Mahindra Readying Mini Bolero As A New Compact SUV

After launching the TUV300, KUV100, and the Nuvosport, Mahindra & Mahindra has started working on their fourth compact SUV model. According to reports, the new compact Bolero will now be shorter than four metres and will also probably get a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

Sources say that the wheelbase of the mini Bolero will remain the same though the front and rear overhangs will be reduced with the tweaked bumpers. Apart from these upgrades, the mini Bolero will get most of its body panels from its elder sibling. The dashboard will be carried over and is expected to be similar to the current model, however, the seats will mostly be modified for better space. This compact Bolero will be launched in a seven-seater guise, the last row being jump seats which are similar to those in the NuvoSport and the TUV300.

But the mini Bolero's most drastic change is under the hood. It will now be powered by a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre mHawk diesel unit (which currently powers the TUV300 and NuvoSport), thus putting it into the ‘small car’ category with its associated excise duty benefits. That said, the mini Bolero will get a down tuned version of the mHawk engine, expected to develop around 70PS. That said, it does generate more power compared to the Bolero, that makes a lowly 63PS. The lighter kerb weight, the relatively compact proportions and the smaller mHawk unit should make the mini Bolero a better performer. 

The Bolero has been on sale for more than a decade and is very popular in rural markets. However, sales have been dropping in recent months and it is no longer the best-selling SUV in India. With this new compact SUV, Mahindra is hoping to attract new customers. The mini Bolero is expected to be launched this August and will be priced aggressively to boost sales and help win back Mahindra's market share.