The Mahindra Bolero Neo was launched in July 2021 and shares its platform with the TUV300. It is placed in the hot-selling compact SUV market to compete against established rivals alongside the XUV300.
Among its competitors, one feature which is noteworthy is the fact that the Mahindra Bolero Neo is the only car in the segment to get a Mechanically Locking Differential (MTT) available in the top-end variant. It has the road presence that one would expect from a subcompact SUV engineered for suburban areas coupled with the rawness that the Bolero stood for.
Pros – Excellent Drivability, Aggressive Pricing, Attractive Design
Cons – Lack Of Rear Seat Comfort, Lacks Safety Features, No Automatic Gearbox
Mahindra Bolero Neo Exterior
The Mahindra Bolero Neo gets a boxy design at the front. It gets LED DRLs, and the signature chrome finished grille placed between the headlamps. The Bolero Neo gets body cladding and a footrest to get inside the car. The ground clearance remains the same as the Mahindra Bolero. It also gets a black strip throughout the car to bring it in sync with the typical Bolero design language.
The rear gets a tailgate-mounted spare wheel which is not an alloy. Bolero Neo also gets a footrest for the passengers jumping into the third row. The car is equipped with rear parking sensors however there seems to be the absence of a rear parking camera.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Interior
The Bolero Neo’s cabin feels class apart from the original Bolero. Near the centre console, the Bolero Neo gets piano black finishing around the gearbox and the infotainment system (which doesn’t get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay). The rearview mirror doesn’t get an auto-dimming function. The twin-pod instrument cluster with its 8.9 cm LCD screen is eye-catching. The Mahindra Bolero Neo is also equipped with a Blue Sense app that provides information and alerts to the users such as Door Open Notification, Service Reminders, Audio Controls, and much more.
It also gets the Mechanically Locking Differential (MTT) as talked about before which sends power to the wheel that has the most amount of traction to help limit wheel slippage on low traction roads, however, it does make some noise which might not be a pleasing sound to the ears.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Space
There are ample amount of storage spaces inside the cabin of the Mahindra Bolero Neo. There is storage space inside magazine holders to the door pockets and space near the gearbox. The glove box can accommodate two 1-litre bottles. The boot capacity of the Bolero Neo is 384-litres. The is some storage space at the top of the centre console too.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Engine Performance
The performance of Bolero Neo is way better compared to the engine performance of the regular Bolero. As soon as one puts the foot onto the gas, the 1.5-litre motor picks up pace quickly. It is extremely refined in terms of a 3-cylinder engine and makes 100 PS of power. It gets an EVGT technology which stands for Electronically Controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger resulting in 20 Nm more torque.
Even around the 4800 RPM mark, it doesn’t feel out of pace implying that the motor is well calibrated. The lower end seems good while there is a good amount of grunt at the higher end. The mid-range is just about decent.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Mileage
The Bolero Neo is a heavy compact SUV churning out more litres of fuel than expected with the engine configuration it gets. The Bolero Neo gets a fuel tank capacity of 50-liters. The ARAI mileage happens to be 17.29 km/l. The fuel efficiency is somewhere between 14-18 km/l in real-world conditions.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Handling
The Mahindra Bolero Neo has a good ride and handling balance. Body roll is decently contained however some amount of vertical movement can be expected considering it’s based on a body-on-frame platform. Nevertheless, it feels confident around the corners for the major part. The steering wheel has a lot of slack in the centre position. The gearbox is sleek shifting. The clutch is on the lighter side however has the tendency to give a push once the foot is removed. Braking performance is just about decent however nosedive can be expected because of the soft suspension.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Comfort
In terms of comfort, the Bolero Neo is miles ahead of the original Bolero. Though the cabin with its beige interiors and large windows would give an airy feel, the hard plastics make one feel that some cost-cutting has been done. In terms of ergonimics, the Bolero Neo leaves a lot to be desired such as the absence of a dead pedal. The window controls are placed near the gearbox inside of the driver’s door handle which might be bothersome. The bolstering is stiff and there is limited knee room in the second row considering it’s a sub-four meter compact SUV with a sitting capacity of seven. There isn’t a headrest offered for the middle passenger in the second row. The seats look stiff and a lack of a rear AC vent makes things worse. Coming to the third row, the Mahindra Bolero Neo gets jump seats where the under-thigh support is average. In fact, the headroom offered is not that great and tall passengers might feel claustrophobic.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Safety
Heavy improvisation has been done on the Bolero Neo compared to the Bolero in terms of safety. The Mahindra Bolero Neo gets Dual Front Airbags, ABS and EBD, CBC (Corner Braking Control), Reverse Parking Assist System, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts, Rear Washer, Rear Wiper and Defogger.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Service
The Mahindra Bolero Neo is designed for sub-urban localities where finding service centres and local mechanics is pretty easy. Even though the Bolero Neo is a step up against the Bolero, it’s not that difficult to find a local mechanic to get the Bolero Neo repaired. The added perk of being a Mahindra means low service charges.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Prices
Following are the prices (on-road Mumbai) of Mahindra Bolero Neo :
- N4 Diesel Manual: Rs. 10.73 lakhs
- N8 Diesel Manual: Rs. 11.89 lakhs
- N10 Diesel Manual: Rs. 12.88 lakhs
- N10(O) Diesel Manual: Rs. 13.73 lakhs
Mahindra Bolero Neo Resale Value
Though new in the market, it can be expected that the Bolero Neo would fetch a decent resale value simply because of the popularity of the ‘Bolero’ brand name. It offers extremely good drivability in sub-urban areas which is an added plus. The resale value also depends upon the number of kilometres driven and the condition in which the car is in.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Colours
The Mahindra Bolero Neo is offered in the following colours:
- Napoli Black
- Majestic Silver
- Highway Red
- Pearl White
- Diamond White
- Rocky Beige
Mahindra Bolero Neo Specifications
Engine: 1493cc, 3-Cyl, Diesel
Power: 100 BHP @ 3750 RPM
Torque: 260 Nm @ 1750 RPM
Transmission: 5-Speed MT
Fuel Type: Diesel
Tyre Size: 215/75/15 (Front & Rear)
Suspension: Coil Spring (Front), Multi-Link Coil Spring (Rear)
Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
Safety: Dual Airbags, ABS, EBD, CBC, etc
Dimensions (LxWxH): 3995 mm X 1795 mm X 1817 mm
Wheelbase: 2680 mm
Ground Clearance: 180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 50-litres
Mahindra Bolero Neo Variants
The Bolero Neo is offered in the following variants in the diesel trim :
- N4 MT
- N8 MT
- N10 MT
- N10(O) MT
Mahindra Bolero Neo Rating
We gave the Mahindra Bolero Neo a rating of 4/5.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Upcoming Models
Mahindra has officially confirmed the launch of the Bolero Neo Plus following the introduction of the Mahindra Bolero Neo. One can expect minor tweaks to the front and the rear profile of the Bolero Neo Plus compared to the Bolero Neo. The front might get a revised bumper, a new set of headlamps, and a new grille whereas the rear profile might see different tail lamps.
Mahindra Bolero Neo vs Tata Nexon
Tata Nexon gets the iRA technology which offers safety options like Live Diagnostic Report, Remote Vehicle Control, Intrusion Alert, and much more which the Mahindra Bolero Neo lacks. The Tata Nexon caters to a larger market with the base model being priced at Rs. 8.68 lakhs and the top model is priced at Rs. 16.12 lakhs which competes with premium compact SUVs. The gearbox options in the Nexon include a manual and an AMT whereas the Bolero Neo is only available with a manual gearbox.
Mahindra Bolero Neo vs Hyundai Venue
If a long feature list is a priority, the Hyundai Venue is the way to go without a second thought. The Bolero Neo gets comparatively fewer powertrains and an option of a 5-speed manual as compared to a 6-speed manual offered on the Venue. The Mahindra Bolero Neo is the only car in the segment to be equipped with a seating capacity of seven. A minor comfort feature missing in the Venue is the absence of a rear armrest which is present in the Bolero Neo. In terms of dimensions, the Bolero Neo is 25 mm wider and 212 mm taller than the Hyundai Venue.
Mahindra Bolero Neo vs Ford EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport gets safety features such as Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Hold Control (HHC), Traction Control System (TC/TCS), and much more which are absent on the Mahindra Bolero Neo. The EcoSport is equipped with 6-airbags however the Bolero Neo is equipped with only 2-airbags. EcoSport has a more appealing and sophisticated design language of a sub-compact SUV compared to the boxy design of the Bolero Neo.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Image Gallery
