Introduction
Innovation has been the key in the Indian automobile market. In the last few years we have seen almost everything from miniature SUVs to compact sedans to sub-four metre seven-seaters. And then there are also cars that are actually hatchbacks but look bigger and the ones that offer so many features that one will probably not be done exploring and using them even after spending a month with them. But most of these were at some point standard cars altered to market needs or may be simply altered to meet the marketing needs.
The MultiX is neither, in fact I am not even sure whether I want to call it a car but for the simple reason that it can be registered under ‘M” category with white number plates that is used by RTO for passenger vehicles.
It has been a while since a product has impressed me as the MultiX from Eicher Polaris joint venture. It may not be something that everyone will buy or even need, but it leaves a lasting impression with the ingenious innovation dedicated at solving problems.
Looks
The MultiX looks part minivan and part desert buggy. It stands out for the quirky looks, though and by no means will anyone identify it as a personal vehicle, at least in the urban markets. That said, it does score on quality and comes across as a premium product even with the fibre body parts.
It has a tiny bonnet with a black grille and similar black headlamp housing that makes it look like a van. The ‘X’ logo of the MultiX with orange back ground sits in the centre of the grille, above the black front bumper. The entire vehicle uses a dual-tone colour scheme with fibre parts creating a nice contrast with the black cladding.
The side profile is what makes the entire vehicle look interesting. Behind the C-pillar is a small open compartment, more like the loading bay of a pickup truck. The rear then looks automatically looks like that of a pickup truck.
One thing that is evident from the looks of the MultiX is that it is a purpose built vehicle. So till the time it serves the required purpose, not many will question its looks.
Interior & Features
The interior is pretty basic with grey plastic covering almost everything from dashboard to door trims. The light coloured fabric seats are also basic and have upright backrests. It has no power steering, power windows, monochromatic mirrors or even basic bottle holders to talk about. As a passenger car it simply offers enough space for five and a 400-litre space at the back as part of the open loading bay. There are some unique features, but we would rather talk about them as part of the engine package.
But the MultiX is not just a passenger car, with the smartly designed passenger cabin. The rear windshield can be removed and fitted behind the front two seats. Now fold down the second row and it turns into a mini pickup truck that has over 1900 litres of cargo space. The changes involved some innovative solutions like floating headrests and covering the rear of the second row with the same material as the floor of the loading bay.
Performance
The MultiX is powered by a 511cc single-cylinder Greaves diesel engine that produces 9.78bhp of power and 27.1Nm of torque. Certainly not a whole lot of power, but considering the kind of places this vehicle will ply in, it seems sufficient. Eicher Polaris claim that it can reach the top-speed of 55kmph and can comfortably carry a load of over 500kg. A four-speed gearbox delivers the power to the rear wheels from the rear engine setup.
At 650kg, the MultiX is light vehicle courtesy steel space frame and fibre body. Though we haven’t driven the vehicle yet, we are sure that its biggest strength will be the Polaris-developed all-four independent suspension. It has over 225mm of ground clearance – more than most UVs and that will help it wade over any sort of obstacles on the road.
There is no power steering and that means turns at low speeds will require some effort, still it won’t be too bad considering the weight. Another drawback is the small fuel tank of 14-litres; the company claims an ARAI fuel efficiency of 28.45kmpl and if It does return anything over 20kmpl, the MultiX will have a tank range of close to 300km.
Apart from working as a car, the MultiX can also be put to other use. It comes with a power export device that sits at the rear of the car that can be mated to an external drive shaft to connect to electric generator, water pump or other farm equipment. The port can develop power to generate 3000 watts of power, sufficient to light up a house or pump close to 1,000 litre of water per minute. Here is the bit that should make things really interesting; these applications consume less than one-litre of fuel per hour.
Verdict
The Multix is a lot more than a car. It is a one stop solution that will be idea in the rural markets. To start with it can carry five passengers along with their luggage, though the cover for the boot will cost extra as it is part of the accessories. Then it can double up to be a pickup truck that might not carry lot of weight but will certainly take enough volumetric cargo.
It does not offer many features, but at the starting price of Rs 2.32 lakh (ex-Jaipur) there is enough opportunity for anyone to buy and upgrade. Also let us also not forget that this is one of the most efficient diesel engines and will further bring down the running cost.
The only real problem is the lack of power, but then that is the reason it can double up to be an affordable alternative power source, when the state electricity board leaves us in the dark. And when we look at the overall picture, we think this is one of the best options for anyone looking for a ‘more’ than just a regular passenger car.
