World-first preview: 2020 Mahindra Pik Up Automatic driven!
Much to their credit, many budget-conscious bakkie buyers have embraced the Mahindra Pik Up with great enthusiasm. Such is the market acceptance of this affordable alternative, that it regularly ends up in the local best-selling bakkie lists, and that’s without really being able to compete in the leisure segment. But that’s all about to change, with a new (and up-specced) automatic variant. In this world-first test drive, we put the new automatic Pik Up through its paces.
A new bakkie bargain.
The sad reality is that many buyers might lust after a new double cab bakkie to serve as both a business tool and a family vehicle, but that the current crop’s sophistication and high-tech gadgets result in prices that simply aren’t affordable to many potential customers. It’s even worse if they need an automatic gearbox in the bargain as well, because the least-expensive new self-shifting double cab starts on the (very) far side of R 400 000. That money will get them something with pretty spartan trimmings, while any need for 4x4 will edge their pricetags closer to the half-a-million mark.
Up till now, those buyers would either have had to kiss their ambitions of a getting new bakkie good-bye and settle for something pre-owned, or let go of those double cab 4x4 ambitions entirely. But that’s all about to change, as Mahindra will soon release a new derivative of their very popular Pik Up double cab. With more standard features and the first appearance of an automatic gearbox in this range, it's squarely aimed at value-conscious leisure buers, and it should turn out to be a sales hit.
We had a world-first test drive in this upcoming addition, and found a lot to like about it. How come it's a world first? Because South Africa will be the first market to receive this derivative, so we're among the first journalists to get some wheel time with this vehicle.
What’s changed under the skin?
The big news is the arrival of a new automatic gearbox to go with the existing 103 kW/320 Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine and driver-selectable four-wheel drive. As with the existing manual gearbox, the new transmission has 6 forward speeds – the only thing that’s really changed as far as the driver is concerned is the gear shifter (complete with a Tiptronic-style manual override) and the absence of a clutch pedal in the footwell.
Of secondary importance, the latest addition to the Pik Up range also boasts a higher feature content. Due to be launched in a new "S11" trim, the most obvious additions are a rear-view camera and fancier air conditioning. For the rest, it’s much like you’d find in a current S10 variant: relatively loaded with equipment for the pricetag, and with the trim bits screwed together tightly. For those buyers with a greater focus on cosmetic enhancements, there should be a Karoo trim option for this upcoming S11 derivative as well.
Comprehensive spec sheet for the money.
For starters, there’s nothing really fancy about the interior: if you demand soft-touch plastics everywhere, this isn’t the bakkie you want. However, it’s all put together very well, with no rattles or squeaks in evidence over rough roads, and the standard equipment list will raise your eyebrows.
In addition to the rear-view camera, you’ll also find automatic climate control (another new addition) and the USB/Bluetooth-compatible colour touchscreen infotainment system which graces a host of other Mahindra products. It’s not the last word in sophistication, but most of the modern conveniences are present and accounted for – especially considering its (projected) bargain pricing.
Driving the Pik Up Automatic:
Our brief pre-launch test route included a nice mix of low-speed town driving, open-road cruising, a section on a potholed gravel road, and some moderate off-roading. The driving experience is quite a revelation. While the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine has always been more than competent in its class, it pairs particularly well with the new automatic transmission.
The gearbox slips smoothly through its ratios in traffic, promptly responds to kick-down demands, and even holds a lower gear through corners or on downhill sections. It certainly meets my main criterion for a good self-shifter: if the driver is not aware of the gearbox doing its thing, it’s working well.
The off-roading section of our test drive entailed some muddy pits, rock-strewn paths, and cross-axle situations. With 4WD and low range selected (and also thanks to an auto-locking rear differential), the automatic Pik Up had no real hassles to get through most obstacles. The few places where it faltered would readily be ascribed to the standard all-terrain tyres, which struggled to cope with the gooey mud churned up after almost a week of non-stop rain in Gauteng.
On that note, it will be worthwhile for buyers to add one thing to the Pik Up’s make-up, and that’s a set of aftermarket wheels and tyres. For one thing, the standard 16-inch alloy wheels look very dated, and for another, the factory-spec tyres aren’t really ideal for serious off-roading. That’s about it, though: the Pik Up still exudes the kind of honest charm you used to get in a classic Land Rover or a Land Cruiser bakkie, only in a much more affordable (and smaller overall) package.
The Verdict:
At the time of our test session, pricing for the automatic Pik Up hadn’t yet been confirmed. The local representatives acknowledged that they’re aiming for a price point below the R 400 000 mark when the new derivative arrives on dealership floors in January 2020, which will give it a handy price- and equipment advantage over all of the other automatic double-cab 4x4s. Accurate pricing and trim specifications will be revealed during the official media launch event in a few weeks’ time.
When it arrives, the automatic gearbox will only be available in the new top-spec S11 trim, and only with a double cab body. Other derivatives may however be possible at a later stage, if the actual demand matches the projections of Mahindra's marketing department.
After spending time with this important new Pik Up variant, there’s no reason to doubt assertions that the automatic gearbox could turn out to be a game-changer for the company: it’s still the same rugged and honest bakkie we’ve come to respect, but with an extra shot of daily-driver usability and improved equipment to make it an even more viable proposition for leisure-oriented buyers on a tight budget. In tough times, these features matter more than any others, so the automatic Pik Up’s success is practically guaranteed.
