Auto Perfection?

Adding a six-speed auto to Mahindra’s workhorse ups the game for this value proposition

- Andrew Middleton

It’s hard to argue against a brand new, top-spec 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 high-quality 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 lag and plenty of get-up-and-go for daily use across both long and short hauls.