I am still trying to reason myself whether I need to write a review on the Mahindra jeep. I have not particularly felt anything for this 3 door MPV when I was younger . My Family tree ( grand parents, uncles, cousins etc etc ) settled at inner parts of kerala each owns one of these.Then one day i just stopped in my tracks when my grand pa refused to get himself a car or an SUV when my dad offered one and was adamant on the mahindra MM550 DP or nothing else !! I then set out to seek the reason why this pre - historic looking, comfort lacking, steel tin of a vehicle still commands such respect and fan following here.
I quizzed one of my uncles for the reason of MM jeep’s increasing demand here. Instead of verbally explaining it to me as I had expected , he took me for a ride to his rubber estate. Now rubber estates do not have tarred roads( I am speaking of the rubber estates in our area, it may be different else where so dont judge !! ), is often in a hilly region and to summaraize, - a place where no one would dare to venture with their respective vehicles................. except for the MM550 DP that is. The vehicle practically climbed up every terrain it was thrown at with ease. Though it wasnt comfortable getting thrown around left and right in it but I did have to admire the vehicle’s amazing torque and pulling power.
My uncle went from near stand still up a 75 to 80 degree incline which goes about to a kilometre and half in 2nd gear!! and never once did the old warhorse sounded like it was going to shut off. At the end of the run I got out, shaken but with new found admiration for the MPV. I got to drive on the way back and I have to admit there was a smile on my face driving over the rough terrain. Lack of power steering didnt bother as much as I thought it would. The gears though a bit rough isnt much of an issue. You have to realise that people wont be buying this for its smoothness or its ease of driving , only those who needs its practical use in rough terrains and its fanatics. Even in kerala its difficult to find these in cities. The MM550 DP is most usually a second vehicle just for the off roadings and such, as its low mileage even if its a diesel engine doent allow it to be used as an all purpose vehicle.The people swears by its reliablilty. I guess its sturdy stance though isnt exactly ’ in style ’ but it does have its rustic charm.
Mahindra MM550 DP is a 2112cc 62 BHP mated to a 4 speed manual gear box with a spicer 18 transfer case coupled to it . Its a 4WD as you must have realised but the option of a 2WD is provided too. It can seat 5 adults + the driver. It doesnt even have AC vents, no stereo or even radio and the instrument panel is at the centre and reminds us of an era gone by, yet I found this jeep extremely lovable and full of punch. If anything it looks and feels like a classic. Mind you I have no desire to own one ( not with around 20 + such jeeps in my family ) but every time I visit my native place I am sure to borrow one and have some serious off road fun.