Mahindra Thar Reviews

It's built on the Indian manufacturer's first 'global' platform and will be priced from $29,990 for the W8 front drive version and $32,990 for the all wheel drive.XUV500 benefits from extensive product validation and testing in Europe, Australia, South Africa and India. It has a four star crash rating. Both versions run a four-cylinder, 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine good for 103kW/330Nm output the latter from a low 1600rpm.XUV500 has a towing capability of 750kg for an un-braked trailer and 2500kg braked. Transmission is a six-speed manual, with a low ratio transfer box for the all-wheel drive model. The all-wheel drive system is on-demand, automatically switching from two to four-wheel drive.The vehicle is a spacious seven-seater with a monocoque chassis featuring up-to-date mechanical specification and a high level of standard equipment. Suspension is independent on all four-wheels.Steering is rack-and pinion with a turning circle of 11.2m. Wheels are 17 inch alloys while driver aids include automatic hill descent and hill hold, cruise control, front and rear park assist, light-sensing headlamps and rain-sensing wipers.Safety features include stability control, rollover mitigating sensor, airbags and crumple zones in the safety cell body. The xenon headlights and tyre pressure monitoring systems are handy additions. Front fog lamps are standard on all three models.The interior offers a high level of standard equipment - dual-zone climate control, power windows and remote central locking. Infotainment includes a 15cm touch screen with a navigation system as well as MP3, USB, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity. The XUV500 is built at Mahindra's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chakan, near the city of Pune, in India. 

Mahindra currently sells the Pik Up ute in Australia and is readying another load hauler that will come it at a more affordable price point.The Pik Up starts off at $21,990 for the two-wheel drive single cab, which is cheap but not as cheap as the Chinese and the Great Wall V240 range that starts off at $17,990. Mahindra Australia, which is now a factory owned operation, will import a new ute called the Genio to compete with the Great Wall and other Chinese cut-price machines.The company is not ready to disclose pricing, but told Working Wheels the new narrow-bodied ute will not be cheaper than the Great Wall products.The Genio is based on the Xylo people mover platform and is not as focused on off-road work as the Pik Up, although it will be available with a locking four-wheel drive system as well as a two-drive.“It will really be aimed at your metro tradie, it will be suited to the urban kind of life,” says Mahindra national sales manager, Russell Thiele. “The Pik Up is more of a rural focused vehicle.”The full list of equipment will be made public closer to the launch, but the Genio will come with cruise control and airconditioning, front disc brakes (and rear drums) and a front airbag for the driver and passenger.It will not have as much gear as the Pik Up and items such as the sound system will be one grade lower than in the Pik Up model. No side airbags, curtain airbags or electronic stability control are available for the Genio.It has not been tested by ANCAP unlike the Pik Up, which has been given a poor three star rating and was criticized by the safety body. The Genio uses a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel, which generates 90kW and 270Nm. 

The Indian-built Mahindra Pik Up has fallen short of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) pass-mark for light-commercials in the latest ANCAP results. The Mahindra Pik Up utility, which has dual front airbags, a collapsible steering column and anti-lock brakes, scored only three stars for its crash test despite recent upgrades to better its safety performance. ANCAP CEO Nicholas Clarke says he has mixed feelings about the Mahindra result, which falls short of the Nissan Navara's four-star score and five star ratings for the Volkswagen Amarok, Ford's new Ranger and the Mazda BT-50. "On one level I have to say congrastulations to them for spending time and money to improve on what was a pretty ordinary two-star result, they've put another airbag and an improved restraint package in the car, but the flipside is that it still only gets to three stars," he said. ANCAP chair Lauchlan McIntosh says there were concerns held over the Mahindra's small improvement.  "Over 90 per cent of vehicles sold now have either a 4 or 5 star safety rating so it concerns me greatly to see the Mahindra still well below the standard consumers are demanding," he said. The new Toyota Aurion retained the superseded model's five-star ANCAP rating, with the new model now getting auto-dipping high-beam and upgraded seatbelt reminder alerts added to the outgoing model's six airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control. Kia's newly-released three and four door Rio models have inherited the five-star rating of its new five-door hatchback; Suzuki has also retained the five-star rating for the new Sport model of its Swift small car. The Jeep brand now has a 4-star rating for the Jeep Compass, which was previously rated two stars by the European NCAP test. The Australian four star rating was acheived courtesy of a different weighting for the pedestrian impact scores, according to Mr Clarke. "Euro NCAP are moving along the same road map to raise the bar but they are a little bit ahead of us on pedestrian safety, the Compass pedestrian rating was poor which can still can get four stars here, but not in a year or two's time," he says. The Jeep Compass which provides what ANCAP calls a "respectable" level of occupant protection with dual front airbags, side curtain airbags and electronic brake distribution as standard.  

And it shows India aims to use price-cut techniques to outmanoeuvre China as it heats up its SUV presence in Australia. Major Indian light commercial and SUV maker Mahindra will launch its XUV500 wagon within three months in Australia and expand the models of its newly-acquired subsidiary, Ssangyong. A Mahindra spokesman at this week's Delhi motor show say the XUV500 is the company's first monocoque SUV and its first designed from the outset as a global market vehicle. Priced at about $24,000 and available as a 2WD or AWD, the XUV500 claims it ha more features than its rivals yet costs about half the price. It competes in India with the Toyota Fortuna, Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mitsubishi Outlander. But it will also take on China's Great Wall X240 petrol and X200 diesel wagons, the Foton and the XV that is expected to go on sale in Australia also in March. The spokesman - who did not want to be named - at the Mahindra stand at the Delhi stand says the AWD model features include sat-nav, touch screen monitor, upmarket audio, six airbags and electronic stability control. It gets a 103kW/330Nm 2.2-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine - a development of an existing 89kW/270Nm diesel - and six-speed manual transmission.                              The spokesman says an automatic transmission will be available in the future. This transmission is likely to the six-speed unit made by DSI - a company owned by China's Geely - in Albury, NSW. The gearbox is available on the Ssangyong Koranda. The XUV500, which is marketed with a tiger motif that Mahindra claims represents the SUV's "athletic looks and symbolised by the pronounced wheelarches'', is similar in size to Great Wall's SUV.It is 35mm shorter at 4585mm, 15mm lower and 90mm wider and weighs 2450kg in AWD guise.  Mahindra will kickstart the XUV500 with production at about 2000 units a month and expects to grow that figure on export demand. 

Indian brand Mahindra started the trend with a modest range of utes a couple of years ago. Now China's Great Wall Motors has set-up shop on our shores.

If looks count for anything when buying a work ute, Mahindra could be on a winner with its Pik-Up

...we go electric.More specifically we investigate the promise of electric cars.We are starting to hear that they are close to arriving on our streets but you know what I think there is one thing we are forgetting. Not everyone drives their car into a garage every night were there is a power point and extension cord standing by.Most people, especially in city areas where you would think electric cars will be more popular to start with, park their cars on the street at night.So how do they recharge their batteries? Well there is a new scheme being planned for Canberra that will see recharging stations installed in car parks and other public places.Plus...in the old days tradies and farmers pretty much had the choice of just a couple of manufacturers when it came to their vehicles.Now a days however the range of commercial vehicles available is huge. There is about to be even more competition with the introduction of Chinese made Great Wall Motors utes.Mahindra Australia has also unveiled a brand new model of their pik up range.For all this and much more, listen to the podcast above. 

...but it says it is here for the long term and its revised Pik-Up is proof positive of its commitment.Key among the changes the Indian carmaker has made to its tough workhorse are those aimed at lifting its safety rating to an anticipated three stars once it is tested by ANCAP. With dual front airbags and antiskid ABS brakes standard across the Pik-Up range Mahindra is confident it will achieve a three-star ANCAP rating.While some Pik-Up customers, notably farmers, might not appreciate the addition of airbags as they prevent them from using their vehicles to push and shove gates, equipment and stock around their farms, but the extra safety features are sure to appeal to city slickers.Town dwellers are also likely to be attracted to the new grille, headlights, fog lamps, bumper and bonnet scoop that combine to give the Pik-Up a fresh new face and make it more appealing.Add to the external makeover new ergonomically designed seats for improved comfort, a sporty gear knob and park brake lever, tilt-adjustable steering column, new fabric trim, a new CD sound system with MP3 compatibility and steering wheel controls, and powered mirrors, and you get the impression Mahindra is trying to reach out to buyers wanting more from their utes than the rugged reliability Mahindra has been relying on to win over sceptical Australians.As it was in the first generation of the Pik-Up the range consists of single and dual-cab utes and cab-chassis models, with either two or four-wheel drive, and powered by a 2.5-litre common rail turbo diesel engine boasting 79 kW at 3800 revs and 247 Nm at 1800-2200 revs.A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, there is no auto available, and the four-wheel drive transfer case has electric selection.The suspension is a proven tough combination of front torsion bars and rear leaf springs, the steering is power assisted and the brakes are a combo of front discs and rear drums with standard ABS antiskid electronics.All models boast a payload of at least one-tonne, the single-cab two-wheel drive boasting the highest at 1160 kg, and all will tow up to 2.5-tonne.Mahindra's warranty is for three years or 100,000 km and there's also 24-hour roadside assistance for three years.Mahindra launched in the Australian market with the Pik-Up two years ago as partner in a joint venture with Tynan Motor Industries, but has since taken control of the operation by acquiring an 80 per cent share and renaming the company Mahindra Automotive Australia.Taking control was necessary to advance the Mahindra cause in Australia, said Pravin Shah, Mahindra's Executive Vic President of International Operation in the Automotive Sector. Shah said he was satisfied with the progress the company had made to date, and reconfirmed its commitment to stay in Australia for the long term.When asked about sales to date, Shah refused to elaborate, saying he preferred not to speak about sales as they simply provided a yardstick for others outside the Mahindra to measure his company's success. All he would say is that they were in the thousands. "The number has four figures," was all he would say. "That means they are between 1000 and 9999."While preferring not to talk about current sales Shah was keen to talk up the future, saying Mahindra was likely to release an SUV in the coming months, and had plans for all-new SUV and Pik-Up models for 2011. The new global models are currently being developed on all-new platforms with the intention of selling them in markets all around the world, including Australia.

The general feeling last year was that this time the jig was up for Korea, which would be forced to step aside for Mahindra to become importer of the cheapest 4x4s and SUVs.But today Mahindra still remains largely unknown in Australia, and their Scorpion SUV is yet to reach our shores. However they can claim to produce the cheapest ute available here – the Pik-Up.VARIANTS AND DRIVETRAINS The Pik-Up is available in two single cab and two dual cab variants, one of which was our test car. All models are powered by a four cylinder 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine that develops what on paper seems to be a minuscule 79kW at 3800rpm but an adequate 247Nm of torque at 1800-2200rpm, which gets to the wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.For offroad versions, there is an automatic locking system for the front hubs, a genuine dual range transfer car, with part-time four-wheel drive and the ability to switch to high-four `on the fly’.WORK CAPACITY With a one tonne payload for the 1489 x 1520 x 550 cargo box and a 2.5 tonne towing capacity, the Pik-Up competes well with more expensive vehicles in its class.EXTERIOR For a car this size – at over five metres long and nearly two metres high and wide – it has a distinct lack of gentle angles, making look even bigger than it is (if that’s at all possible) and giving it a harsh, boxy, somewhat ungainly appearance. But the cargo tray is large and deep, and promises to cope with large amounts of either weekday tools or weekend toys.INTERIOR The interior styling is basic and mostly dark greys, with the main styling feature two large almond-eye shaped vents that might have fallen off an alien costume in the Bollywood wardrobe department. There’s no real sense of style, and it’s no surprise they left interior shots out of the brochure.But the front seats are supportive and there’s sufficient room in the back for two medium-sized adults to sit comfortably without fear of giving the driver or passenger an impromptu Swedish massage.There’s also quite a bit of storage space scattered around – cupholders, door bins and the like – although the centre arrangement doesn’t allow for a lidded bin that can become an armrest.But the main lack is that the steering is tilt-change only, which made finding the right driving position difficult without the benefit of reach adjustment on the column.EQUIPMENTThe standard list includes all the usual powered bits, plus alarm, immobiliser, foglights, delayed shut-off headlights and side steps.The audio system is CD/MP3 compatible with USB and SD card ports and an ipod jack. It also comes with a remote control which may initially satisfy a desire for novelty in an otherwise plain vehicle, but will probably soon get lost and/or become the catalyst of endless bickering among the kids.LIVING WITH IT Pincott says In urban areas, the Mahindra’s size turns you into a far more careful driver. You become very aware of how close you are to walls, bollards and other cars when parking or in multiple lanes.But this size also makes for a lot of usable interior room, and a startlingly high roof that the agents pointed out would easily accommodate an Akubra-hatted head. And that kind of feature will probably be one of the main keys to Mahindra sales here. Sure, you can use it around town for leisure or household chores. But it’s natural habitat is the worksite and the farm.The load area is massive, which will be attractive to anybody who has to lug a large amount of tools or cargo – and at the same time you could easily picture a jetski, motocrosser or family of bicycles in there.The fit-out is utilitarian, and there’s no point in pretending that the surfaces are prestige materials. But it’s well equipped, and touches like the USB interface and remote control are not only novel but can add to the safety factor by keeping the driver’s hands on the wheel when the family is on board.The diesel engine sounds very agricultural, especially at idle, but there was no lack of effort to push the ute around – albeit we didn’t get the chance to load it up. The shift action on the long throw gear lever is likewise unsophisticated. But at the end of the day, this is a light commercial vehicle rather than a passenger car. And one that is priced and equipped to attract the market.VERDICT: 7.4/10Wigley says The Pik-Up has good visibility for its size and feels like a substantial car for the money. There are no noticeable rattles but road noise is a little loud coming in through the cabin floor from the tyres. The side mirrors also catch the wind and on the freeway, it becomes difficult to hold a conversation without repeating yourself.The engine won’t get you around at speed but it will do the job sufficiently without you having to want for too much more.Although the gear changes were generally easy and smooth, we did have a few crunches dropping down to third. The long gear stick gave the car a rural quality – like driving the tractor at grandads farm – but in a good way.Steering was responsive and true but on the odd occasion, the front wheels yelped on take off from an incline, and tended to bleat if cornering too fast.Generally though, the drive was a pleasant surprise – smooth, responsive and comfortable.The Pik-Up doesn’t pin its hopes of success on styling. But the positive you take from that is a quiet confidence that the important stuff — the engine, the ride and handling, the payload and towing capability — that really should matter in a car like this, is a bargain for the outlay.For a basic workhorse utility, it competes respectably with other vehicles in its class and it’s cheap. It doesn’t need to be attractive but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.VERDICT: 6.9/10Halligan says It was hard to miss the Mahindra’s bulk in the car park. My initial impression — utilitarian and spacious. It reminded me of a G-Class Benz from many years ago, before they became trendy and moved upmarket. Navigating my way out of the car park, which admittedly is more of a rabbit warren than most, I thought I was going to take out a few fire sprinklers. This thing is tall.I had to take two bites at the exit ramp, proving that the steering lock is not overly generous but then again I suspect no worse than any of its competitors.I’ve often wondered why the hell anyone would want to drive a 4wd in the city — or the burbs for that matter. A run in the high and wide Mahindra revealed one of the attractions is that you can look down at others, giving you a wonderful — but false — sense of security.The diesel accelerates well, torque seems good and it tracks well. It a 4 door, 4WD tradies’ ute and I’m driving it the same way I drive everything else, as if it’s a sportscar. It’s coping OK.Accelerating showed it’s amazing what you can get out of 79kw. The ute feels fine and if my mind starts to wander I have to make a concerted effort to keep my speed down.There’s not a great deal of wind rush even with the window down, but quite a bit coming from the heating system. But then again, this thing is basically a truck.It’s comfortable enough, and the seats didn’t give me a hard time although — again trucklike — it has me sitting much more upright than I like to be.My wife likes 4WDs because she feels safe in them. I feel the opposite. More room to hit your head with more time for your head to accelerate before it touches anything — and less effort in design from the engineers.Overall, the Pik-Up is competent, nothing bad to report except a little understeer on fast curves and the tail is a little prone to move out when taking a tight intersection turn too quickly. But this was more to do with my driving outside of the normal envelope of the vehicle.It fits its purpose well, but that purpose is specific. It’s a tradies’ work vehicle that can be used on occasions to transport the family around locally.I wouldn’t buy one however for the same reason I wouldn’t buy a Hi-Lux, Navarra, Patrol, Landcruiser, I don’t feel safe in them and I worry about how much damage they can inflict on others.But if you are in the market for a workhorse I would definitely put it on your research list.VERDICT: 7.1/10 

Critics argue they are because many utes can't match a sedan when it comes to features like side airbags. The Australian Automobile Association has taken up the fight to pressure vehicle makers to lift their game. The powerful AAA wants state and federal governments to ensure their workers drive vehicles that have a minimum four-star safety rating. The Tasmanian Government now has a four-star standard for its buying policy and is leading the way nationally. The Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) last week released its latest safety ratings for utes. Only one of the four tested — the Holden Commodore — rated four stars. Nissan's Navara and Mazda's BT50 managed a three-star rating (the Nissan was tested in Europe) and the Indian-made Mahindra Pik-Up only scored two stars. Utes tested from January 1 this year will not score a five-star rating unless they come with electronic stability control as standard equipment. ANCAP chair Lauchlan McIntosh said the performance of the Holden ute was a sign that manufacturers could design and build models with better occupant protection. “We are seeing more and more four and five-star vehicles on the Australian market nowadays, and we would expect that a utility vehicle should earn a five-star rating in the near future,” he said. However, more work needed to be done. “Many utes are lacking in basic occupant protection, which is an occupational health and safety concern for drivers of these vehicles. Unfortunately these vehicles are also often bought for family use.” Ford's Ranger ute is based on the Mazda BT50 and is expected to have similar crashworthiness. The frontal offset crash by ANCAP left the passenger compartment severely deformed, with the steering column, dashboard components and park brake lever all potential sources of injury. After a poor result from Euro NCAP, Nissan upgraded the airbag performance of the Navara ute and is now fitting new triggering software to utes sold in this country. The Mahindra Pik-Up, which only rated two stars, had minimal safety features and, despite the dual-cab configuration that was popular with families, did not include top tether anchorages for child restraints, McIntosh said. “Under Australian regulations these are optional on this style of vehicle, which can be classified as commercial,” he said. “Mahindra has advised ANCAP it will be providing driver and passenger airbags in its 2008 models and the anchorages will be a standard design feature from next year.