Something different – the Mahindra Pik Up

By Stuart Johnston

 

The Mahindra Pik Up is completely different-looking to other double cab bakkies in this market. But just because it isn’t main-stream doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. Our test period with the top-spec Pik Up revealed plenty to recommend it.

Until now, Mahindra hasn’t gone to great lengths to woo the motoring media about the charms of the Pik Up, its protagonist in the lucrative double cab market in this country. In fact, when I showed up at a motoring function in the tall, upright, narrow-looking Pik Up, a couple of  motoring journalists I encountered seemed sceptical about the vehicle.

It turned out they were basing their assumptions purely on appearances, and none of them who had voiced their jaded two-cents’ worth turned out to have actually driven the latest 4X4 S10 version that I was driving. So be it. I know differently. And, wow, at R369 999, it has to be worth a long hard look.

Styling

The Pik Up is the fairly recently-launched version of the Mahindra bakkie with a number of updates. It is based on the previous-generation Scorpio, and the visual updates include a re-style to the front end regarding the grille, headlights and bumper. The underside of the front end receives a skid-plate feature to give it some street cred, as well as protection from rocks and pavement edges. You won’t need that often, as it has exceptional ground clearance.

On the flanks the Pik Up has slightly pronounced wheel arch flares as well as running boards in black, and these are again intended to impart some muscularity to the vehicle. But the cabin remains very tall-looking  in relation to the rest of the vehicle, and as it also features a very upright windscreen, it makes the whole vehicle look rather old-fashioned.

Quaint wheels

As for the alloy wheels fitted to the S10 version of the  Pik Up, well, they are very ornate and rather dated looking in a quaint way. They kind of make you think  f those old Roman chariot movies! Okay, so  the last thing you want your bakkie to look is “quaint”. We feel the best thing you can do for the Mahindra’s styling is to fit it with the factory-approved Karoo accessory items which include macho-looking wheels, black wheel-arch extensions and a nudge bar.

To read more about Mahindra Pik Up Karoo accessories click here.

Space and Comfort

Climbing into the front seat of the Mahindra, you are immediately a lot happier about it. This is because unlike many modern double cabs – the Hilux and Isuzu spring to mind here particularly – you do not have to duck your head to avoid smacking it into the windscreen pillar. That upright screen does have its advantages!

Once inside, you marvel at the lavish amount of headroom inside and the airy feel it gives to the cabin. At 1 860 mm high , the Mahindra is taller overall than many comparable 4X4 double cabs on the market. Incidentally, the doors on this vehicle open very wide, giving exceptionally easy access.

Looking around, if you were familiar with the previous-gen Scorpio, you will notice that the interior has received a substantial upgrade, with dark charcoal upholstery and black dashboard trim. It’s all still a bit too shiny in terms of plastic finish, and the cloth upholstery doesn’t look overly durable, but you have to keep in mind that this vehicle is a good R100 000 less expensive than many other comparable double cab pick-ups.

The rear seats  are generous in their length and height, so rear seat accommodation is actually excellent, and again there is exceptional headroom in the rear.

The steering wheel is adjustable for height but not reach, but we managed to achieve a sensible driving position.

There is also a touch-screen  infotainment screen in the centre of the dash above the console area in this, the top-line S10 version. This includes Navigation and Bluetooth capability.

As for the load bed, it measures just under 1,5 metres in length and is just under 1,8 metres wide, with a rated payload of 995 kg. There are numerous tie-down hooks to help you secure any heavy items you may want to carry in the lad bay of the Pik Up.

The Drive

The biggest surprise awaiting you in the Mahindra Pik Up is the refinement of the  2,2-litre turbodiesel engine. The rated power output is not great at 103 kW,  but torque is reasonable at 320 Nm, and what’s more there is no noticeable turbo-lag.

The reasonably quiet and vibration-free engine is matched by an excellent six-speed gearbox with good, fluent clutch action, and gear-changes are a pleasure rather than a chore, despite the rather long throw of the gear lever.

Ride and handling

 The ride is also more comfortable and less rigid than you might expect from such a workhorse-inspired bakkie. With a tow rating of 2 500 kg and a load rating of just shy of  one ton, you might expect some harsh going, especially regards the rear suspension, but the Pik Up is at least comparable with many other bakkies in the ride comfort department.

The steering, too,  is much more accurate than expected, and is fairly well-weighted. But the turning circle is quite poor.

However, you should be aware that the Pik Up is not fitted traction control or corner assist electronics, so on dirt roads you would be advised to engage four-wheel-drive. And on wet tar, in two-wheel-drive, you should keep in mind that all bakkies can be a bit tail-happy, especially without electronic assists.

For serious off-roading, of which the Pik Up is capable with a generous 210 mm ground clearance, low-range is also provided, as well as a rear differential lock.

Performance

The Mahindra Pik Up is certainly not about high-performance, but I did discover that it will cruise easily at 120 km/h to 140 km/h. The acceleration to 100 km/h is not listed, but it should work out at  around 13,5 to 14,5 seconds. The main aspect here is that the Pik Up maintains its 120 km/h cruising speed in sixth gear without hardly ever having to shift down for the type of up-hills you would normally encounter in a highway.

Fuel Consumption

As for fuel consumption I was surprised that you could easily average well under 10 litres/100 km with this bakkie, and even less in constant open-road running. The best average I achieved as 9,5 litres/100 km, which is excellent for such a large vehicle.

Safety 

It has already been mentioned in this report that there are no electronic safety aids, apart from ABS braking. But dynamically, the Mahindra Pik Up is good, which means you should easily be able to avoid staying out of trouble in terms of negotiating difficult stretches of road or avoiding the stupidity of other motorists or pedestrians.

The airbag count is not high, as there are just two airbags fitted, one for the driver and one for the front-seat passenger. But there are ISOFIX mounts at the rear for the easy and safe fitting of child seats.

 Verdict

Funnily enough, the oddball looks of the Mahindra Pik Up really began to endear us to it, because it is such a pleasant vehicle to live with. It is no wonder that in rural areas, particularly in Mpumalanga, Mahindra bakkies are a common sight, which also speaks for their durability as hard-working farming vehicles.

Of course, the main reason for buying a Mahindra Pik Up is price. You get a lot of bakkie for your money, as the Mahindra Pik Up, even in top-level S10 form, costs only R369 999, which is a lot less than comparable vehicles from the more established Japanese players and those from Ford or VW.

Those oddball looks help to make you feel that you are driving one of the best-kept secrets out there. But, judging by increasing Mahindra sales across the country, that isn’t going to stay a secret for too much longer!