Sporting the Bolero. Review on Mahindra Bolero

With an attitude of ''go where you want to as the way you want to'' choosing a vehicle which could live up to this attitude was not an easy choice to make with limitations of what technology could be bought with a timid salary of mine :)

To arrive at it was easy as my budget was between 5lkh and 7lkh and this left only two vehicles, the Tata SUMO and the M&M Bolero. There may be others but I did not venture to find them out as I had a passion for the SUMO which brought back memories of those newspapers ads where this vehicle could pull/carry something unbelievable. But with the entry of the Victa and a test ride I had to let go off my passion and look at the Bolero.

Came in the Bolero with a try-me attitude and I must say it did mean a lot to me, one test drive and I was at the booking office and also at the bank. A simple just-what-you-want types, I have already done 10,000Kms in three months and its just not stopping.

Looks: Descent from the front odd from the back, more of box type, but you dont see it when you drive and hence not much bothered about it. Has a rugged look and more of importance is that bumpers are heavy metals which makes the other small and mid segment vehicles crossing the yellow line to switch back to their lanes. Forget the trucks and buses they are bound to rule.

Seats: Comfortable front, mid rows do not have head rest which I felt M&M did a silly thing by not providing, but left holes for me to fill them in. Back seats are fine and adjustable people can be adjusted in them. I had 8 of my team sitting in my vehicle when we went out for lunch and my Bolero took them all including me (9 in total)

You can get the seats done for better comfy but then do it if you really need them.

Brakes: Good, never had a near fatal accident till now, so cannot comment on them. The vehicle has stopped whenever needed and I am happy with it.

AC: Managable till the mid-seats as the blowers are only on the front side. Never tried it when fully loaded.

Handling: bigger turning radius makes it painful as one has to reverse the vehicle during U-turns many a times and also during the Galli crossings. The power stearing does reduces the pain.

Speed/pickup: Nothing great, but is enough to pull itself in a descent speed once the lights turn green thus avoinding honks from the rear. Have driven such that the needle touched 135Kmph on the speedometer (may not be the true value but certainly makes you feel happy on Indian-truck-driven-roads).

Dislikes: Rechecks on door getting locked or not but once done you are not bothered anymore. Standard horn is more of a childs trumpet, headlights need to be used often. As said earlier no head rest provided in the middle row. Foot rest does not appear safe. Side bumpers are more of fabric, could have had metal as the front bumpers. Rear view image not too large but once you rule dont look back :)

Who should buy: Simple living big loading typos. Those who want to go on and on without being bothered about looks and the roads. Fill it. Drive it. Simple comforts complex coverages.