Mahindra Pik-Up

Sahib's rocket

The stiff rise in the price of oil will make some people reappraise their use of motor vehicles and this may be foregoing a technologically advanced conveyance for something more ‘retrotech' to keep things in an economic perspective.

Things like ABS, airbags, traction control, and the like, are out and we go back to a more basic form of transportation. If you are ready to forego these driver-enhanced features for a machine we used to drive pre 1980's, then look no farther than the Mahindra Pik-Up.

Haven't heard of it? Well this dual and single cab ute in 2 or 4WD modes is made by our cricketing buddies on the Subcontinent and imported into Australia by TMI Pacific as a cheap alternative to the Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara and Holden Rodeo equivalents.

And the Mahindra Pik-Up is retro in technology or, more correctly, it's never been there to go back, and lacks the above mentioned enhancements like ABS, airbags, traction control, cruise control, high-horsepower motor and all that, but those things aside, it has kept the price cheap on this new player.

The Pik-Up's maker, the Mahindra Group, is not a new player in India, says the press blurb, it has been in manufacturing for more than 60 years, is a top 10 industrial house in India, is the only Indian company among the top five tractor manufacturers in the world (don't laugh, didn't luxury Italian carmaker Lamborghini start off making tractors and still does) and a market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India.

The Pik-Up has a high-cabin profile and its look is distinctive, but it does have enough styling (including the interior too) to make it respectable and, therefore, double as a recreational SUV.

As stated, there are plenty of compromises in buying a vehicle like this, in particular as you get only one power option, a 2.49lt four-cylinder turbo diesel that pumps out a timid 79kW and 247Nm of torque, but has common rail injection and is Euro 4 compliant.

For a comparison of output, the HiLux 3.0lt turbo diesel rates at 126kW, Navara's 2.5lt turbo diesel produces 126kW, and South Korea's SsangYong Dual Cab 2.0lt turbo diesel comes in at 104kW.

Now the all-important comparison of the prices, the HiLux, Navara and Rodeo all sit in the $40,000plus bracket, the SsangYong retails for $31,990, and the dearest Mahindra Pik-Up, the 4WD Dual Cab, hits the till at only $29,990.

That equates to a 25 per cent cheaper vehicle compared to the HiLux-Navara-Rodeo trio and those sorts of savings are sure to win some customers looking for a tow, work, or farm ute and find the price of the top-pop models beyond budget.

The power and torque differentials are big in the engine department, but the Mihandra Pik-Up's load and towing capacity, however, is not as bad as you might think on the figures supplied and stands it in good stead.

The Navara leads the way in the tow department with a capacity of 3000kg (braked trailers) and 750kg (unbraked), the SsanYong is 2300kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked), HiLux specs state 2250kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked) while the Pik-Up slots in at number two with 2500kg (braked) and 850kg (unbraked), plus has a payload loading of 1000kg for Dual Cabs and 1060kg for Single Cabs.

There are standard features that keep some of the Pik-Up's levels on a par with modern vehicles like power steering, power windows, air-con, MP3/CD player and tuner, remote central locking, automatic hub locks and electric shift 4WD, and come in seven colours.

For more information, visit www.mahindrapikup.com.au