Hi All,
I feel " obnoxious " to type down this review of a Mahindra Bolero in this age of Brezza’s & Duster’s that have obscured the Bolero & knocked it off people’s memory - almost certainly! Its like asking a grandma about how she felt on her wedding night! One wonders whether this pre historic primate from the house of Mahindras is still made at all.
Am not sure whether readers here recollect a 1980’s commercial of lipton tiger tea which showcased a brave man cuddling his moustache driving an open top jeep through a stream & comes face to face with a tiger, all he does is to get out of his jeep & pour some tea from a flask & challenge the cat ahead of his jeep’s bonnet. This advertisement somehow struck a chord in my mind & I was just a kid then. It was my dream then, to grow up & buy a jeep for myself & wander off into tiger territory just like that lipton guy did. Time passed & I just did fulfill my dream too. Owned a couple of older soft top Mahindra jeeps & then finally bought the Mahindra Bolero Sportz DI version.
There is no hiding the fact that beneath all those glossy body decals, chrome & plastic there lies a second world war product which is being continously chiselled here & there to cut flab & engineers at mahindra have been extensively working on it to keep it looking young. Time & again the design team starts afresh by modifying the grille, headlamps & bumper upfront but somehow give it up right there itself. Hence the rear half of the latest models still resemble their old commander & armada cousins.
In my honest opinion India is still an agricultural country despite the software boom & stuff. Rural areas lack basic infrastructure even to this day & people from these rural parts have never ever been fulfilled promises made to them by the elected representatives. These deprived souls(includes me too) need basic transport that can be reliable & affordable. The Mahindra Bolero sort of fits into this segment & easily emerges as a leader. No wonder the Government departments still procure the Bolero’s.
Let me write down the Pro’s & Con’s of the Mahindra Bolero point wise so that it can be helpful to those who want to buy or refrain from buying one.
The CON’S first:-
1) Outdated boxy design that rattles & squeaks all over. Not aerodynamic too. Age shows on the body as well.
2) Consistent upgrades to the Bolero by Mahindra makes it difficult to source spares even at dealerships.
3) Old school ladder type chassis offers a very harsh ride, Outdated leaf springs suspension setup at rear - pitches & bounces on rough patches.
4) Under powered, Noisy & lethargic DI engine - creates enough resonance inside the cabin to plug your ears. The vibrations from the motor are enough to knock your dad’s denture off his mouth. The 60+ horses are barely enough on highways & you need to judge overtaking decisions in advance.
5) Insufficient legroom & conservative cabin space. The rear is almost useless to seat two adults even.
6) Vague highway handling & very poor braking. Best driven at speeds less than 80 kmph. Lacks all safety features. poor quality of plastics evident. Cheap quality of rubber used.
7) Average dealership & after sales experience - A hallmark of Mahindra.
Now for the PRO’S:-
1) Butch looking MUV. The manly feel factor that you experience is awesome. Boxy design & an almost vertical windshield / side glasses does not allow sun rays or rain water directly into the cabin. Commanding view of the road ahead.
2) The Bolero can take in any amount of abuse without complaining. The capability to almost go anywhere in any kind of terrain. Solid steel guage.
3) Terrific fuel economy figures of 12-14 kmpl in city conditions & 16-18 kmpl on highway runs.
4) Fantastic air conditioner that will freeze you up in no time. Upright seats offer reasonable support too.
5) Practical to own & Economical to maintain - a big plus. The tag line "with you hamesha" by Mahindra instills much needed confidence on long distance drives.
6) Powerful & high placement of headlights are a boon in case you are driving at night.
7) Overall reliability is excellent. Never lets you down. A solid jeep that occupies your family as a permanent member - So much so that you simply cannot live without one.