The Mahindra TUV300 was discontinued when the BS6 era came into enforcement in the Indian automotive market. While it wasn’t as polished as the other models in the Mahindra model lineup, it still had that rugged feel and a built to last factor. And it’s back now as the Mahindra Bolero Neo. Why Bolero you may ask? Well, the Bolero has been the largest selling SUV in India with over 1.3 million units sold since the first one came out 20 years ago. The name Bolero is a brand itself and Mahindra wants to cash in on the reputation it has built over the years, and wants that success to rub on to the Bolero Neo. So is it just a rebadged TUV300? This review is all about that. Read on.
Mahindra Bolero Neo Exterior
The Mahindra Bolero Neo does retain the boxy styling of the TUV, though the body now sits lower on the chassis by 20mm as does the bonnet which is 40mm lower than before. As far as design goes, there are a number of differences. There is a new Bolero-ish front grille with six vertical chrome slats. The headlamps are slim and get integrated DRLS. The redesigned front bumper features fog lamps. On the side, the square wheels arches give the SUV a very beefy look. Mahindra has added a Bolero trademark, a black cladding strip that runs across the shoulder line. The 15 inch alloys have a new design but they still look at tad small for the height of the SUV. The rear features the X shaped spare wheel cover, that now features the Bolero badging. The roof spoiler and black parking sensors complete the rear. Where the Bolero Neo stands out is in its stance, which is proper big SUV when compared to the other sub 4 metre offerings in the segment.