Mahindra Bushranger Reviews

Mahindra will unveil its all-new XUV3XO compact SUV at the Melbourne Motor Show this weekend, along with a seven-seat version of its Scorpio four-wheel drive.At approximately 3990mm long, 1821mm wide and 1647mm tall, the XUV3XO is considerably smaller than its larger sibling, the Haval H6- and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro-rivalling XUV700.The XUV3XO will instead act as a rival to the Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic, with pricing expected to start around $25,000, before on-road costs, where both of its competitors also reside.In return, expect three potential powertrain options consisting of two engines and three differing outputs, as is the case on its home market India.That includes two 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine configurations capable of 82kW/200Nm or 96kW/260Nm, as well as a class-leading 1.5-litre turbo-diesel that delivers 85kW/300Nm.Both petrol and diesel variants are offered with the choice of an automatic or manual transmission, with a two-wheel-drive setup coming standard.Exterior features are likely to include single-tone and dual-tone paint, alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, rain-sensing wipers, a small rear spoiler and roof rails.Inside, the XUV3XO is likely to carry synthetic leather upholstery, twin 10.25-inch displays for the central multimedia display and digital driver’s display, keyless entry and push-button start.Safety features include six airbags, a surround-view camera, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning.Mahindra hasn’t yet confirmed when it will launch the XUV3XO, though it is likely to arrive at some point in the second half of the year.No additional upgrades have been made to the Scorpio aside from the additional option of a seven-seat configuration, which bumps the price to $46,990, drive-away, for the Z8L, up $5000 from the six-seat Z8.Despite the price rise it still matches the GWM Tank 300, which is only available in five-seat configurations, on entry price. Additionally, it is $1410 less than the cheapest seven-seat Isuzu MU-X variant – the LS-M – which comes in two-wheel drive guise as standard.

Mahindra’s key mid-size seven-seat SUV has scored a slew of upgrades as part of a mild refresh for 2025.

Mahindra’s cut-price off-roader, the Scorpio, will miss the March 1, 2025 cut-off of for being imported to Australia without autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

What could be Mahindra’s most important new product has been spied.

Retro car design is having a moment. Again.Massive around the turn of the millennium, few endure today from back then (namely BMW’s Mini and the Fiat 500), as most (including the Volkswagen New Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Toyota FJ Cruiser) enjoyed only fleeting success at best, before fading away.Today, we’re lucky enough to experience the overtly nostalgic Nissan Z and Ineos Grenadier, but there are others that we may never see.Here, then, is a list of desirable retro vehicles available overseas that could make it big in Australia if given a chance.Blocked from sale in Australia by Jeep owner Stellantis, the Thar is a descendent of the original Willys Jeep, dating back to 1947 when Mahindra started manufacturing it under licence.While the styling leans heavily into that ancestry, the current iteration, launched as a two-door hardtop in India in 2020, is a stylish body-on-frame recreational vehicle, offering four-cylinder turbo petrol or turbodiesel choices, modern comfort/convenience features and serious 4x4 off-roader capabilities. Just like its American doppelganger.Based on the Scorpio 4WD’s underpinnings, the four-door Roxx wagon offshoot, meanwhile, only debuted in July last year, and is considerably more practical, as well as civilised.Both versions would undercut their Wrangler OG cousin by tens of thousands of dollars, underscoring Stellantis’ desire to keep Mahindra’s ‘jeep’ out of Australia.We understand that an evolved version of today’s U725-series Bronco that broke loose in North America in 2021 is set for an Australian debut sometime in the future. The question is when.Ford’s global CEO, Jim Farley, recently confirmed right-hand-drive production for the T6 Ranger/Everest-based off-roader, which is a handsome and well-proportioned reimagining of the crisp 1966 original.Fun fact: the nameplate managed to evade Australia until the F-150-based Bronco III was actually assembled here in the 1980s, using Falcon engines.With China a nearby sourcing opportunity thanks to partner Jiangling Ford Auto, Ford locally would have a serious weapon against the coming, formidable BYD Denza B5 and much-rumoured Toyota LandCruiser FJ-style 4WD wagon.Bring the Bronco on.You might be surprised to learn that, like the earlier Bronco, the world’s first mass-produced hatchback, the original Renault 4 (1961-1994), was also built in Australia for a brief period.It was ultimately too kooky and utilitarian for our tastes back in the 1960s, but the eight-million-selling French front-drive family car germinated the seed for what we know as the modern small SUV today.The reinvented R4 for 2025 retains its beloved namesake’s upright stance, friendly face, chunky detailing, slanting rear doors and interior versatility, but with modern SUV proportions clothing an advanced all-electric architecture shared with the closely-related (but more diminutive) R5 E-Tech expected in Australia at some point.That the latter nabbed the most recent European Car of the Year gong bodes well for the 21 Century R4.Despite a long production run that saw it topple the Ford Mustang in the US at one point, the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger never made it to Australia due to being left-hand-drive only.A pity, but some consolation could come in the unlikely event of specialist Japanese manufacturer Mitsuoka breaking completely from tradition by exporting one of its magnificent creations, the M55.No, not a motorway, but a current-gen Honda Civic with a Challenger nose and a Datsun C110/240K-esque posterior. Preposterous… or the automotive lovechild you never knew you pined for?Unconvinced? Then keep in mind that today’s Civic remains one of our favourite small cars on the planet, period, so at least the M55 would drive brilliantly. Especially as it uses a turbo/manual powertrain combination.The strange and wonderful wizards at Mitsuoka strike again with the Buddy, a current RAV4 topped and tailed by a ‘70s Chevrolet Blazer-inspired bodywork.Available in hybrid powertrains, the modifications meld uncannily well with the venerable Toyota SUV’s mid-section, especially when the retro wheel covers and period-evoking colour palette options are selected.Narrowly missing out being our bestselling vehicle outright in 2024, today’s fifth-gen RAV4 is popular enough to justify Mitsuoka importing the Buddy to Australia.

There’s been a lot of noise recently about the influx of Chinese car brands coming to Australia.There’s been less of a focus on India, largely because, for now, there are far fewer Indian automotive manufacturers, particularly ones that operate internationally.One brand has been quietly toiling away for nearly 18 years now, and it could be about to step into the limelight.Indian giant Mahindra landed in Australia in 2007 through a private distributor before shifting to a factory-backed operation in 2011. In that time it has offered utilitarian models like the PikUp and Genio utes, and while you’d be hard pressed to find too many of them on city streets, there are plenty in rural and remote areas of Australia.Following the forgettable XUV500 family SUV that was discontinued in 2022, Mahindra shifted up a gear in 2023 with the arrival of the off-road focussed Scorpio SUV, followed by the more refined XUV700 medium SUV.The Scorpio was hampered by its shocking zero-star ANCAP crash safety rating, but has remained popular with off-roading enthusiasts.The XUV700 on the other hand has helped boost the profile of Mahindra in Australia. It is a genuinely solid budget-focussed offering in the competitive medium-SUV segment.Unfortunately Mahindra does not report its sales data through the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the company was not forthcoming with its latest sales figures.However, anecdotally, there are a lot of XUV700s on the roads, and you'll spot a few Scorpios and PikUps as well.It’s unlikely that Mahindra’s Australian sales would be anywhere near Chinese rivals like Chery or GWM, or even Korean rival SsangYong, but you can expect to see a lot more Mahindra badges in the supermarket carpark in the coming year.Mahindra is keeping mum on its plans for 2025, but there are two models that should hit Australian shores by the year’s end.The first new arrival is expected to be the smallest model in its line-up - the 3XO SUV. This model is a small crossover that will give Mahindra a competitor in the fiercely competitive compact SUV segment for the first time.Powered in India by either a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, or a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine, the 3XO is likely to face competition from light SUVs including the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic.Once again, Mahindra is yet to officially confirm this model, but it is almost a certainty for Australia.The other possibility for 2025 (although it could push into 2026) is the replacement for the ageing PikUp ute. Previewed by the Global PikUp concept from 2023, the new ute will be underpinned by the same platform as the Scorpio and will be a much more modern workhorse than the old model.It is likely to be offered in single-cab and dual-cab bodystyles, and should come with a version of the 2.2-litre 129kW/400Nm turbocharged mHawk diesel unit used in the Scorpio. More engines are expected to be added down the track.This will give Mahindra a genuine alternative to the leaders in the pick-up segment, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max/Mazda BT-50, as well as Chinese rivals such as the GWM Cannon, JAC T9 and LDV T60.Mahindra could also be on the cusp of entering EV territory, with its recently revealed BE 6e and XEV 9e models in line for an Australian debut. The company’s local arm told CarsGuide in November: "Mahindra plans a phased, calibrated international rollout of the Electric Origin series, starting with right-hand drive (RHD) markets. We will make announcements of launch at the appropriate time."The other model that could finally make it Down Under is the Thar. The Jeep Wrangler lookalike has been blocked from sale in Australia by Jeep’s owner Stellantis given its similar design to the American off-roader.A five-door version of the Thar - dubbed the Thar Roxx - debuted in August last year riding on a new platform, but it’s unclear if it will ever make it to Australia.

It’s been another huge year at CarsGuide, especially when it comes to our video content.

Modern emissions regulations are finally in force in Australia thanks to the introduction of the much-discussed New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).In force from January 2025, the new legislation catapults Australia’s emissions laws from the 1980s into the 21st century, essentially harmonising our standards (for C02, at very least) to the emissions regime in Europe.From this year until 2029 an ever tighter fleet C02 average will be imposed on automakers in Australia.It may initially seem this could limit the choice of models available to consumers, but it will instead serve to change the dynamic that local distributors and factory-backed outfits have with their respective factories, opening access to models, which before were unavailable, or are actually more suited to sync up with strict Australian Design Rules (ADR) or the safety standards imposed by our local crash-test body, ANCAP.The legislation is also specifically designed to stamp out the practice of using Australia as what some describe as a “dumping ground” for old-technology engines, which are otherwise only sold in developing markets.The light-speed introduction of the rules from virtually nothing won’t be without casualties. Some vehicles, even perennial favourites in Australia, are under threat from these new rules. Some manufacturers are well prepared with a range of hybrids and EVs to help bring their fleet average down, others are scrambling for solutions to improve their otherwise comparatively high-polluting vehicle line-ups.To be clear, these brands will continue to be able to sell these high-emitting engines. It’s not an outright ban. Some V8s, V6s, big capacity four-cylinders and diesels will continue to be sold, so long as their manufacturers are able to sell enough electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to bring their total fleet average down. The only other option? Pay the fines, which could mean the costs are passed on to consumers.So, which brands are most exposed from 2025 onward, and what are they doing about it? Let’s take a look.Isuzu is enormously popular in Australia considering it sells just two vehicles, the D-Max ute and MU-X SUV. The problem is both models are largely famous for their rugged 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine sourced from the brand’s light commercial truck range.This high-emitting engine, plus the fact that Isuzu doesn’t have a range of passenger cars, hybrids or EVs to fall back on as part of its international range, means the Japanese stalwart might be the most at-threat of any mainstream brand in Australia right now.So what’s the plan? Isuzu has already introduced the smaller and more emissions-friendly 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine from its Thai range, which looks to be followed up by its recently-announced 2.2-litre four-cylinder big brother.Lighter, cleaner, and potentially equipped with 48-volt mild hybrid technology, this engine could buy Isuzu the time it needs to get its EV ute plans off-the-ground.Even though Ford remains one of Australia’s most popular brands, this popularity is almost entirely due to just two models, the Ranger and Everest, both are powered by relatively high-emitting diesel engines. To make things worse for Ford, its lower-emitting Euro-sourced SUVs don’t seem to sell in Australia (in fact, the underrated Puma and Escape were both discontinued here recently).Its only other popular vehicle, the primarily V8-powered Mustang, certainly doesn’t help the equation, and uptake has been tame for the Mach-E electric SUV. Ford cancelled its plans to launch the promising Puma Gen-E in Australia, which it seems simply can’t compete with Chinese alternatives on price.What’s Ford doing about it? As is the case in Europe, it is leaning more heavily into its commercial vehicles. It has introduced a range of electric and hybrid Transit vans in hopes fleet customers will take up the low-emissions volume it needs to off-set its utes, which are overwhelmingly popular with private buyers.The Ranger PHEV will also no doubt help, but could have limited appeal with its specs not looking impressive compared to the recently-launched BYD Shark 6.Jeep is another brand full of big and off-road focused vehicles, which look set for a headlong clash with NVES rules.The brand’s 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated V6, which still lives in some of its vehicles, is a comparative dinosaur of a unit. It provides the old-school combustion thrills its audience is looking for, but the problem is it emits well in excess of the 140g/km requirement to avoid NVES fines.Unlike some of its rivals, Jeep is at least having a red-hot go at introducing plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, with the Avenger electric small SUV recently landing in Australia.On top of that, as CarsGuide currently understands the situation, NVES is measured at an OEM level, meaning its Stellantis parent may be able to off-set every big-engined Jeep it sells with a hybrid Alfa Romeo or something fully electric from its incoming Chinese joint-venture brand, Leapmotor.Will they sell in big enough numbers to off-set Jeep’s most popular model, the Grand Cherokee? Time will tell.Like Jeep above, Subaru’s current primarily naturally aspirated range of relatively high-emitting signature boxer engines put it on a collision course with NVES rules.Subaru might be least at risk of the options here though, because it is deep in the process of rolling out hybrids to join its lone EV model, the Solterra.The Solterra hasn't proved as popular as its rivals, but buyers are champing at the bit for the coming next-generation hybrid Crosstrek and Forester SUVs. They use Toyota's hybrid tech blended with the brand’s signature boxer engines.But wait, there’s more working against Subaru. 2027 is not far away, and by then the final stage of NVES will even be putting pressure on currently popular plugless hybrids, which the brand is only just now getting its hands on. Will Subaru be able to keep up? We’ll have to wait to see how its new model plans in 2025 shake out to get an idea, as representatives from its Inchcape importer declined to comment on the impact of NVES on its range at this time.Mahindra’s fledgling new-generation offerings in Australia are a major reset for the Indian marque, with a big increase in spec and quality proving to be a step-change, really giving it a better shot in Australia.The problem is right now, the brand is exclusively bringing in relatively high-emitting turbocharged petrol and diesel engines for its large vehicles, a recipe for emissions beyond the scope of NVES rules.Mahindra is working on a solution though, promising its incoming next-generation range of electric vehicles will feature heavily in its Australian line-up as soon as it can get its hands on them. Additionally, it may be able to off-set emissions from its larger vehicles with its recently-revealed 3X0 small SUV, which could prove to bolster its Australian hopes in more ways than one.Whether it will be enough to off-set its incoming next-generation diesel dual-cab remains to be seen.One of Australia's favourite brands has precisely zero electric vehicles on sale, despite an expansive passenger car range and an offering in almost every segment.Sure, its range of new engines for its large vehicles are impressive. Even though they’re big straight-sixes, they use innovative hybridised transmissions in an attempt to offer its buyers the best of both worlds. Combine that with a range of plug-in hybrids, and Mazda might well just buy itself some time. It will need to do something about its also relatively high-emitting 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder engines, which feature in its range of hatchbacks and small SUVs.The brand recently announced it will introduce a range of lower emissions replacement engines from 2027. Dubbed SkyActiv-Z, the new engine family will burn leaner and theoretically reduce emissions without the need for electrification, and the brand said it will also borrow Toyota hybrid tech for some of its next-generation core vehicles.There’s little zero-emissions vehicles on the immediate horizon. The local division has denied it will need to dig into its Chinese joint-venture and introduce the EZ-6 sedan (at a price that will actually sell), but it almost seems an inevitability with NVES rapidly closing in.Ineos offers just one 4x4, and it looks like exactly the sort that will fall afoul of NVES rules. The Grenadier off-roader is heavy, four-wheel drive, and six-cylinder combustion powered.It is also on a ladder frame, which buys it a higher bar to beat, and its BMW-sourced engines are inherently Euro-6 compliant.The company’s local boss, Justin Hocevar, told CarsGuide at the launch of the Quartermaster ute variant that it was likely the brand would also lean on BMW for engines with upgraded mild hybrid (MHEV) technology in the short term to help it achieve its emissions targets.Additionally, he noted the smaller Fusilier, which will be available with both battery electric and range extender hybrid, was not cancelled, just put on pause for the time being as the brand globally responds to a retraction in EV demand.An EV pioneer turned laggard, Nissan is in trouble when it comes to emissions in Australia. Unlike Honda, which could potentially switch to an entirely hybrid-only range to buy itself some time, Nissan will need to radically overhaul its range of passenger vehicles in just a handful of years if it wants to avoid NVES wrath.Sure, it has introduced the appealing range-extender e-Power hybrid tech on its best-selling Qashqai and X-Trail, but the system isn’t efficient enough to off-set the amount of Navaras or petrol V6 engines it sells.Its trailblazing Leaf EV is now gone and the mid-size Ariya electric SUV is still nowhere to be seen, leaving future hopes in the hands of the small SUV Leaf replacement due to be revealed next year.Ram is arguably a worse position than Isuzu. Its importer, Ateco, has ditched the V8 1500 for next year and is replacing it with a twin-turbo V6, but it isn't likely to fare much better in emissions tests. As CarsGuide understands, Ateco isn’t allowed to spread its emissions across its brands in contrast to its factory-backed group rivals.This means every big Ram could be looking at a major price increase if its emissions aren’t allowed to be offset by Ateco’s LDV Chinese commercial vehicle marque, which is expected to move quite a few electric Deliver 7 vans and eTerron 9 utes in the next year.It puts the brand in quite a spot going into 2025, as much of its success has been due to the bulk of its 1500 sales sitting right in the circa-$130,000 sweet spot, which seems to attract buyers to the ‘full-size’ American pick-up space.

What is the cheapest ute in Australia?At the time of publication the cheapest ute in Australia is the Toyota HiLux Workmate 4x2. A key reason for the HiLux’s sustained success is Toyota’s decision to ensure every end of the market is covered, from the humble Workmate to the plush Rogue and dynamic GR-Sport. The Workmate 4x2 starts at just $26,475 (plus on-road costs), retaining its title as cheapest new ute Australia despite the influx of new cheaper offerings from China and India in recent years. As the legend goes, utes were originally intended to be a vehicle to take farmers to church on Sunday and the market on Monday. Therefore, they were designed to be an affordable, working class vehicle that appealed to a limited audience.Fast forward nearly 100 years and the ute has become a defining feature of Australian automotive society and culture. The ute is now no longer just going to the church and the market, it drives people to building sites, office blocks, the beach, the motocross track, the local shopping centre and just about anywhere else a modern car goes.As the ute has become ubiquitous it has evolved into many different forms and become increasingly expensive. The popular Ford Ranger Raptor starts at more than $90,000, while the new breed of locally-converted American ‘pick-ups’ can cost more than six-figures, with the Ram 3500 Laramie a whopping $177,950.But what if you’re still after an affordable ute that won’t break the bank? Well, we’ve got you covered. In this article you’ll find a list of the cheapest utes Australia has to offer at this moment in time (December 2024).While the market has shifted more upmarket in recent years, the good news for Australian buyers is there are still plenty of affordable utes available. As the Toyota HiLux Workmate proves, these aren’t from just newer brands like GWM, Mahindra and LDV. Instead, (if you don’t need 4x4) you can get into an Isuzu, Nissan, Mazda or Ford for under $40K.Beyond the usual factors you consider when buying a new ute - price, payload, towing capacity, etc - one of the key considerations when looking for a budget ute is reliability and future ownership credentials. For example, the Tata Xenon was the cheapest ute Australia offered a few years ago, starting at just $19,990. However, the brand did not last long and exited the Australian market, which leaves owners with an uncertain future.All the brands on our list below are now firmly established in the local market, so should not suffer a similar fate to Tata, but it still pays to consider the company you’re buying from and what reputation it has for reliability and ownership in the ute sector.  The HiLux was the best-selling ute (and one of the most popular new models, period) in Australia for a very long time and the Workmate has a lot to do with that.It may be powered by a humble 122kW/245Nm 2.7-litre turbo-diesel, have a single cab chassis and only be 4x2, but for buyers looking for a cheap, hard-working ute it ticks all the right boxes - it can tow up to 2500kg and has a payload of up to 1145kg. While Toyota may have a diverse HiLux range now, it has never forgotten the need to cater to the budget end of the segment, even in the face of the arrival of GWM, Mahindra and Tata with some very cheap utes in recent years. But while some have come and gone, the Workmate has remained.The D-Max is one of Australia’s favourite utes, typically finishing behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in the sales race. A big part of that popularity is its affordability, which is led by the entry-grade SX Single Cab. It’s powered by a 110kW/350Nm 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel paired with a six-speed manual transmission. While it has a small engine, it has a braked towing capacity of 2800kg and a payload capacity of 1400kg (without a tray), so it can still work hard.You’ll be noticing the theme here is single cab chassis models, because the bed adds to the cost and bumps them out of the most economical ute discussion. The Navara SL is another example of this, taking a no-frills approach and only offering the important elements.That includes a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel good for 120kW/403Nm and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. This is enough to give the Navara SL a 3500kg braked towing capacity, which is on par with more expensive 4x4 models, and also a payload of 1350kg.The Chinese brand has made its mark with its affordable range of Cannon utes, which begins with this cab chassis option. It has the same 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel as the rest of the range but misses out on the four-wheel drive. That gives it enough to tow up to 3000kg and the payload is rated at 1050kg.What it does have over the previous utes on this list is a back seat, with a dual cab body and it also gets the aluminium tray out the back included in the price. It also gets some other nice touches not common at this price point, such as an eight-speed automatic transmission and alloy wheels. The Indian brand has been in Australia longer than most people probably remember, first arriving back in 2007. The Pikup has been its staple since then and after the cut-price S6+ and S10 models laid the foundation, this newer S11 has arrived to carry on the legacy of affordable utes from Mahindra.While it’s the most expensive of the five on this list, it’s the only 4x4 and the only dual cab of its kind for under $40K.Powered by a 103kW/320Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel the Pikup S11 can tow up to 2500kg and has a 1035kg payload.

Mahindra's compact SUV challenger fully detailed ahead of a potential Australian arrival.