride uncomfortable. The steering feels vague while taking bends, thus making you slow down at every corner. Going fast anyway doesn’t help as the high centre of gravity still accounts for a good amount of body roll. Then the brakes lack ABS, are soggy and one will have to plan his moves to stop the vehicle on time.
Mahindra Bolero Driving
Mahindra designed Bolero with an aim to cater 2-tier and 3-tier markets. That is the reason why the MUV is blessed with a diesel engine and not a petrol one. The car performs pretty well over low speeds and offers good control and drivability till speed goes above 100kmph. The vehicle seems a bit unbalanced after that. The gear shifts are pretty smooth, even when the car is completely occupied one can easily shift to 4th and 5th gear even at lower speeds. With all these features, Bolero manages a crisp presence over the road and presents one of the best travelling options in rural and sub-urban areas.
Bolero’s performance is one of the best recorded performances in rural areas till date. Another feature that adds feather to its cap is its suspension system that keeps its accommodators in place in all kind of tough paths. The front end of the car gets supported by an anti roll bar and coil spring over front end while the rear gets supported by Elliptical leaf spring that handles the car in the most rugged paths.
Mahindra Bolero Safety
Mahindra Bolero has been loaded with a combination of disc and drum brakes which aid its braking operation in front and rear portion respectively. This combination helps assuring a steady, comfortable, and safe journey to its accommodators. Bolero is a MUV mainly designed for 3-tier towns and rural areas, and hence Mahindra ensured to provide the car with braking as well as safety measures in association with that. The biggest safety feature of this MUV is its robust built that keeps the car in place under all conditions. Other than that Mahindra updated the top end versions of the car with a voice messaging system that warns the driver from time to time. All versions of the car have been presented by a pair of front fog lamps that show path during bad weather.
The upper end models have been blessed with power windows whose switch is located on central console. This model has also been updated with latest features like keyless entry that prevents unauthorized access into the car, central locking , engine immobilizer that helps in saving the car from thefts, and a power steering that ensures smooth and safe maneuvering all time.
Mahindra Bolero Price in Mumbai
Mahindra Bolero On Road Price is 8,94,117/- and Ex-showroom Price is 7,53,322/- in Mumbai. Mahindra Bolero comes in 10 colours, namely Power Plus Diamond White,Power Plus Silver,Power Plus Rocky Beige,Power Plus Java Brown,Java Brown,Rocky Beige,Diamond White,Mist Silver,Molten Red,Silver. Mahindra Bolero comes with 2WD with 2523 CC Displacement and 4 Cylinders with Maximum Power 63 bhp@3200 rpm and Peak Torque 195 Nm@1400-2200 rpm DRIVE TRAIN 2WD and reaches 100 KMPH at N/A . Mahindra Bolero comes with Manual Transmission with 2WD .
Mahindra Bolero Final Word
The Bolero is a rugged vehicle that has been the favourite in the rural areas. It acts as a good people carrier, is known for its reliability and is easy to maintain and repair. Now, the new Power Plus benefits from the reduced tax structure due to the sub four-metre length. So, if we were to compare the ex-showroom price of Rs 7.96 lakh of the standard Bolero Plus BS IV with AC, the new Power Plus SLE variant costing Rs 6.59 lakh is way too cheaper than the former. Eventually, with an affordable price, a cosmetic overhaul and a more capable diesel engine, it has become a better package.