The regular Bolero is the highest-selling SUV in the Mahindra lineup and there are plenty of reasons why. It caters to the semi-urban and rural population of our country. The requirements from a vehicle in those environments are completely different than what people want in the cities. Mahindra also has a lot of experience in serving the rural markets for a longer time than the city customers. Therefore, they equip products like the Bolero and TUV300 with such features that find appeal among the rural buyers. They make rugged ladder-on-frame chassis SUVs and offer practicality and utility aspects in such offerings. That is why they started to offer the TUV300 range back in 2015. This was done to give the buyers an option of opting between a hardcore SUV like a Bolero or a relatively modern and more feature-rich but still practical TUV300. It enjoyed a lot of success before being discontinued after the implementation of BS6 emission norms. Now, the TUV300 might be back under the name of Bolero Neo. Here is what we know so far!
Also read: Mahindra launches XUV300 with Automatic transmission and Connected Car Tech!
Mahindra TUV300 – Bolero Neo – Exterior and Interior
The spy shots clearly show a similar looking SUV like the TUV300 being tested in off-roading conditions. This might be done keeping in mind the common terrain that TUV300 most likely will find itself in. There is chrome treatment on the front grille with vertical slats which is typical of Mahindra products. The SUV retains its boxy design highlighting its rugged nature. The bumpers are redesigned and fog lamp housing is placed in the bumper itself. The rear retains the spare tyre on the back door but the tail lamp uni looks fresh and updated along with the rear bumpers. We expect the overall design and stance to remain the same as the outgoing model.
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On the inside, however, we might expect a few changes. For instance, we might see a Digital Touchscreen Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Digital Driver’s Instrument Cluster, Steering Mounted Controls, New Dashboard, high seating position and much more. Unfortunately, we don’t have an image of the interiors of the Bolero Neo.
Also read: Mahindra Scorpio spied testing – Likely launch in mid-2021!
Mahindra TUV300 – Bolero Neo – Engine, Price and Rivals
The Mahindra Bolero Neo is most likely to come with a BS6 compliant 1.5-litre diesel engine making 100hp and 240Nm. This engine might come with a 5-speed manual transmission. We might also see a 5-speed AMT on offer to enhance the convenience quotient of the Bolero Neo. We also mentioned the likely launch of the TUV300 Plus very soon. Mahindra is gearing up for an exciting year with a ton of new launches this year. This will include updated XUV300 Sportz with a new engine, Scorpio, XUV500, TUV300 Plus and Bolero.
Also read: Spied interiors of the next-gen Mahindra XUV500 – What to expect?
The rivals of the Mahindra Bolero Neo / TUV300 might not be too many. Sure, it falls in the category of compact SUVs but the purpose and usage of this product will be completely different than the ”natural” rivals in form of Sonet, Venue, XUV300, Nexon and Brezza. Therefore, it might well be a sole player in the rural SUV space for now.
Image Credit: Motor Beam
