I was looking for a budget car which I could drive around in city and also on highways and bad roads, carry some guest, luggage. Being a family of 4 and also friends and guest visiting, going out on country side for short camps, I had Bolero ZLX and TUV in my mind.
TUV being new I had some apprehension. I test drove both the vehicle and felt that Bolero is a better over all vehicle barring the interiors and features that TUV provides. However the bolero runs out after 110.
It feels as if some one has cuts off the fuel in m2dicr after 110 kph.( TD experience). Then drove the TUV 80 hp 3 months back and found its excellent on smooth road and has a very good low rpm torque. However I planned to wait as TUV had complains on back seat, and high speed power delivery and when Mahindra launched the Nuvo Sports with 100 bHP and TUV 300 with 100 bhp with better seats and all the issues resolved, I bought the T8 100 HP beginning of August 2016.
I drive 30 kp per day with 12 km on village road, 2 km no roads through fields, 5 km bad road and the rest good road. Thus every day I experience how this behaves on all type of roads.
Suspensions:-
What I like.:- Handles good road very well, suspension is soft but handles speed below 100 very well. Handles bad road well at a higher speed. Also on highways 4 lane, it drives like a dream
What I don’t:- At slow speed, on bad roads, it will toss all the users around the car and not a good experience at all for a 10.5 lakhs car. Not aware why this issue? perhaps a design issue with the suspension. I had experienced Safari as passenger and driven Bolero and Scorpio and find that their suspension is better tuned than the TUV for bad road. Bolero better than Scorpo better than TUV
High speed handling TUV better than Bolero better than the old Scorpio.
Torque:- Excellent low end torque. Enough to take any ghats.
High Speed handling, less than 100km/hr. TUV 100HP touches 100 at 2400 rpm . If the higest envelope is at 2800-3000 rpm, I can expect it to cruse at 110-120 km/hr for long drives. However just did 500 km and do not wish to take this beyond 2000 rpm now. for the 1st 1000 km.
Engine:-
What I Likes:- A linear feel of power across 1000 to 2500 rpm.( higher than 2500 yet to explore). It has a grunt after 2200 rpm which give a powerful feel. Appears efficient 15km/lit for such a heavy vehicle. This is an actual SUV unlike Ford eco sports and Duster which are more car like.
What I do not:- I feel that the 3 cylinder heats more than the 4 cylinder counter parts. . Also I feel that the engines heats more than my Indica TCIC( 1400cc).
When you switch off the engine and the RPM -> 0(tends to zero) There is a vibration.( In my opinion since the vehicle is new, it may not be of loose mounts but because of something in the vehicle matches with the low rpm and outcome of resonance. This is my Opinion but let Mahindra figure it out. In future when the mounts will become loose post 60-70 k, this may grow to an uncomfortable level if the mounts are not checked during service.
Interiors:-
What I like:- One of the best interiors I have seen in any Mahindra. This is good. The front 2 seats are comfortable but feel that the drivers seat should have been higher by an inch post the max height in the height adjuster.
The second seat is is comfortable but still some foam and a 10 degrees recliner and a optional hand rest in between would have been better.
The 3rd jumper seats are OK for a short ride for kids.
Although in many reviews they say that 2nd row AC is absent but the AC is powerful to cool the car.
What I do not:-
Floor mats are horrible and do not cover all the areas of the car. Not aware what was Mahindra’s strategy to give such horrible and small floor mats.It does not cover the complete floor surface. Too bad.
The rear view mirror is also very small and should have been larger.
Features:- ESS, ECO( drive as well as AC), reverse assist, Music system are just ok to do the job. The ESS can be a issue if you are driving with weak batt.
The ECO drive is also horrible and I recommend not to use.
Exterior:- Great look. However a 16’ or 17’ wheels would have been much better. The wheels looks out of proportion for the vehicle.
Others:_
Differentials:- As most of Mahindra owners drive on road as well as off roads and our country has diversified terrains, it is a must to have LSD( Limited Slip Differentials) for any manufacturer who claims their product as SUV or a mini SUV and also in one the models should have a 4 wheel drive.
A must buy if your pocket cannot buy a Scorpio or a Tata Safari and want to drive something which feels like a SUV. You will never repent your decision as this is a 100% SUV, with great driving pleasure, height and presence on road rather than a blown up hatch back like others sub 4. Off course it may not have all the perfection of a Ford or a Renault but it will take any Indian Roads as long as there is traction at the rear wheels. Have a look at the torque figures and also feel it when you take a TD.
Yet to comment on service and further issues and life of vehicle. Definitely it cannot beat a Bolero. A Bolero with TUV interiors and engine would have been a killer!