Mahindra Test Drive. The Indian Hummer.
It's always interesting to see how brands in other sectors are conquering expectations and barriers in South Africa, even for Mahindra, the industrial behemoth from India. In South Africa, Toyota is the brand that has led the way in the pickup truck and especially the double cab bakkie for decades. Is it time for a change?
After a meeting with my creative team, Mahindra came up as the underdog brand that we needed to take a look at and learn from. Personally I have been eyeing the vehicle out as a contender for my everyday workhorse or dog carrying truck. I have three big Mastiff's who love riding when there is any opportunity for a slobbery joyride.
It was decided that Saturday, early in August 2023 that a visit to Mahindra in Bryanston was necessary to assess and test this Indian truck that has been a bee buzzing in my head. Needing a second opinion, I enlisted the help of my better-half who is never afraid to tell me what she is thinking. I spoke with the friendly George and made the appointment. We were there promptly at 11am greeted by George who came out smiling. Our Mahindra guide showed us to the 4x2 Pickup with manual gearbox in white which I was invited to test drive first. After a walk around and a little tyre kicking which was merely a couple of questions about the brand we were nearly ready to go. Importantly George mentioned that vehicle was manufactured in South Africa and therefore spares are not a problem. I jumped in to the driver's seat, adjusted my mirrors and seat then reached back for the seatbelt which clicked in easily and soon we were off.
The vehicle has a 2.2L turbo diesel engine and while it was still cold you could feel it had a perky power-train that wanted to fly. I let it warm up and soon it was ready for a few nice bursts. This wasn't spectacular, yet it seemed surprisingly chirpy and fun. The driving position is comfortable with a set of armrests for both driver and passenger which are a wonderful way to cruise and enjoy a bit of comfort. After warning George and checking my mirrors, I planted my foot firmly on the brake pedal and the Mahindra came to an abrupt controlled stop. Impressive. Driving back to the dealership one negative became apparent: the turning circle is going to be an issue if you need to u-turn often in traffic. On the flip side, the Mahindra is a commanding vehicle and I expect most road users will make room for this Indian Hummer.
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Back at base, George was eager to get me into the Limited Edition version double cab with auto transmission and upgraded navigation, big rims and tyres, bull bar, roll bar and very aggressive trim. I was excited. We jumped in and after pairing my iPhone to make sure it would run Apple CarPlay, Banzai! Off to the races.
Not so fast. This was a little more subdued, my lady even commented that she could tell it was not as nippy as the manual. I had to agree. The take-off from a standstill was still good, however the larger tyres and the auto box was seemingly getting in the way of translating that power. Strangely the stereo had a buzzing noise emanating from what must have been a bad speaker, so we turned that off after troubleshooting and thinking it was the the air-con at first. Taking the same route, conversation flowed a bit easier now with George giving us a bit of insight into his journey with Mahindra. He personally has seen tremendous growth of the brand and feels the future was bright. From where I was sitting, I was really beginning to warm to the Pikup and suddenly felt myself thinking seriously about the prospect of having one of these in my stable. My last u-turn in the auto version was more composed than the first attempt in the manual as I was a bit more prepared for the limitation of this beautiful beast. We turned in and took a few pics of the vehicle while chatting a bit more about options etc.
I gained a great deal from this experience as it gave me some understanding of what consumers emotions must be when they look at brands that are new and offer a promise that needs further exploration. What was it about this vehicle that drew me to it? I think I have been subconsciously seeing them around town and wondering about how they drive, what they cost and what you get for your money. The real surprise is just how compelling the product is and how affordable they are. In this instance the negatives for me were the door handle which is flimsy, the fact that there is not a central locking button on the console and the stereo speakers were disappointing and flat sounding. Positives were the ride height, the overall utility, the good rear seat space, brutish good looks and the opportunity to just be different while enjoying incredible fuel economy at claimed 7.9L per 100km.
When the first Toyota Landcruiser came to South Africa in 1959 it’s almost certain that these same debates were raging back then. How will it hold up, was it reliable and could you get spares. I think it is probably time to look at Mahindra more seriously as a Pikup for South Africa that lets us enjoy the journey for less money. I really think this can only go right.