Mahindra Bolero Turbo - Play Time

I do not want to give emphasis on the performance figures here because for a four-wheeler like the Bolero, performance figures are just academic. No doubt, she is not as fast as a Sumo Turbo or a Chevy Tavera, but no one would buy this for out and out performance, what matters is the way she responds in city traffic and here the Bolero does excel. For a car that is 1670kilos and has just 63PS on tap, she nudges the 60km/h mark in a shade over 10 direction, with fake wooden inserts on the central console, better fabric, digital trip meter, MP3 system and even power window switches, which have been carried over from the Scorpio. On this top end version, one would definitely expect an arm rest and more cubby holes to keep knick knacks. On the move, the seats don't support you properly and every bump on the road gets transmitted to the driver via the steering wheel! The quality of plastics used is really appalling, knowing what Mahindra is capable of (Scorpio interiors.) The glove box never shut properly, the driver's side door handle plastic cover came off and the overall feel is definitely low. Anyways, I did enjoy listening to the MP3 system, which has been positioned in a very awkward position but thanks to the guys who invented the 'remote', listening to music is a pleasurable and safer experience. We were really impressed with the system while we were off-roading as the disc did not even slip even once! The air-conditioning system is simple superb, but again the top end SLX model should have been given roof-mounted blowers for the rear passengers. The gear shift is another disappointment and rivals have a far better feel.

So, how was my stint with the Bolero SLX turbo? I have been using it for a week now, and have clogged close to 750kms and have put it through all that I had imagined and wanted to. I, at certain times, pushed her way too much through slushy out-backs and the only thing that came off were the front wheel caps! Initially, the jeep felt as if it would drop some parts, but there is no doubt that Mahindra know what they are doing. They have spent a lot of time making their products durable and strong. No doubt, at the VRDE proving grounds, you will always see a Mahindra under test. I cruised around the city with blasting music,I waded through knee deep water, made 360 degree donuts in the wet and even took it to the busy shopping streets of Pune! Yes it's crude and basic, but that's they way, some people want their machines to be. You get ample torque to drive in traffic, good NVH levels inside and a chassis/suspension set up which will take the worst of the worst. And at a OTR Pune price of 6.36 lakhs for the top end SLX version, it's hard to ignore this 'jeep'. I will call it a jeep, because this is what it is. The only other option I would think of would be the Maruti Gypsy King. But it sips petrol and doesnt even come with a A/C as option, forget other creature comforts. Just wish Mahindra do something about As of now, I am happy living with it. Pune's rains and 'moon landscape' roads have proved that the Bolero is one tough animal. I still remember that advert Mahindra came out with some years back, "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going..."