All Mahindra Pik-Up variants are on sale with savings of up to $3,000 across the full range. Free alloy wheels will also be available on selected models during this time.

“With our ‘09 run out this is the ideal time for Australian drivers to get an even better value for money workhorse ute that’s made for the hardest places on Earth.” said Claire Tynan, CEO of MAA.

The Mahindra Pik-Up features a 2.5-litre intercooled common rail turbo charged diesel engine, and additional safety features such as ABS brakes and airbags, which were introduced mid-2009.

Available in an array of colours and offering extensive standard features including limited slip differentials on both two and four wheel drive models, the Mahindra Pik-Up has 210mm ground clearance, 24 hour road side assist, colour-coded bumpers, power windows/steering/mirrors and an 80 litre fuel tank.

It also comes standard with creature comforts such as air conditioning front and rear, tilt steering, load adjusting headlamps, remote central locking with immobiliser and a sound system with full CD/MP player and radio, USB port and an SD card port that allows one to listen to music from a variety of sources – with safety-first audio controls on the steering wheel.

Ergonomic seating, foot steps, fog lights, front and rear demisters and follow-me-home headlights are also standard. The instrument cluster has a contemporary look with all controls designed with ease of access and operation in mind. For security purposes, the Mahindra Pik-Up is fitted with an alarm and immobiliser, and offers keyless entry as standard equipment.

Sale prices on all Mahindra Pik-Up models and variants will be available until mid-February 2010.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

A survey conducted at Mahindra dealerships along the Eastern Seaboard found that 32 per cent of ute owners were interested in 4×4 touring but had never done anything about it.

Another 7.2 per cent said they go touring with friends but wouldn’t brave the elements in their own vehicle.

The results prompted the company to develop a four-wheel drive guide to help first-timers and those unsure about how to prepare, what to take and other general safety tips for going off-road.

Mahindra Australia CEO, Claire Tynan, said it was important for drivers to have confidence in their car and themselves before setting off into the great unknown.

“Through talking to buyers and understanding the market via extensive research we found that drivers are rightfully apprehensive of finding themselves in sticky situations in remote areas.

“This is why understanding a 4×4 vehicle before making a purchase and questioning the brand’s capability and reliability, as well as taking all of the right precautions before heading out, is absolutely vital.

“This sort of knowledge makes a huge difference in terms of confidence on those special adventure trips as well as on the road daily,” she said.

Rees Leyshon was one of the more apprehensive drivers who had a lifelong dream to four-wheel drive up to Cape York.

He said learning the basics from the Mahindra guide and dealers and understanding his car helped him to overcome the fear and live the dream.

“It just takes time to do your research and build confidence with your vehicle once you’ve bought it before you can go out there and conquer some tough tracks.  But it’s well worth it.”

Tips from the 4×4 guide include:

• Tyres, brakes and steering should all be in good condition, and oil and water levels should be checked
• Spare equipment should include: fan belts, radiator hoses, fuel filter, engine oil, gear oil and brake fluid
• Basic recovery equipment such as snatch straps, shovel, and basic toolkit are among the essential items to carry
• Try to travel with another vehicle or a four-wheel drive club and avoid travelling alone

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Mahindra Australia CEO Claire Tynan said the addition of ABS and airbags as standard on the latest Pik-Up, as well as new Australian made seatbelts and load pretensioners would make the vehicle appealing to the new market.

“As per our market in the east coast, the Pik-Up is likely to appeal to tradies and farmers, but will also be of much interest to the mining community which is very exciting for us.”

Dealers in Rockingham, Melville, Bunbury and Geraldton expect that the vehicle will appeal to working-class buyers in WA.

Midwest Mahindra dealer principal, Brett Micallef, said he believed the diesel would be a popular option in Geraldton.

“As successful as the vehicle has been in rural areas across the Eastern Seaboard, we believe the Mahindra Pik-Up will be as appealing here locally.  Particularly given all of the safety and extra standard features the newest model offers, we think this is a well priced workhorse that any buyer should consider in the mix.”

Tynan refuses to submit Mahindra’s sales figures to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries to avoid being “scrutinised every month”, but the Indian company is believed to sell less than 1000 vehicle per year.

However, Tynan expects to turn that around with the expansion into WA, as well as the introduction of the four-wheel drive Scorpio wagon in the first half of 2010 and the Xylo people mover which is under consideration.

by Tim Beissmann

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

2009 Mahindra Pik-Up – First Look

Ever heard of, or even seen a Mahindra Pik-Up?

Funny enough, I saw one of these Indian designed and built vehicles yesterday for the first time, on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Don’t be at all surprised though, by the lack of Mahindra sightings if you happen live in any of Australia’s capital cities, you’re not the target market, at least, not yet.

Most of the 20-plus Mahindra dealers in this country are located well outside suburbia, in rural or semi rural areas for good reason, that’s where the farms are, and that’s where you’ll find these Mahindra Pik-Ups.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd is no backyard operation either; it’s a US$6.3 billion dollar corporate giant with tentacles spanning the globe, and automotive is just one of their many business categories.

And while the Australian operation might be relatively small at the moment, watch this space very carefully.

Mahindra Automotive Australia (MAA) is a joint venture between TMI Pacific (a division of the well-respected Sydney based Tynan Motor Group) and Mahindra & Mahindra, which owns 80 per cent of the venture.

It’s worth noting that in these dark economic times, Mahindra & Mahindra are one of the few global corporations that is currently expanding, with new plants under construction in several countries.

Moreover, they have never pulled out of any market they have launched in, since the company began assembling the famous Willy’s Jeep back in 1945.  This is one company that is here to stay, despite what you may think of Indian built vehicles.

But don’t believe me, or the hype, just ask any proud Aussie owners of the Mahindra Pick-Up, as I did this morning.

Rees Leyshan, is a landscaper and part time adventurer from the Hills Shire, in Sydney’s north west, and he and his family, have driven their first generation Pik-Up more than 20,000km across some of the harshest country Australia has to offer, and he’ll tell you it “didn’t miss a beat”.

On one trip alone to Australia’s water logged top end, he crossed 20 rivers, and pulled both Mitsubishi and Toyota badged vehicles out from harm’s way.

Mind you, when he first bought the Mahindra, his mates gave him hell and nicknamed the car, the ‘Calcutta Commodore’. Today, there are three more in his suburb.

As one dealer said, “we don’t have to sell these vehicles; the owners do the selling for us.”

The prime motivation for someone to look at a Mahindra Pik-Up is price and value for money.

Financially strapped farmers believe that you can’t compare them to anything on the market, as far as value and reliability goes. If you can learn to live with the Mahindra badge and the jokes from the boys, they appear to offer substantial economic benefits.

The marketing push for Mahindra is all about tough and the ad slogan reads, “made for the hardest places on earth”.

India is not exactly kind to cars and the Australian bush isn’t much better, and yet there are hundreds of testimonials from the dark corners of the globe, testifying to the reliability and robustness of Mahindra vehicles.

Rees Leyshan wishes he had waited for this next generation Mahindra, with more than 20 new features including; dual front airbags, ABS brakes and power side mirrors, all for a lower price than the first generation vehicle.

Clearly, there is a market beyond landscapers and farmers for the Pik-Up, any type of tradesmen who watches his outgoings would do well to have a good look over the Mahindra offering.

It’s still powered by the same 2.5-litre CRDe four-cylinder. turbo-diesel engine producing 79kW and 247Nm of torque from 1800 rpm and mated to a five-speed manual transmission. However, you can be confident of more grunt and the possibility of a six-speed auto with any future facelift.

The other good news is that Mahindra will soon be launching a range of Pik-Ups and SUVs into the North American market, so we should see a similarly expanded range in Australia too, kicking off with the Scorpio SUV in 2010.

There’s a stack of room in the front cabin, and in the rear in the dual cabs too, with unlimited storage space for bits and pieces, while the quality of materials used throughout the interior has been stepped up a notch or two.

I’m keen to test drive the new Pik-Up,  given the substantial improvement in overall features and general seat comfort, which I sampled during today’s launch and CarAdvice will be posting a thorough review of the vehicle as soon as possible.

Mahindra Pik-Up 4 x 2 – prices to ABN holders

•     2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 2 Cab/Chassis – $18,999*
•     2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 2 $20,499*
•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 2 Cab/Chassis $23,299*
•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x2 $24,199*

Mahindra Pik-Up 4 x 4 prices to ABN holders

•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 4 Cab/Chassis $24,199*
•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 4 Single Cab 4 x 4 $25,599*
•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 4 Cab/Chassis $25,999*
•    2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 4 $26,999*

*Manufacturers’ List Price

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

The team plans to meet with current Mahindra drivers, prospective customers and dealers in an effort to gather feedback and understand both the challenges and positive aspects of a workhorse vehicle.

“We are very committed to the Australian market and are planning on launching additional models here in the not too distant future. In order for us to do so meaningfully, we need to have our ears to the ground to know what our Australian dealers face, and very importantly, what our current buyers and those considering our vehicles want to see more of, or conversely love about our offering,” said Mr. Dinesh Choudhari, Automotive Sector Deputy General Manager (Export).

“This feedback is then assessed with our Australian team and taken back to India where we can factor all of this into our design and planning. This is imperative in order for us to launch products that deliver beyond Australian drivers’ expectations.”

The informal ‘focus groups’ will also involve other 4×4 utility drivers to workshop some of the barriers that may exist currently as the brand continues to establish itself in the traditionally tough Australian automotive market.

Mahindra Group is one of the top 10 industrial companies in India and top 50 in Asia, comprising of over 110 individual companies that operate across many sectors.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Domestic (Indian) sales of Mahindra models hit 25,748 units last month, a 30 per cent rise against the 23,128 units sold in March, 2008.

“My congratulations to the entire team at M&M’s Automotive Sector. This is a clear validation of the faith customers place in our products. I am especially pleased that our newly launched Mahindra XYLO has shown impressive sales figures, and it is particularly gratifying that Scorpio sales continue to be robust,” said Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group.

“Our sales figures in March have been bolstered by impressive numbers for all M&M products. Domestic Utility Vehicles have grown a solid 30% on the back of the highest ever sales for the Scorpio, Bolero and the Pik-Up. Not to mention the strong market sentiment which continues for the recently launched XYLO, which clocked an impressive 3,171 units in sales.  March 09 represents the highest ever monthly sales figures for M&M, which bodes well for us going forward, particularly on the back of our best quarter in the last fiscal year. Things are indeed looking up for the automotive sector this year,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Including exported vehicles the group managed a tally of 26,209 vehicles for March with the best selling models including the Scorpio, Bolero and locally recognised Pik-Up, a lead seller for the group managing 19,973 units for March 2009.

Mahindra’s YTD domestic volumes for the period up to March 2009 stand at 220,215 units compared with 218,977 units for the same period last year.

Locally, Mahindra Automotive Australia (MAA) eagerly awaits the arrival of a facelift Pik-Up model, which is expected to go on sale in June.

The XYLO will follow shortly thereafter, expect sometime within the next 12 months.

“It’s encouraging to see new models being embraced and sales of existing models continuing to climb in Mahindra’s home market,” says Ms. Claire Tynan, CEO, MAA. “We look forward to introducing the refreshed Pik-Up in Australia shortly, which will see an enhanced look and safety features. When the XYLO arrives, we anticipate that it will garner as much interest as it has in the Indian market, as we continue to establish and grow the brand’s well positioned value for money offerings.”

For a full review of the current Mahindra Pik-Up, click here.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

I don’t think a single day has gone by that someone hasn’t asked me, “out of all the cars you’ve driven, what is your favourite car?” Oh no, not this question, not again. I usually answer; “Have you got five hours to spare? ‘Cause that’s how long it will take to respond!”.

- Alborz Fallah

What is my favourite car? Well 2008 was a supremely awesome year for CarAdvice, we broke new barriers and once again proved to the industry that the internet is the most vital resource for those looking to buy a new car.

I’ll ask you a simple question, when you’re going to buy a car, what’s the first thing you do? Come online and research it. Simple, however you won’t believe how hard this concept has been for us to emphasis to manufacturers. Some simply believe the internet is a fad and one that will disappear.

 If you’ve noticed, we rarely feature any reviews on Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Ferrari and Maserati.  This is not because we don’t like them (we love them), but because the agency responsible (same agency for all brands) for the press cars doesn’t believe in new-age media such as CarAdvice. Although, ironically, its marketing department disagrees and you may well have seen constant advertisements for Alfa Romeo on CarAdvice in recent months. Somewhat bizarre!

The internet is still a new concept to some but given the financial turmoil some of these companies are in, I imagine this will change sooner, rather than later.

The reason I mentioned this is because I am going to go over some of the highlights of the past year and some of the cars that really changed my attitude to brands and car culture in general.  Unfortunately I can’t honestly say I’ve experienced all cars, for the reason already mentioned, but here is what I can tell you.

 The car that changed my perception of an entire brand. If you read my Volvo C30 T5 review, you may in fact realise that just a week before I wrote it, I had this deep hatred for Volvo as a whole. Yes, hate is the appropriate word as it was true.

Honestly, how many of you out there dislike Volvo? Don’t deny it, you know it’s true, you can’t even imagine driving a Volvo, you can’t ever imagine answering “Oh, what do I drive? Umm … a … uh … Volvo”. Unfortunately for the Swedish manufacturer cool is simply not a word that can be associated with its brand.

Well, I tell you what. The perception and conception is completely wrong. Here I was, going flat out, keeping up with Anthony in the Aston Martin DB9 around twisty mountain roads and I felt sick. Sick because I realised that I’d been so wrong. Sick because I realised I’d been propagating this anti-Volvo stereotype for years (something of which I am still guilty).

You see the Volvo C30 T5 is a brilliant car, it’s a good $3000 more expensive than it ought to be and the list of options is extensive but it’s still brilliant. It looks good and it goes like a rocket. Then there is the Volvo S80, the car that convinced me that Volvo can be cool.

Next page…

Pages: 1 2 3 4

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

Mahindra Automotive Australia, which is a joint venture between Mahindra and Mahindra India and TMI Pacific, has today announced a new new cab/chassis variant for it’s one model range. The company says the cab/chassis was developed by Indian auto giant Mahindra & Mahindra specifically for the local market.

“Australian drivers use their utes in such varied ways that we needed to make the personalisation of the vehicle as easy as possible for our end user. Mahindra Pik-Up customers will be able to purchase the basic cab chassis model at a very competitive price and be able to fit them out with tipper trays, canopies, trade specific trays with tool boxes complete with secure drawers, which ever shape they require their workhorse to be.” Claire Tynan, CEO, MAA said,

One of the reasons we didn’t think the Mahindra was all bad was because of its price. You can find yourself in the Pik-up with an entry level Single Cab 4×2 model offered at just $19,990. That comes with a towing capacity of 2.5 tonne and a one tonne + payload.

In order to make the deal more attractive the company is also offering free alloy wheels on all Dual Cabs with stylised tub-backs.

Additional changes also include a new ‘Java Brown’ colour, longer seatbelts (extended by 350 mm), slotted brake-discs for better braking, and a revised air-conditioning system.

Mahindra Pik-Up Price

• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 2 Cab/Chassis $ 19,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 2 $ 21,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 2 Cab/Chassis $ 23,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 2 $ 25,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 4 Cab/Chassis $ 22,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Single Cab 4 x 4 $ 24,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 4 Cab/Chassis $ 27,990 (RRP Inc GST)
• Mahindra Pik-Up 2.5 CRDe Turbo Diesel Double Cab 4 x 4 $ 29,990 (RRP Inc GST)

Mahindra Pikup 4×4 Road Test

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

The agreement will lead to the formation of a new company called Mahindra Automotive Australia which will continue the marketing, promotion and retail of Mahindra vehicles in Australia. Mahindra will be the major shareholder with 80 per cent stake in the new Joint Venture, while TMI Pacific will retain the rest.

The US $6.7 billion Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. Mahindra is the market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India. It made a milestone entry into the passenger car segment with the Logan. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world.

“Over the past 18 months TMI Pacific has successfully laid the foundation and carved a niche in the Australian landscape for the Mahindra range of utility vehicles. Working alongside Mahindra, we have built brand presence and believe that the stake that Mahindra is putting in Australian soil and the commitment they are showing to becoming even more strongly involved in our market is a testament to their belief in it. This affirmative action will provide even further confidence to the dealer network and to prospective customers. We welcome this positive move forward.” TMI Pacific Chairman, Michael Tynan.

The Mahindra Group has a leading presence in key sectors of the Indian economy, including the financial services, trade, retail and logistics, automotive components, after-market, information technology and infrastructure development.

Mahindra has recently made an entry in the two-wheeler segment which will see the company emerge as a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry.

Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector is the proud recipient of the Japan Quality Medal, the only tractor company worldwide to be bestowed this honour. It also holds the distinction of being the only tractor company worldwide to win the Deming Prize. The US based Reputation Institute recently ranked Mahindra among the top 10 Indian companies in its Global 200: The World’s Best Corporate Reputations list.

Mahindra is also one of only four Indian companies to receive an A+ rating from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for its first Sustainability Report.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with TMI Pacific, which has contributed in large measure to the success of the Mahindra brand in Australia. As we merge to form a new entity, our collective dedication will ensure that the Mahindra brand will become further ingrained in the Australian market. We have a strong vision for international growth and this move is an integral part of that plan.” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Under the new structure, which will be in effect as of this week, Michael Tynan will become a Director and bring his rich experience of the Australian Auto Industry to the new venture. Chief Operations Officer, Claire Tynan, has been promoted to CEO, while the current team of head office staff and network of dealers around the country will remain unchanged. As before, their mandate will be to continue the growth and distribution of the Mahindra brand of vehicles throughout Australia.

“TMI Pacific has worked tirelessly since the launch of the Mahindra Pik-Up last year and has helped make Mahindra a household name in Australia, demonstrating that it is indeed the right partner for Mahindra in Australia. The new JV company, Mahindra Automotive Australia, will undertake branding and promotion activities for the brand, further consolidating our presence on the continent.” said Pravin Shah, Executive Vice President, Automotive Sector, International Operations, M&M Ltd.

Further plans for the new company along with future models for the market will be announced in an upcoming event for stakeholders, which will be hosted in Australia early next year.

Despite many automotive manufacturers feeling the economic crunch globally with job losses, factory closures, considerable cut back in production and work-weeks for some, Mahindra continues to grow strongly. During the second quarter ending September 30, Gross Revenues of the Company grew by 14.1% and Net Profit after tax excluding exchange loss and other exceptional and special items grew by 9.3%.

For a full review of the Mahindra Pik-Up, click here.

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.

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

©2010 Car Advice | News | Reviews - http://www.caradvice.com.au - All Rights Reserved.