Mahindra South Africa was the first country in the world to introduce an automatic version of the Mahindra Pik Up Double Cab. This was launched in January this year, and the new automatic versions of the Pik Up Double Cab are all denoted with an “S11” designation.
For the 2020 model year, Mahindra introduced four versions of the Mahindra Pik Up S11. These are priced as follows:
| Mahindra Pik Up S11 AT 4X2 | R384 999 |
| Mahnidra Pik Up S11 AT 4X2 Karoo | R399 999 |
| Mahindra Pik Up S11 AT 4X4 | R414 999 |
| Mahindra Pik Up S11 AT 4X4 Karoo | R429 999 |
The new Automatic transmission
The testing program for the new automatic transmission was largely carried out at the Gerotek testing facility, north-west of Pretoria, and thus South Africa has a special place in the Pik Up’s graduation to more wide-spread leisure-orientated acceptance.
Mahinda says the 6-speed automatic gearbox has been profiled to offer “near imperceptible shifts” thanks to careful electronic mapping of the 103 kW mHawk common rail turbo diesel engine. The engine mapping has also been re-worked in the S11 models to combine with the standard-fit cruise control system for the automatic version.
The new gearbox is available for both 4X2 and 4X4 models, and on the 4X4 versions the gearbox also comes with a new hill descent control system.
Our focus is on the Karoo version
The Karoo version of the Mahindra Pik Up was introduced in late 2018 and has since proved to be very popular. The Karoo package gives the chunky, eccentric-looking Pik Up some real street cred, and has been instrumental in drawing attention to the fact that the Mahindra Pik Up Double Cab range has a lot going for it as a lifestyle vehicle.
Whilst the Karoo package is largely cosmetic, it also has some very useful practical features that add to the lifestyle credentials of the Pik Up.
Cosmetic features that stand out are the new-for2020 S11 Pik Up range are the narrow radiator grille and new headlamp clusters.
Check out the following Karoo-specific features on your S11 test drive!
- Roller shutter tonneau. This roller-shutter security panel for the load bay is lockable, and offers valuable protection for your lifestyle gear and luggage.
- Off-road-ready alloy wheels with a new blacked-out design with chrome highlights.
- Rear wheel arch extensions. This is a big cosmetic “fix” that balances the front and rear wheel arch styling of the Pik Up.
- Nudge bar in black
- Style bar in black for the load bay
- Decal kit.
The price at R429 999 is extremely competitive. All these features add only R15 000 compared to the price of the standard S11 AT 4X4. This compares extremely favourably to similar add-on kits for other double cabs on the market.
The Mahindra Pik Up has become a bit of a cult vehicle for those who value the large, high-roofed cabin space, and the no-nonsense specification that the Pik Up offers. Certainly, the 2,2-litre diesel’s output can’t compete with the top engines offered by the likes of Toyota and Ford, with their outputs in the 150 kW region.. But when one looks at the pricing of the Mahinda, and the fact that it comes with a 4-year technical warranty and a 5-year/100 000km service plan, it makes a lot of sense.