2007 Mahindra Pikup 4×4 Road Test
August 16, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
2007 Mahindra PikUp 4×4 Road Test
CarAdvice rating: 
Model Tested: 2007 Mahindra Pik-Up 2dr Man 5sp 4×4 2.5DT
Recommended Retail Price: $26,990 (manual only, metallic paint extra)
Can I just start by getting the hardest part out of the way? I can’t ignore this, the Mahindra Pikup, is indisputably, ugly, and its not ugly like a Smart car that you can eventually grow to love hate less, there is no doubt about it, from any angle you look at it, the Pikup is hideous.
Originating from a nation that produces as many cars as movies, no amount of dancing, singing or even the Hindu God of beauty (Lakshmi) can cure the ugly curse cast upon this 4×4 ute.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on with it. Mahindra isn’t exactly a recognised brand in Australia, originally invading back in 1990 with the 4×4 BushRanger and Stockman, Mahindra’s invasion lasted for only 3 years before pulling out of the Australian market.
Currently in talks with another Indian manufacturer (Tata motors) to jointly buy Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford, this time around, Mahindra is here to stay.
It was a cold Monday morning when I went to pick up the Mahindra in south Brisbane, I was initially suppose to get the Dual Cab PikUp but a bit of confusion here and there, I ended up with the single cab 4×4.
The very first thing I noticed as I sat my rear end inside the cabin, was the god awful smell, but ignoring that, the seats were actually rather comfortable. Once I got my self settled, I turned the ignition key and the 2.5-litre Turbo-Diesel engine came to life.
With only 79kW of power, I quickly realised, it was going to be a long week, thankfully though, that feeling only lasted a few minutes as I felt the 247Nm of torque pulling me up the hill. Driven via a Five-speed manual gearbox mated to a hydraulic, diaphragm type single plate clutch, the PikUp is very easy to drive.
Prices start from $23,990 for the single cab rear-wheel-drive and go all the way to $29,990 for the dual cab 4×4.
Here is the truth, I am no four-wheel drive expert, and I didn’t put a ton of stock in the back or fill the ute up with work tools or test towing capacity etc etc, so if you’re expecting me to go into detail as to how I climbed a mountain in this, keep reading as I have a joke for you at the end. The reality is, this is the only Indian made car currently in Australia, so how could I miss the opportunity to see what our friends in the east have come up with.
Mahindra fact one. This is the only car that I have ever sat in that comes with a stereo capable of not only playing CDs/MP3s/iPods but also has the ability to accept memory cards from your camera and phone, as well as a USB connection to plug in your USB flash drive. How can a ute from India come with such a stereo system when cars worth 5x the price still lack some of these features?
The headunit appears to be a last minute thought, it has a very aftermarket look to it. Unfortunately though, the sound of the Diesel engine coupled with next to useless speakers mean that unless you keep turning that knob, you are not going to hear that much.
Mahindra fact two. The interior of the PikUp is not very well made. With an odd looking Carbon Fibre like plastic centre console, the PikUp appears to be a little confused about its personality.
My aim was to take the PikUp outback and give it a workout, before I did that, I packed all sorts of supplies incase it died on me half way in. Firstly, I decided to put my wallet, phone and sunglasses in the glovebox, bad idea, it broke.
Yep, the glovebox opened, and decided it no longer felt like closing, the clip had broken. That’s okay, a similar thing happened to the Lamborghini Murcielago I drove earlier this year.
As I locked the car to go and find some sticky tape, the headlights turned on, that’s odd, why would the headlights turn on when I lock the car? I opened the door and turned the headlight switch to on and then back to off, headlights turned off, walked out, pressed the lock button… headlights turned on again… so I took a deep breath and decided to let it be.
My partner and I headed north towards Australia Zoo to find a 4WD track to put the Mahindra to some use. On our 2 hour journey, a few things became obvious, one, every single person that drove past gave us the “what the heck is that” look, two, the engine and road noise had become unbearably loud on the highway, three, the interior was made out of some really cheap stuff as everything we touched literally broke.
The plastic cover over the seatbelt bolt came apart as we hit a few potholes… this was not very reassuring given the car has no airbags, yes, no airbags. I have a feeling, if or when this car gets tested by ANCAP, the results will not be that comforting.
There are unfinished edges everywhere, from the carpet to the upholstery and even to the mirrors outside. By this stage, the sticky tape holding the glove box had come loose and we had to pull over to get some more.
We finally found a nice stretch of dirt road to test the Mahindra, and the truth, despite its downfalls, as a 4×4 ute, the PikUp is a great buy. Comparing this to the Mazda BT-50, to get an equivalent dual-cab 4×4, the Mazda will set you back at least an extra $10,000. Toyota Hilux? Same deal. No matter what I say, I really can’t argue with the price.
Turn the plastic knob and the car changes from rear-wheel-drive to 4×4, low or high ratios. Driven through 16 inch steel rims wrapped in 245/75 tyres and with a 210mm ground clearance, you can literally drive this over anything.
Cargo space varies from 1489 x 1520 x 550 (mm) for the dual cab (pictured below) to 2294 x 1520 x 550 (mm) for the single cab. It consumes a reasonable 9.9 litres of diesel per 100kms from its 80 litre fuel tank. For more info check out the specification sheet here.
For the front, the PikUp gets independent suspension, a torsion bar with stabiliser bar & hydraulic shock absorbers, the rear makes do with a multi-layered semi elliptical leaf springs (underslung).
I drove it through some stubborn terrain and time and time again, I was pleased with the cars ability to overcome obstacles. For those who don’t need a 4×4 system, the standard rear-wheel-drive is also a reasonable buy at just $23,990 for the single and $25,990 for the dual cab!
At the end of the day, the decision is simple, although it’s ugly and most likely not the best built or safest vehicle in its class, with a $10,000+ saving over its competitors, more cargo space and Mahindra’s commitment to maintain its reputation (3 year/100,000km warranty plus 1 year road side assist), for a farmer or a tradesmen, you would be foolish not to check out the Mahindra PikUp.
Now for that joke I promised our 4WD fans.
The Australian National Transportation Safety Board recently revealed they had covertly funded a project with the manufactures by installing black boxes in four-wheel drive pickup trucks in an effort to determine, in fatal accidents, the circumstances in the last 15 seconds before the crash.
They were surprised to find in 7 of the 8 states and territories the last words of drivers in 61.2 percent of fatal crashes were, “Oh, S#$%!”
Only Tasmania was different, where over 89.3 percent of the final words were: “Hold my beer and watch this!”
Alborz Fallah
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It’s interesting to see all the comments about the Mahindra pickup while we wait for it to arrive in the US late next year. People are talking about it as well, mainly because they are curious about it. Here’s the latest news on the pickup: It will be named the Appalachian, it will be built in the US state of Ohio to avoid the 25% import tarrif, and it will be sold with a Diesel-electric hybrid motor. Hopefully all of the problems you spotted will be corrected by the time it goes on sale here (and yes, it will have airbags, because our governing agencies here will not let it be sold without them unless Mahindra plans to sell around 5,000 per year).
guys
the engine in this car is designed here like so many thing that are designed here that get built else where and i think maybe a read of there website would enlighten a few to what gets built where and anyway most of what i see here described as jap utes are built in thailand anyway and shipped here under the free trade deal with the thai govt.
hi again
after test drive of the 4 door pik up over the weekend i have a number of comments to make
1: some of the comments in the media test drive about the headlights switching on when you lock the car are somewhat incorrect the car dose this if the head lights have been on and when you lock the car switches the head lights on for about 30 sec so you can find your way in.
2:the basics of this car are done quite well but you can see where corners have been cut and i would think that this is going to impact on the ability to sell this car in this market place for example the dash has a 25 to 30 mm gap to the windscreen and my parking permit found its way in there no less than 3 times
3:the front seats are very short on rake and are set to close to the wheel im am 6 ft tall and the seat was still to close for me.and the seat is set to close to the door as well not as bad as the landrover and this would be to save on developing a left and right center peice.
4:the egine start to make a strange noise at 2300 rpm through to 3000 rmp the along with a loss of power would make me think the this powerplant dosent have a lot of longevity mind yhou this was at 1700 km
4: however the 9.9 per 100 km is easlity achived i recorded 8.8 or better all weekend
overall the basic of a good car are there but i think mahindra failed to do enough product reserch on this what our market would demand holden have been doing this right and left hand drive setup for years i think mahindra could learn alot from them
I am an American and am waiting for the chance to test-drive the crew-cab pickup. We don’t have a diesel in this class here in the States. Supposedly this vehicle is undergoing $80million in refinements and upgrades in preparation for the US market. Personally I’m hoping for good things out of this vehicle. I currently have a VW Jetta TDI which has been great. I also have a Ford Explorer which has been absolute crap, had to have the tranny completely replaced at 35k miles and is now almost worthless. The biggest reason for me is that its a compact diesel and it will be the 2.5 turbo diesel with a six-speed tiptronic auto like my Jetta.
The Mahindra sounds like a crock of s**t. I’ve got a 95 Hilux with 250,000 on the clock which is an excellent vehicle – it’s got plenty of power from the 2.8 diesel and is quite comfortable. The resale value of these Mahindras could be worse than Daihatsu or Kia. You may as well dig a hole and throw money into it unless you want to keep it for 10 years or more then bury it.
Sunnyvale ….does the name “Mahindra” sounds like a crock of s*** or have you really tested the pickup your self?
By the sounds of this you are evaluating the pick up by its name ? is it? Well thats what I don’t want to read as a review…..see the examples above as to how you should write a review, constructive critique…thats what all of the readers are looking for.
Wow, what a racist bunch of pricks you guys are. I agree, this car is a bloody joke but to turn on the race and say not to trust indians?? over what? The ford falcon you guys rave about wouldn’t stand a chance in the international market. Its a piece of crap as well. Typical trailer park mentality of australia on great display here. bravo.
Anuj..that was a bit upsetting for you ,but us Ozzies laugh at ourselves more than others,don’t be so serious.
I think the Falcon would do real well oversees,why do think it wouldn’t Commodore seems to be accepted,with the Ozzi dollar so high now though I bet Ford Australia are glad they didn’t pump it in to the US.
tough old hilux will still be goin strong in 20 years mick, nah i don’t think i’d be pointin me credit card in the Mahindra’s direction, go for the older hilux or navara, much more reliable.
Mahindra supplies vehicles to the Indian Army. Its really rugged and used in all sorts of terrain, including the world’s highest battlefield.
They’re simple and easy to repair.
Costing $10,000 less than other Utes in this market, its obviously targeting a different buyer.
BTW, Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, not beauty.
I have just read through all of your comment, I am ashamed to say some of my country folk are “RACIST REDNECKS”
Now for the facts, as a towing contractor and mechanic who has also lived in the bush, I can say so far most of you should be slapped, I have towed almost every car you lot have mentioned as broken down vehicles, and as for you toyota freaks, get a life, I tow 4 times as many toyotas than any other vehicle, toyota hi lux i call em low lux for their crappy parts and unreliablity, I would no sooner buy a hi lux than try to fly, I have had the chance to drive the TA TA when it was in OZ and for the money was a descent buy, I would be giving the Mahindra a chance before condeming it, I would love to see a Commodore ute go some of the places the Mahindra will go, and as for the inside, when it is on the farm who gives a crap about the carpet corners and refinements, it is a work horse not a show pony!
You can say what you like but the room in the back set of the mahindra is the best that is on the market as to date 3 adults and still room to spare we drove this ute for 3days it got to the point were you did not wish to get out the comfort is so good as for towing with a 2ton camper on behide you did not know it was behind you as for the 4×4 side we did a full day driving in the sand at wyperfild national park in vic the only thing that stop us was the toyota boged to the axel that we pull out with no fuss just give it a go you will be surprised
First ..
“Yep, the glovebox opened, and decided it no longer felt like closing, the clip had broken.”
The clip never broke… but if you try closing by putting pressure on the corners.. it’ll never close… always apply pressure just over where you pull to open… and thats common for most glove boxes these days.
I am surfer and I have been driving th pick-up for two months now.. believe me.. it worth every penny.. and boy.. i just love the kick it gives as u shift to each gear..
no probs on any surface.. not even on partly wet sands… and the 4wd too is excellent..
even driving on th highways is fun…
i was initially in two minds too… but once i tried it.. there was no stopping me…stop all the grumbling i see here… this things definately worth a try… and take my word.. u’ll end up buying it !!
GUYS, I TEST DRIVE CARS FOR A LIVING ! AM SETTLED IN SAUDI ARABIA AND TEST DRIVE ALL UTS AND 4X4S IN THE HOT SAND. WELL, THE MAHINDRA PICK UP 4X4 WAS ON THE TEST RUN OVER THE DUNES LAST WEEK END. WE HAD TWO HILUX 4X4 AS COMPANIONS.
THE HILUXES WERE FAST AND FURIOUS ON THE TERMAC. ONCE ON THE SAND WE WERE PULLING THEM OUT WITH THE MAHINDRA EVERY 100 MTRS. THAT SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE……
I’ll be in the market for a new truck soon. I’ve had an F-150 and Silverado. Now I’m inherited my grandfather’s 94 Dodge Ram. I’m a little frustrated it’s taken so long for Mahindra to get here in the US and now it’s delayed till fall 09. Looking forward to the 4×4 crew cab though.
Common ladies instead of bitching around like a bunch of chicks lets give it some time.If its a reliable vehicle it will remain in Oz,probably we will see couple of them on our streets.
But if its a piece of junk it will wind up soon from our market.
Time is the biggest healer.
cheers
I’m interested in how they’ll do in the long run. Anyone out there have one for a year or more?
Yes My Neigbor has one. It’s been five years. Its proven on the rugged roads of mountainous region of North East India.
I’m pleased that Tasmanians say the same thing as Southerners in the US before they perish :)
I’ll give this truck a chance when it comes to the US. I need a cheap diesel pickup for the farm, and if only plastic bits fall off, that’s cool. If the engine falls out, well, that’s another matter: the truck would look great up on cinder-blocks.
Nice to see that not everyone’s taking the piss outta the pikup, here are my two cents though:
I think this was designed by some cartoonist sitting in Bombay, I mean seriously what were they thinking? From what I have heard it is a pretty reliable vehicle though it isn’t the most refined. I haven’t driven the pikup but I did drive its wagon variant in India. The wagons come with Mahindra’s new 2.2 ltr common rail engine and trust me its easily a couple of centuries ahead in terms of refinement and performance, the company should consider getting that engine over at least as an option. I guess if Mahindra do want to succeed in Australia the second time around they need to assure buyers that they are here for the long haul this time around.
Most of the comments written here just prove that there some real dickheads out there. Constructive input by those who have actually driven the vehicle would be of more benefit to readers. Some comments just prove there is more culture in a tub of youghurt than all the slagers on this page put together. I have owned and driven the dual cab scorpio for the last 2 years doing 100 000 kays in this period. I have the reputation with my mates from past bakkies of,” If William cant stuff up a vehicle then nobody can” Well with this one I have given it my best shot and have not succeeded. It is tough but in a comfortable way. In this time the only problem I had was a blowout on the left back tyre on a trip to Namibia in March last year.
The ride quality off road is very good and comfortable. The cab/ interior space is exceptional when compared to other 1 tonners. The bin is large and deep. ( You can take extra sheep with you) It is economical on diesel (Av 10 l/100km). It has presence. The dipstick is a bastard to get out though.
I have driven the vehicle in Mozambique on many trips where the sand is thick. Drop the tyre pressures on the rear to around 1.2 bar , keep it in second and your momentum and you will not get stuck in this 4x 2 with the limited slip diff it has. It works just as well on mud, with the right tyres. If you want an animal that will work for you this bakkie will do the job. Maybe it wont win any beauty competitions but who cares. To us South Africans it’s a case of what it can do in the bush rather than what it looks like prancing around town.
I recent ly bought a large off road trailer with tent on top,for the Namibian trip. It is heavy but this bakkie pulled it for 6000 km, in the soaring African heat , with no problem. However in the sand in Mozambique I don’t think it will do the trick. ( I have not tried). So I have just purchased the 4×4 version. Would I have bought the same vehicle if I was not happy with it, No. The bonus is that the shape has not changed so all the accessories, bars, racks, canopy etc will fit perfectly on the new one.
I suggest the slaggers on this page all go and buy one because you are going to have more spare time to spend in the bush. It wont be worth wasting it watching games against the world rugby champions and world one day cricket champions . That should stir up the hornets nest. Only joking, we enjoy the competition.
I would love to have a Toyota or Nissan compact diesel, or Ford or GM for that matter. The truth is that the Mahindra truck (it currently has no name in the US) will be the only compact diesel on the market. Neither Toyota nor Nissan have any diesel plans in the US, and the Ford F250 and GM 2500’s are just more truck than I need, both on fuel consumption and initial cost. Stinky or not, I have no choice…..
Interesting read!
especially William from South Africa.
I was looking at the used option, of getting either a 2007 hilux diesel 4×4, or nissan 2.5 4×4.
Then I happened on a used mahindra pik up, and saw the price on the new ones, which is very fair right now in Chile.
Decided to investigate, and since it’s not sold in the US, it’s mostly aussie sites that talk about it.
it’s good to see the opinion of those who own one. Seems to be solid, and the fact that it’s ugly is simply as clear as day, but again, for the use one gives it, that does’t really matter much does it?
The fact that it’s actually from India gave me some bonus (albeit subjective) points. I would imagine indian roads to be pretty bad, and the need for the same mechanical simplicity and ease of repair in the field as in south america (or apparently africa and Oz).
The ones I saw ( I need to test drive this week), looked pretty sturdy, though interior finesse is not the high point. I am intrigued though by the bi level AC, max AC, and normal. Again, subjective bonus points of you are creating AC for India.
The one they sell here is the 4×4 one and dual cab, 2.6 CRDI. It goes for about 18,000U$ with VAT (20% refundable for businesses), and right now, the discount is about 10 to 15% depending on the version.
that would be more expensive than in other places?
appreciate all the info
hellooo yaar,..don’t buy this mahindra jeep..this need too much petrol..also every month need maintaines..i have lost my money too much.ok..
can it look anny ulgyer
Someones finally got it right I hope mahindras here for the long haul this time.
I hope they get their dealer network right thats the only reason toyota and nissan are so popular because they have dealers everywhere.
As for all the stupid comments why do you bother you have nothing to say and have never driven the vehicle who wants a clapped out used piece of jap junk anyway, interior fit doesn’t matter by the time you have got in and out a few thousand times with manure covered boots even a tojo will look very ordinary very quickly.
“lights switching on after car locks is a defect ” …WTF
where has “Alborz Fallah” been living ?? under a rock !!!
Maybe if it was $500 driveaway, thats just a maybe!
Cheers
F-0
I’d like to hear from an owner of the new dual cab chasis. I’m thinking about getting the Mahindra to tow a van about 1800kg around Australia, through sandy tracks and gravel roads maybe the beach every now and then. Has anyone used it for this purpose. I’m not brand dependent and open to hear from owners their good and not so good experiences. Will have three youngens in the back and need a bit of space. Also want a commercial i.e. dual cab ute to avoid log books and other admin duties of not having a commercial vehicle. (Ah the whims of business admistration)
I drove around in a 2005 Suzuki Swift and a 99 Nissan Pathfinder towing a big old millard around Australia for almost 2 years. The only engine problem I had was in the Pathfinder when a rat got in under the manifold and chewed up the wires on two occassions.
I own a 2008 single cab pik up and am happy with the vehicle and its 4×4 ability.Fuel usage is brilliant and handling is good,the ability to over take a tripple road train is good. But the dealer back up and support is shocking.Surface Rust found on tray at purchase had not been addressed or even followed up by Mahindra.Head light damaged after hitting Roo as big as a frig cannot be found to replace.Mahindra needs to address its attitude of now its sold stuff the buyer. AAA to vehicle neg 10 to dealer
importer.
AUS ‘aftermarket’ observation:-
When ordering an aluminium (tradesman) tray from a coachbuilder; ensure the supplier uses the standard_provided_taillights (contains a rear fog lamp in the taillamp assembly), OR – if they use aftermarket taillamps, as some do, that they also fit a seperate rear fog light to compliment the existing standard activating switch and wiring.
* Mahindra are supplied with operational the rear fogs in the AUS market.
(ADR52/UNECE38 and in the US, SAEJ1319).
Kinda ‘dumb’ that some aftermarket coach builders do not ensure “continuity of the factory standard”, as standard 5watt taillights are useless when visibility gets bad.
This is not a discussion about rear fogs, but an observation.
OT – NSW to seek a mandatory rear fog lamp ADR:-
http://www.boostcruising.com/f.....pic=450922