Mahindra Bolero Fuel Smart (Old)

The cabin is where the Bolero looks old. The beige fabric does brighten things up a bit but dashboard panel gaps and the general design give the game away. The poor ergonomics, a time-honoured Bolero problem, persist. The front seats are quite unsupportive, the steering is too big and the position of the power window switches inconvenient. And don’t attempt hill starts in reverse. You can’t use the handbrake because it hits against the gearlever when it’s up!

Move over to the rear and you are greeted by cramped seats which don’t offer much legroom or under-thigh support. You don’t even get inertia reel seatbelts there. We can’t remember the last time we tested a car that didn’t have these.

The driver's seat is actually quite comfortable but the dashboard layout is an ergonomic disaster. The slot for the sound system is at the bottom of the centre console and the huge steering wheel masks the dials. Legroom at the second row is severely limited, especially with the driver's seat pushed back and the backrest reclined. Tall passengers will have their knees making contact with the back of the front seat and the new and poorly finished seat pockets aren't of much use.