Sampling the latest Mahindra S11 Pik-Up

He was impressed by the amount of vehicle you get for a fraction of the price compared to that of better-established brands such as Ford and Toyota. So when the latest offering from India turned up at our office, I grabbed the keys to see what this new Mahindra Pik-Up has to offer.

This, the S11 won’t win any beauty contests but then again it’s not supposed to. It’s a vehicle that has been designed and built to take on tough situations and it is doing quite well as Mahindra grew by 28.7% last year, which made it the fastest growing car brand in South Africa for 2019. It was for this reason that Mahindra decided to launch the S11 locally with the automatic gearbox making its global debut in Mzansi. The S11 is also now built here in South Africa which shows the brands commitment to our country and its economy.

The looks

While there is a Karoo version which features larger wheels, bull-bars, roll-bars and decals along the side, the model that turned up at our office was the standard offering. It looks as if it is ready to work thanks to a rough and ready looking design. The front end is quite intimidating and there is even a bonnet vent however I find the wheels, which have been placed too far within the wheel arches to offset the overall look. There is a strong character line down the side which runs the length of the vehicle. As I said, it won’t win any beauty contest but it looks more up for the challenge than the GWM offering that Sean drove.

The interior

Inside the Mahindra S11 you will find a dashboard made out of hard and in some cases cheap plastic but, I did get a sense that the interior timings were durable. There is chrome-like finishing’s around the air vents to add a little bit of class but the main attraction is the new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth capability and integrated navigation. There is also a reverse camera. Automatic climate control is now also standard as is a multifunction steering wheel and cruise control. The windows are electrically operated and front and rear 12V sockets are also included.

One of the biggest issues though is space. Getting in is ok but because of a seat-mounted armrest trying to clip the seatbelt in can become a bit of a struggle. Sitting behind the wheel I have space and so would a passenger but in my driving position there is very little legroom for those at the rear, thankfully rear occupants do get ventilation from the centre console and the rear speakers are mounted in the roof.

Under the bonnet

The Mahindra is powered by the brands own M-Hawk turbo diesel engine which comes as a 2.2-litre unit. This motor develops 103 kW/ 320 N.m and as mentioned, is fitted to a six-speed automatic gearbox. My test vehicle was the 4×4 derivative and thus benefits from 210mm of ground clearance as well as a mechanical differential lock. A heavy-duty Cushion suspension system also features and this allows for a carrying capacity of 995 kg in the 4×4.

The Drive

Out on the road, the Mahindra copes rather fine with day to day driving. It can get to the national speed limit without much fuss and the automatic gearbox makes driving in traffic a breeze. It is, however, the steering which brings to light some issues, yes it is a bakkie and when you turn the steering wheel the front wheels do indeed turn but there is just no feel. Besides that, the Mahindra is surprisingly comfortable and with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.9L/100km, it is also frugal.

Verdict

Ok, so it might not be a Hilux or Ranger but the Mahindra offers up a vehicle that works hard and is up to play hard as well. I won’t go as far as to say that it is a lifestyle vehicle as many new Rangers and Hilux models are but it’s a much better option than the Nissan Hardbody. It offers good levels of safety as well as modern features. At a price of around R414 999 the Mahindra Pik-Up S11 makes an appealing case for itself especially when you add in the four-year / 120 000 km technical warranty and a five-year/100 000 km warranty as well as a  Roadside Assistance plan which is also standard.