Ahh once again I am driving the workhorse of South Africa, the Bakkie. Bakkies are meant to be tough to allow us South Africans to get our work done. Did you know that there is an Indian bakkie in SA, the Mahindra Pik Up S10 4×4 and it is known to be a real toughie. After spending a week with the Mahindra Picup 4×4, is this bakkie of Indian origin suitable for Cape Town and as tough as it seems? Let’s find out
Exterior
The exterior of the Mahindra Picup is bold, defined and rugged, giving the impression that this is a vehicle that is not afraid to work. While this is true, I was not the biggest fan of the front which was a bit too rigid looking for my liking. I would have preferred to see more curves in the design. That being said, a bakkie should not be something that you worry too much about its looks, when its functionally is the most important concern. I did however like the chrome detail on the front grille which gives the facade a sporty look. The rear is also bold with black on the bumper and a drop down tailgate. At the side you get side steps to make getting in and out of the vehicle easier, even for a tall person like myself, these are necessary!
The Pik Up S10 is available in three colours (Artic White, De-sat Silver and Rage Red)
Interior
On the inside, you get a fair share of comforts such as a aircon, electric windows, electric mirrors, power steering, touch screen display with navigation, multi function steering wheel controls, cruise control as well as comfortable seats to keep you in place. There is also front and rear 12V charging points to keep your devices juiced up.
The in house entertainment system supports Bluetooth for hands free calling and playing music as well as USB/AUX support. There is automatic temperature controls as well as rain and light sensors which automatically turn the lights on in poor lighting conditions and your wipers on in the rain. There was one feature which I definitely missed, parking sensors as this bakkie is not on the small side and I did need some assistance when parking. The overall look and feel is very practical with everything simple to use, just like it should be.
3 features I really liked were the Static bending headlamps which lights up bends as you take them to ensure high visibility in dark areas, the start and stop feature which turns off the vehicle at the robot to save fuel, as well as the illuminated key ring, so I could see where to insert the key (This is something many cars fail to incorporate).
Engine and The Drive
The Mahindra Pik Up S10 is powered by a 2.2 turbo diesel engine which delivers 103 kW of power and 230Nm of torque. Only available in a 6-speed manual and with torque output ranging from 1500 to 2900rpm, power delivery takes place as you get going through the gears. The engine is very response, with a simple tap of the gas pedal sending the speedometer through its paces. The 2.2L turbo diesel engine does a good job at getting the vehicle over any tough situation, whether a steep hill or tough terrain.
While the vehicle handles the road really well, I found the manual gearbox took some time to get used to. I found if I wasn’t careful, I would go into reverse instead of first gear when taking off from robots. Otherwise the gearbox was pretty smooth with lots of power delivery in low and high gears. The vehicle does sit high on the road which gives you a nice view.
The S10 has a 4X4 wheel drive and together with 3 terrain modes, 210 mm ground clearance, 16″ tyres, the Pik Up is practical, strong and delivers at every level. Bakkies are meant for carrying and moving around tools and big items so it is ideal that the S10 can carry up to 995 kg in the payload and tow up to 2500kg!
Fuel Efficiency:
I was pretty impressed how fuel efficient the S10 actually is. I mean, this is no small vehicle and I do have a heavy right foot yet I got an average fuel economy of 7.2L per 100km! This is much lower than what I have gotten on hatchbacks!
Safety:
To keep you safe on the road, you get the likes of ABS (anti-lock braking system) brakes with EBDÂ (electronic brake distribution) to keep you in control in hazardous situations as well as dual front airbags and side impact protection bars. On the security front, the engine immobilizer includes an encrypted key recognition system that will reject any foreign key accessing the vehicle. This is further supported by the anti-theft warning system to protect against illegal entry.
Pricing:
Starting at R357995, the Pik Up S10 is very well priced. Compared to the likes of the Nissan Navara or Ford Ranger, you get more value for your money with the Pik Up S10!
Together with a Service plan of 5-Years/90 000 km and a 4-Years/120 000 km warranty, you are really getting a lot for your money.
Verdict
The Mahindra Pik Up S10 4×4 comes to the party with features and gizmos you will use on a daily basis. For what you are paying, you are really getting a bargain for your money. I have to admit that I am not 100% sold on it’s looks but overall I was impressed with its performance and ride quality. The Pik Up S10 is a tough bakkie and is perfect for the different terrains we find in Cape Town. If you are looking for a hard working bakkie that will be with you from thick to thin and want to keep costs down, then the Mahindra Pik Up S10 4×4 is the bakkie for you.
