MAHINDRA S11 PIK UP 4X4 AUTO /

The only way is Pik Up

Flying somewhat under the radar, Mahindra South Africa has been steadily building their brand in South Africa for several years. Now, as one of the fastestgrowing manufacturers in the country, more people are sitting up and taking notice of their local offering.

One of the most prolific nameplates from Mahindra has been the rough and tumble Scorpio Pik Up, that recently underwent a bit of a nip and tuck, to be better looking, more fun to drive, and even gain quite an air of desirability.

While it remains true that the Pik Up has some

such solid offerings from three major brands is not an easy task, and the Mahindra (formerly Scorpio) Pik Up, has had an uphill battle on its hands for years.

Mahindra seems to have used this time wisely, to adapt the Pik Up to local tastes. Where this bakkie was somewhat of an ugly duckling compared to its competitors, its odd dimensions, and distinctive look has become more distinctive over the years. The design might not yet be as refined as its rivals, but it certainly stands out in a crowd.

I also quite like its upright stance and tall ride height, while the sizeable load bay adds significant usability to the Pik Up. It is also exceptionally roomy, although wind noise at highway speeds is not ideal. With its 2.2-litre chugging away at full tilt of 103 kW en 320 Nm, you’d better pump up the volume on the infotainment system.

On-board luxuries include a decent-sized touchscreen system with a built-in reverse camera (which displays clearer than some luxury vehicles I’ve driven), climate control, one-touch automatic windows upfront, a multi-function steering wheel, auto wipers, auto headlights with “follow-me-home function”, and electronic hill-descent control.

Despite its relatively small capacity, the turbodiesel is unexpectedly agile, returning a fair acceleration experience.

LAST WORD

While the Pik Up has evolved substantially over the years, Mahindra still has a few niggles to sort out, in my opinion. These include the wind noise issue, the lack of storage space in the cabin, and the decidedly nervous chassis over unpredictable surfaces. Ground clearance for such a tall bakkie is also not inspiring, with even the ten-year-old Nissan Hardbody offering 10mm more, and don’t try to turn the Pik Up in a small parking lot, as its turning circle is anything but tight.

These concerns aside, the Mahindra Pik Up should maintain its decent sales momentum on the back of significant improvements made to the car, and I won’t be surprised to see the Mahindra brand grow its market share substantially as a result.