Some vehicles become so universal, they turn into rolling stereotypes. The Mahindra Bolero exemplifies that phenomenon. In the 25 years since its inception, this body-on-frame SUV has captured minds all over India, revered for its ruggedness and simplicity. And now, there’s a new model that aims to live up to more than two decades of expectations. Launched in 2000, the Bolero quickly became the undisputed patriarch of Indian SUVs, the vehicular equivalent of the country’s reliable yet rough-and-tumble spirit.

Outselling flashier rivals year after year, the Bolero found its throne not just in the metro cities, but deep in the Indian heartland. Its secret was simple: unbreakable toughness, simple underpinnings that any mechanic could fix, and the ability to haul seven people (plus baggage) over roads that barely qualified as such. There is no denying that the Bolero looks two decades old, but that only adds to its charm. Its boxy no-nonsense design works decidedly in its favour, turning heads even today.

Mahindra’s tweaking of the front grille, changing the tail-lights and adding 15-inch alloys was clearly an attempt to make the Bolero look youthful. But you really can’t shy away from its age; it’s like my grandfather throwing on a pair of Nike Air Jordans to feel young again. Yet, the overall effect is that it still feels butch, rugged, and retains the imposing road presence an SUV must possess. Adding a bit of flair to this already robust profile was also the decision to acknowledge the modern market without compromising its core identity.

same old

If the exterior feels like a throwback, the cabin is a full-blown time capsule. You’re met with hard plastics, leatherette seats and a dashboard that’s clearly allergic to change. For 2025, Mahindra has added a new steering wheel and a 7-inch Android-based touchscreen, but calling it modern is being generous. The screen feels like a necessary afterthought, but at least it functions. The seats are upright and firm, supportive in the same way a park bench is, and is built to last just as long. Switches click like old door latches, and the glovebox barely fits the essentials.

Yet, everything works. There’s no faux luxury here, just honest, durable bits made to survive India’s dust and heat. The digital cluster looks like a calculator, but it’s clear, and with that commanding driving position, you feel like you’re in charge of something serious. Fire up the Bolero’s 1.5-litre mHawk75 diesel and the first surprise hits you — refinement. The typical diesel clatter is impressively subdued, and the only real giveaway that it’s awake is the vibrating gear lever. The gearbox, too, feels surprisingly smooth and car-like which, for something as utilitarian as the Bolero, is saying a lot.

touch ups

New for 2025 is what Mahindra calls RideFlo technology, which is claimed to improve ride quality and handling; it pairs coil-sprung independent front suspension with leaf springs at the rear. When it comes to numbers, the new Bolero continues in a familiar vein with its 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine called the mHawk75 which delivers 75 bhp and 21.41 kg-m, figures that are more than enough for its intended purpose. The Bolero’s low-revving preferences are even more apparent when one considers that peak torque is available from 1600 rpm to 2200 rpm; it will literally chug over and through anything that comes in its way.

What really impressed me was the engine’s tractability. Even when I left it in fourth gear and nearly rolled to a stop, the SUV had enough low-end torque to get going again without a fuss. The easy, unbothered power delivery makes you appreciate the well-matched motor and gearing . The pedal placement, however, feels like an inside joke with the clutch, brake, and accelerator spaced so far apart that every gear change requires a fair bit of choreography: lift, shift, stretch, repeat. However, take it on a rough road, the kind most SUVs would hesitate over, and the Bolero transforms. It doesn’t absorb bumps, it bullies them into submission. Sure, there’s body roll and refinement is quite minimal, but that’s never been its purpose.

The Bolero reminded me of what life was like in the early 2000s, when cars were built to last, not just to impress the neighbours. The Bolero doesn’t care about panoramic sunroofs or wireless connectivity. It just wakes up, gets to work, and makes you respect it for that. Sure, the 2025 update brings a few party tricks, a touchscreen here, a snazzier wheel there, but underneath it’s still the same gruff old soldier, completely unbothered by trends. Driving the Bolero isn’t about speed or comfort, it’s about character. It’s proof that not everything needs to evolve to stay relevant. Some things just keep marching on, dust and all, because they’ve known who they are all along.

© Motoring World

Published on October 18, 2025