New Delhi: Roads or the lack of them determine our car purchases a lot. Flooded roads, speed breakers, and poor road infrastructure mean that the love for SUVs has grown. Notably, when it rains, our roads become Venice hence a car with extremely good ground clearance is certainly on the wish list for new car buyers these days. That said, if you do road trips and like to explore places, a rugged small SUV might do the trick. Enter the Bolero Neo, a small subcompact SUV that can nearly go anywhere and do all this for a price which is below Rs 10 lakh. Mahindra's latest launch is a calculated one that explores a new segment.
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Currently, the Bolero Neo has no rivals since it is the only ladder-frame subcompact SUV. It is also rear-wheel drive along with having only a diesel engine with a manual gearbox. A hardcore small SUV that goes beyond the concrete jungle. Perfect that the day we drove the car, it rained and we used a small off-road track with broken roads, slippery mud, and flooded sections to see how capable it is. The Bolero Neo does not get 4x4 but it does get a mechanically locking differential (MTT, available in the top-end variant) which helps a lot in the traction.
In the real world, it simply works. Traction is immense and the small Bolero Neo punches above its weight with being a fun-to-drive SUV and also capable off-road. No other subcompact SUV other than the Thar of course can match the Neo in terms of how confident you can tackle mud, broken road surfaces, and small amounts of off-roading. The 1.5l diesel engine makes 100bhp and 260 Nm which gives it enough power and makes it fast enough when the roads end. It feels tough and the engine is tractable enough to pull you from tricky surfaces. Expect an efficiency of about 17kmpl with the fuel efficiency-enhancing tech put to good use. It has an eco mode and starts/stops too which saves fuel.
Elsewhere the Bolero Neo gets a decent features list including a 7-inch touch screen, steering mounted audio controls, cruise control, rear parking sensors, height-adjustable driver's seat, electronically adjustable mirrors, Blue sense app, etc. The interior is old-school with the window switches placed in the middle but the quality is pretty decent along with a tough/durable vibe. The Bolero Neo is a 7-seater but the third row gets bench-type seats which are not exactly comfortable and hence it's better to fold them and use them for luggage space.
The Bolero Neo looks tough as well with the design being an evolution of the TUV300. The front-end gets a new bumper, grille, and headlamps while some Bolero-like touches have been given too. We also like the spare wheel at the back. With the top-end Bolero Neo being under Rs 10 lakh, the value for money aspect of this SUV is undeniable. It is for those who need a tough, sturdy, and go anywhere small SUV and it is also well equipped/compact enough to be used every day. It does not have any rivals and is the only four-door subcompact SUV that can really handle the rough stuff along with being a proper workhorse.
What we like: engine, off-road ability, new features, tough build, value
What we do not: Lacks some features and third-row seats are not comfortable
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