FIRST DRIVE
Auto perfection? Adding a six-speed auto to Mahindra’s workhorse ups the game for this value proposition Report Andrew Middleton
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t’s hard to argue against a brand new, topspec double cab with all the latest bells and whistles for the same price as a five-year-old Hilux with 100 000km on the clock. That’s precisely where Mahindra fits into the picture. This company, which now has 67 local dealers and an assembly facility in Durban, is pushing hard into the sub-Saharan market with a range of utility vehicles that offer extreme value. Surprisingly, at this price range, they are also producing highquality products that are a joy to drive. We did a thorough test of the manual (S10) version of the Pik Up (SA4x4 November 2018) and it came away with a positive review. And now, this beast from the East is offered as the S11, with a six-speed Aisin-Warner automatic gearbox that’s not too far off the version fitted to Toyota’s Hilux, Fortuner, and Prado. The difference here is that the manual override lets you upshift as well as downshift – a huge benefit, especially in sand. Under the bonnet is the same 103kW mHawk 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel. Though far from quick, it’s a very tractable mill with minimal turbo 24 SA4x4
lag and plenty of get-up-and-go for daily use across both long and short hauls. What also won us over was the basic nature of the machine – it’s a true workhorse without trying too hard to be a luxury vehicle. The S11 is no different in these aspects but now offers a wider scope of audience thanks to its brilliant auto box – the automatic choice for well over 50% of bakkie buyers today. Linked with an Eaton Mechanical Locking Diff (MLD) rear differential, the auto box
SPECIFICATIONS
Mahindra Pik Up 2.2CRDe Double Cab 4x4 S11 AT Price: R414 999 (R429 999 for Karoo variant) Engine: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel Power: 103kW @ 3 750rpm Torque: 320 Nm @ 1 500-2 800rpm Fuel consumption: Claimed 7.9 litres/100km/On launch 10l/100km Transmission: Aisin six-speed automatic Ground clearance: 210mm Approach/departure/breakover angles: 34/15/18 degrees Service plan: 5-year/100 000km Technical warranty: 4-year/120 000km March 2020
