Mahindra’s local range aims at the more-affordable end of the price spectrum, and consists only of SUVs and bakkies. They offer one of South Africa’s least-expensive cars, and is a price leader in some other popular segments as well. Let’s look at the cheapest variants in the Mahindra range.
Mahindra KUV100 Nxt (From R 162 999)
Don’t expect any fancy trimmings if you opt for the cheapest Mahindra in South Africa – in K2+ spec, the KUV100 Nxt is as basic as a modern car could be. Forget about alloy wheels or even full-size plastic wheel covers, get ready to wind the windows and lock the doors by hand, and get used to the void where the radio is supposed to sit.
For those who long for a basic, no-frills car, the entry-level KUV100 Nxt will be a delight, but that doesn’t mean that safety is entirely forgotten, either: 2 airbags and ABS are standard, so it largely conforms to modern standards. All KUV100s also feature power steering and air conditioning, but the K2+ #DARE (yes, really) at least adds remote central locking and alloy wheels to take it a step above the bare minimum…
Mahindra Bolero (From 176 999)
If you need an inexpensive new bakkie to put in some hard labour, the Bolero should be on your radar. In entry-level “2.5Di Maxitruck Plus” trim, you’ll get all of 46 kW and 195 Nm, sent to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.
It won’t be fast, but it is the least-expensive large bakkie on our market, and has a very useful payload of 1 150 kg. One step up is the 2.5TD, which gets a turbodiesel engine to increase outputs to 74 kW and 238 Nm, and it still manages to slip in below the R 200 000 barrier. Crude and ugly, yes, but also honest, simple, and very affordable.
Mahindra Pik Up – Single cab (From R 222 999)
This headlining price tag is very reasonable for a large single-cab bakkie with a modern, direct-injected and quite potent engine (for the money) too, but there’s a catch: It applies only to the chassis/cab variant, meant for coachbuilders to turn into cold-transport vehicles, game-viewers and the like.
To get a load bin with it, the Mahindra Pik Up S4 2.2CRDe adds another R 11 000 to that number. R 233 999 is again pretty good value for money, but for that you’ll have to do without airbags, ABS, or even air conditioning (which is optional). Upgrade to S6 trim to get these safety add-ons, starting at R 289 999 for the basic, manual 4×2.
Mahindra Pik Up – Double cab (From R 349 999)
The double-cab Pik Up opens with the S6 trim level, which means that the basic safety- and comfort spec is up to standard across the range. All Pik Ups use a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine, good for 103 kW and 320 Nm, and offer a choice between 6-speed manual- or automatic gearboxes. 4×4 variants start at R 384 999, and can be dolled-up with various trim packages like Karoo and Dusk.
Mahindra XUV300 (From R 254 999)
The XUV300 first arrived in its two higher trim levels, each with a choice between petrol- and diesel power, with an entry-level model added to the range about a year later. The latecomer is an interesting proposition: it retains the practical virtues of the higher-level XUV300s and offers the excellent turbodiesel engine/6-speed manual combination, but strips off all the pretty bits in exchange for a bargain price.
There’s still enough to keep you comfortable in the basic XUV300 1.5TD W4, however. Air conditioning, power steering, electric windows all round, remote central locking, and a touchscreen infotainment system are retained as part of the package. The only downside is that you’ll need to add your own alloy wheels and some vinyl stickers, to get rid of the poverty-spec appearance of an otherwise very attractive compact crossover.
Mahindra Scorpio (From R 369 999)
Need a rugged, body-on-frame SUV with a reasonably contemporary engine and plenty of modern conveniences for not much money? Step right this way and take a closer look at the Mahindra Scorpio range. Yes, it’s very old (having been on the market in various forms for two decades), but it’s also very capable. And very cheap.
In fact, this is the least-expensive body-on-frame SUV currently available in South Africa, and that should be enough to entice many buyers. It doesn’t hurt that it is pretty well-equipped as well, although the Scorpio’s safety credentials fall short of including more than 2 airbags or stability control.
Mahindra XUV500 (From R 410 999)
Want much more sophistication and more seats than you’d get in a Scorpio, but don’t want to destroy your bank account? The Mahindra XUV500 will serve you very well indeed. Powered by the Pik Up’s (and Scorpio’s) 2.2-litre “mHawk” engine, here tuned for 103 kW and 330 Nm, the XUV500 is a unibody SUV with 7 seats and a surprisingly enjoyable driving experience.
The XUV500 is showing its age, however (it’s been around for a decade already), and on-road refinement demonstrates this with quite a lot of cabin noise at higher speeds. Relax your pace a little instead, and the XUV500 becomes a comfortable long-distance runner with very good fuel economy and a surprisingly comprehensive spec sheet across the range.
Keyword: What is the cheapest Mahindra car?