Watch latest video reviews of Mahindra Bolero 2011-2019 to know about its interiors, exteriors, performance, mileage and more.
Bolero is one of the age old SUVs coming from Mahindra & Mahindra which has made quite an image of itself in its 13 years of career. One of the most reliable and rugged people’s carrier, Bolero is still dominating the space. The car is perfect for the terrain regions and rough roads. The company introduced a sub-4 meter model of the Bolero SUV recently to bring it under the affordable range. Being a sub-4 meter SUV it falls under the lower excise tax bracket which in turn benefits the customers. Bolero Power Plus strikes the chord with the buyers who need the same character as Bolero in the compact form and reasonable price band. The Bolero Power Plus has the rugged SUV appearance; it’s the perfect combination of masculine looks, rugged attitude and powerful performance. Mahindra Bolero Power Plus comes with the same outer profile as Bolero while interiors too remain the same, except some of the additional features. Mechanically, it has been totally changed, the older diesel drivetrain has been replaced by the new engine that is more powerful and frugal.
On the outside, Mahindra Bolero Power Plus remains identical to its standard bolero. The main changes seen in the vehicle are the edges. Taking a closer look will make you notice that the front bumpers are actually inward sloping now. The new Bolero Power Plus is a compact SUV that means it comes under the sub 4-meter model. The vehicle now joins the club of KUV100, TUV300 and NuvoSport which are sub-4 meter offerings of Mahindra’s Indian portfolio. On the front, the car features chrome radiator grille and large square shaped headlamps. Skid plate and side skirts on the bumper add to the overall appeal. Rear part gets basic design and minimal styling and mounted spare wheel. Dimensionally, Mahindra Bolero Power plus measures 3995mm in length, 1880mm in height and gets the width of 1745mm. The wheelbase stands at 2680mm while the boot space has the capacity to withhold 690L of space. Mahindra Bolero Power Plus is offered in 4 different shades namely Mist Silver, Java Brown, Diamond White and Rocky beige.
Mahindra Bolero Power Plus interiors remain the same as the Bolero. The car can accommodate at least 7 passengers with ease. Bolero Power Plus is perfect for the large families. The compact SUV comes equipped with the features such as power steering, power windows, keyless entry, manual AC, rear defogger with washer and wiper, audio system along with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity. The car also gets digital instrument cluster and driver information system that provides the driver with instant details about trip distance, open door and current mileage. Other features included are central locking, 12V charging point and Voice messaging system.
In terms of specification, Mahindra Bolero Power Plus is available in diesel trim only. The SUV is powered by the 1.5L diesel mill that can generate the power output of 70PS and yields the maximum torque of 195Nm. The powertrain comes mated to 5-speed manual transmission. Due to its new Micro hybrid technology, Mahindra Bolero Power Plus delivers claimed mileage figure of 16.5kmpl. This new powertrain is more refined as compared to the older version. Insulation is also pretty good in the Power Plus model.
Taking a glance at the safety aspects, Mahindra Bolero Power Plus offers not much in this department. There are only few basic safety aspects including child safety lock, central locking, engine immobilizer, headlamp beam adjuster and rear wiper.
Mahindra Bolero Power Plus is available in three variants for the buyers to choose from they are SLE, SLX and ZLX. Considering the pricing details, Mahindra Bolero Power Plus SLE is tagged at Rs. 7.45 lakh. Its mid-range trim Bolero Power Plus SLX is available at the price tag of Rs. 8.1 lakh while the top of the line as well as the top selling model Bolero Power Plus ZLX is offered at the price tag of Rs. 8.45 lakh, ex-showroom. While there is no direct competitor to Bolero Power Plus, price/segment wise we can say it competes against Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and its own sibling TUV300 in the segment.
Inside the cabin, the quality and fit and finish is still below average for a vehicle priced close to Rs. 8 lakhs. However, the beige interior theme which was introduced in the facelifted version in 2013 looks much better than before. But it is prone to stains. If you are on the driver’s seat, then rest assured you have to make many compromises as the steering is still the same huge while the placement of pedals appears to be truck-like. The steering too is awkwardly placed at a high position especially for the passengers with short height as they won’t be able to properly look at the readings of the instrument cluster.
The front seats are a little cramped and don’t offer much comfort. With length reduction, the middle row is now cramped with limited legroom. Don’t even think of using the third seat for the adults, its best suited for kids. One of the talking points of the car is the digital instrument cluster which provides the driver all the relevant vehicle information at one place. It also incorporates the driver information system which shows current mileage, opened doors, current gear, trip distance, etc. The sound output from the stereo is basic and not as exciting as it should be a in a vehicle of today. However, you do get support for USB, Aux-in and CD player.
There are comfort aspects in the car including air conditioner with heater, power windows at front and rear doors, power steering, front map pockets and utility spaces, 12V charging point as well as rear wash & wipe. As far as cubby holes and storage space is concerned, there is nothing to spot at the rear, though at front you get storage space at each door side. Overall, nothing much has changed in the car except the space.
Bolero has kept the brand name alive for so many years and the new Power Plus model is taking the legacy further. The engineers out there have cleverly cut off 112mm of length from the Bolero making the car fall under the sub- meter mark and the end result is satisfactory. This has resulted in reduction of excise tax from 24 percent to 12 percent. The shaving is done on the front bumper which is now sleeker but the solidity is uncompromised. The same has been done to the rear bumpers. The headlights and the grille design also remain the same.
Small SUVs generally look like overgrown hatchbacks, but Bolero Power Plus is not one of them. The car still looks aggressive, especially from the front. At the side, the car continues to offer body coloured mirrors, silver wheel caps and 15-inch wheels shod with 215/75 section tyres. At the rear, it’s the Power+ badge that makes the car differ from the elder sibling while the split bumpers have been tucked inside and now comes in line with the body.
As the car has been changed mechanically, the new diesel engine delivers 5 percent more efficiency than the earlier one. The car is now capable of delivering ARAI certified mileage of 16.5kmpl. This is on paper but one can still manage to extract fuel efficiency of 15kmpl if the vehicle is driven under moderate conditions.
In terms of ride and handling, as the car is built on body-on-frame construction, don’t expect much from the SUV. You will experience a jerky ride quality with body roll always there to greet you, even the slightest imperfection on road will transfer into vertical movements of the passengers. The ripples are more experienced by the rear occupants, however with the inclusion of rigid leaf spring rear suspension, the increase load of the passengers or luggage will result in compliant ride quality. So it is better to stay away from aggressive driving.
The steering is pretty light for the urban setup and one thing that the driver would appreciate is its large turning radius which is close to 6 metres. However, there is lack of feedback from the steering and it would be difficult to hold this car in a straight line.
The Power Plus features a new engine which despite downgraded in size, lose nothing in terms of power and torque, in fact gains bump in power. The carmaker has replaced the 2.6L m2DiCR diesel engine with the new 1.5L motor from the mHawk series that produces 71PS (8PS more) and 195Nm of max torque.
Fire the engine up and within seconds you will be welcomed by improved NVH levels. Don’t get this wrong, it’s not appreciable but better than the previous one. It’s still the same crude sounding engine but one cannot ignore the improved refinement levels. And as one would expect from such a car, the engine isn’t great to be pushed to extremes. The more the revs climb up more the engine gets louder and irrespective of how much one presses the throttle, the advancement is not rapid.
But when it comes to low-end delivery of torque, the new engine behaves liberally. But you have to be patient to experience the steady build-up of the speed as well as benefit from the improved fuel economy. In fact, there is enough torque to get this car going from still in the 3rd gear. But as the gear ratios are closely spaced, you will see there is a need to shift them early. Having said that, this is the engine which is always ready to take the load of passengers and their luggage for which the car is known for. The gear knob still dances when you turn off the engine while the clutch is fairly light.
Many would grumble about the brakes. The brake pedal is soft and direly needs sharper bite. And given the car’s desire for body-roll, the SUV can get unsettled when put to hard braking. In terms of safety, set aside airbags, even ABS is not an option in any of the variants. It is well known that the target audience of Bolero is different, but with the increasing road mishaps everyday, Mahindra should have seriously given a thought. There are only basic safety features such as central locking, child safety lock, headlamp beam adjuster and keyless entry.
Your review will give better insights of cars
I have never known anyone who owns a Mahindra Bolero and so I have never had the chance to drive it. And I always imagined people who commute with a ‘truckload’ of people drive it. Especially like an auto from villages to the city and back. But I recently got a chance to sit in the car and I understood
we are phasing problem due to Poor and Risky wheel Ball joint and due to this maximum chances of accident.
Front facing lastrear seats would have been best option in bolero too like xylo. Traveling long distance in the rearlast seats is uncomfortable and painful. Kindly consider to upgrade evenat least seating arrangement in upcoming bolero version .
One of the best family vehicles in the market. I am truly impressed with the Bolero ZLX. It has provided good comfort on long drives and is a pleasure to drive everytime. It is a good vehicle with good features. The interior quality can be better but i am happy with my vehicle. I went to my native village and
MAHINDRA BOLERO SLX IS VERY MUCH GOOD COMPARE TO OTHER SUV AS IT HAS VERY GOOD BODY WHICH IS FAR BETTER THAN OTHER SUVS, IT HAS ALSO VERY LOW MAINTENANCE,AND AVERAGE IS NEAR ABOUT 13-15 PER LITRE. I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS BACK AND STILL IT LOOKS VERY MUCH IN GOOD CONDITION THAT EVEN PEOPLE ASK ME THAT HOW MANY
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