New Mahindra Bolero: The rugged Bolero—Mahindra’s reliable workhorse for over two decades—just got a serious makeover. The latest iteration maintains the vehicle’s utilitarian DNA while adding modern touches that urban buyers crave. After spending a day with the new Bolero, it’s clear that Mahindra’s trying to bridge the gap between rural dependability and city-friendly features without compromising what made the original so popular.
New Mahindra Bolero Tough Guy Aesthetics: Familiar Yet Fresher
Let’s be honest—nobody ever bought a Bolero for its looks. But the new model shows Mahindra’s designers haven’t been sleeping on the job. The boxy silhouette remains, thank goodness, but the front end gets this chunky grille with vertical slats that sorta reminds me of the Scorpio. Headlamps are bigger and now feature LED DRLs (finally!), while the bumper’s been beefed up to enhance that don’t-mess-with-me road presence.
Side profile’s mostly unchanged—still got those flared wheel arches and that upright stance—but new 16-inch alloys replace the steel wheels on higher variants. Around back, the tailgate gets subtle revisions, and the taillights now have LED elements. It’s evolution, not revolution, and that’s probably smart considering the Bolero’s loyal customer base.
Inside Story: Less Utilitarian, More User-Friendly
Climb aboard (and it is a climb) and the biggest changes become apparent. The dashboard’s been completely redesigned, ditching the ancient layout for something this century. There’s actual soft-touch materials in places your hands frequently touch, though hard plastics still dominate—which makes sense for a vehicle that’ll see rough use.
The instrument cluster’s now semi-digital, with a small LCD screen showing trip info, fuel economy, and gear position. The center console houses a 9-inch touchscreen on top variants that’s surprisingly responsive, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims make do with a simpler 7-inch unit, but even that’s a massive upgrade from the prehistoric audio system in the outgoing model.
Under the Hood: More Grunt Where It Counts
Mahindra’s stuck with the tried-and-tested 2.2-liter mHawk diesel engine, but it’s been retuned to deliver more low-end torque—exactly where you need it when hauling people and cargo through difficult terrain. Power’s up slightly to 140 bhp (from 130), while torque sees a bigger bump to 320 Nm (from 300).
Transmission options include the standard 6-speed manual and—for the first time in a Bolero—a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The latter’s a godsend in stop-and-go traffic, though the manual still offers better control off-road. Four-wheel drive remains available on higher variants, with a proper low-range transfer case for serious off-roading.
Riding Comfort: Less Tractor, More SUV
The Bolero was never known for ride comfort, feeling more agricultural than automotive sometimes. The new model addresses this with revised suspension tuning that’s noticeably less bouncy on broken roads. It’s still no luxury car, mind you, but your kidneys will thank you on longer journeys.
NVH levels have improved too, with additional sound insulation keeping the diesel clatter more distant than before. Wind noise remains prominent at highway speeds, but that’s expected given the Bolero’s brick-like aerodynamics.
Tech Invasion: Old Dog, New Tricks
Tech features were never the Bolero’s strong suit, but the new model makes decent strides. Beyond the touchscreen, there’s now automatic climate control on top variants, a reverse camera with parking sensors, and even cruise control. USB ports are scattered throughout the cabin, and there’s a small wireless charging pad for your phone.
Safety gets a welcome boost with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and electronic stability control now standard across the range. ISOFIX child seat mounts make an appearance too, acknowledging that many Boleros serve as family vehicles.
Price and Positioning: Value Proposition Intact
Mahindra’s priced the new Bolero competitively, starting at ₹9.5 lakh for the base variant and topping out at around ₹14.5 lakh for the fully-loaded 4×4 automatic (all prices ex-showroom). That’s a slight increase over the outgoing model, but the added features and refinement more than justify the premium.
This positioning keeps the Bolero accessible to its traditional rural and semi-urban customer base while potentially attracting urban buyers looking for a no-nonsense, go-anywhere SUV that won’t break the bank.
New Mahindra Bolero Verdict: Old Faithful Gets Relevant Again
The new Bolero doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor should it. What it does is address most of the shortcomings that made the previous model feel increasingly outdated. It remains tough as nails and capable in rough conditions, but now offers enough comfort and convenience to be a daily driver.