Don’t mistake it for a hatchback. Mahindra’s new Verito Vibe is a two-box saloon, and it comes with all the traits of the Verito.
Unlike most carmakers that are building compact saloons from existing hatchbacks, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has followed the reverse route by creating a hatchback-like two-box derivative of its Verito saloon.
Mahindra has taken an audacious step and gone ahead with an entirely fresh design for the rear end, which looks quite radical. The sharply raked rear windscreen and large pillar-mounted tail-lights, which seem to be influenced by the Ford Focus, look quite sporty. But, when you step back and look at the Vibe as a whole, it’s quite obvious that the redesigned rear is out of sync with the rest of the car, which remains the boxy Verito (originally Logan). Apart from the rear end, M&M left the rest of the Vibe unchanged to keep costs in check.
Also, the Vibe isn’t a true hatchback. The rear glass is fixed (again to keep costs low) and the stubby boot which is hinged just below the rear screens opens to reveal an impressive (by hatcbhack standards) 330 litres of luggage space. But, what seriously limits the Vibe’s functionality is the very narrow boot aperture. The small boot access makes loading big bags a hassle and the high load lip doesn’t make the job easier. The rear seats don’t flip forward either, which again dents practicality.