After a sequence of spy footage and a handful of teaser photos and movies, the Mahindra Bolero Neo has lastly been launched within the nation with a beginning worth of Rs 8.48 lakh (ex-showroom, all-India). Adopting the legendary ‘Bolero’ prefix, the Bolero Neo is extra of a re-introduction of the discontinued TUV300. It’s accessible in three trims – N4, N8, and N10, with a fourth N10 (O) variant to be inducted within the coming months. Together with the brand new nomenclature, the Bolero will get a refreshed exterior and a BS6 compliant mHawk 100 1.5-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine.
How is it on the skin?
The Bolero Neo shares its body-on-frame underpinnings with the Scorpio making it one in every of its sort among the many monocoque-based compact SUVs within the section.Visually, the Neo retains the boxy and tall stance of the TUV300. What’s new although are the squared headlamp models with built-in horizontal daytime operating lights. The entrance grille with vertical chrome slats together with a single chrome stripe throughout the bonnet line offers the SUV a muscular stance. Additional down, the bumpers have been reworked with a redesigned housing for the fog lamps and a skid plate on the backside.
Transferring to the aspect, the one seen change and an try and twin with the sturdy Bolero is the black horizontal insert that runs parallel to the door handles. Whereas the roof rails have been given a miss, the squared wheel arches surrounded by plastic cladding paired with the 15-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and aspect footstep give it a rugged look.
The rear is dominated by the tailgate-mounted spare wheel with X-shaped cowl, a roof-mounted spoiler, vertically positioned back lights, rear wiper, and parking sensors. The Bolero Neo could be had with six exterior shades – Freeway Pink, Pearl White, Diamond White, Rocky Beige, Napoli Black, and Majestic Silver.
How is it on the within?
The cabin of the Bolero Neo immediately reminds one of many TUV300. The 2-tone beige and black color theme of the upright dashboard is stacked with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system that will get Bluetooth, AUX, USB, together with six audio system. The old-school but utilitarian instrument cluster is commanded by a three-spoke adjustable steering wheel with mounted controls together with a cruise management function.
The centre console doesn’t seem to have a lot house for stowage as a significant portion is occupied by the management buttons for the facility home windows. Nevertheless, the gloss black inserts across the gear lever, couple of cup holders, and particular person armrests for each driver and the entrance passenger attempt to make up for the consumed house. The material beige upholstery with the diamond-type sample blends properly with the dashboard and provides an ethereal really feel to the cabin.
The Neo will get a bench-type seat for the second-row passengers and leap seats within the final row in case the journey includes extra occupants than baggage. The center row seems to be spacious with an armrest and large door pockets. The aspect and rear footstep make ingress and egress from the cabin a straightforward affair. Different highlights within the cabin embody electrically adjustable ORVMs, rear wiper, height-adjustable driver seat, central locking, and Mahindra’s Blue Sense related automobile tech.
What’s underneath the hood?
Beneath the raised bonnet is the up to date BS6 compliant 1.5-litre, three-cylinder mHawk 100 diesel engine. Sure, it’s the identical oil burner that powered the sooner TUV300 and it even has the same output of 100bhp and 260Nm of torque. The five-speed guide gearbox is the only transmission possibility distributing the facility to the rear wheels. Now we have pushed the Bolero Neo and our full-fledged overview is scheduled to go stay on 17 July, 2021.
On the security entrance, Mahindra gives options equivalent to twin entrance airbags, reverse parking digicam, ABS with EBD, nook braking management, and seat belt reminder as commonplace. Apparently, the ISOFIX youngster seat anchorages are restricted solely to the highest N10 trim.
Competitors and Pricing
At Rs 8.48 lakh (ex-showroom) for the N4 variant, the Neo is simply Rs 6,500 greater than the bottom variant of the Bolero. On evaluating the top-spec variants, the Neo is priced Rs 59,000 greater than the usual Bolero. Being a rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame SUV, the Bolero Neo is a correct SUV that may effortlessly tread over any given terrain; in contrast to others who largely type over perform.
Pictures: Kaustubh Gandhi
