We owned an older Bolero for 13 years with very low maintenance, crossing 2 lakh km. However, our experience with the new Bolero has been disappointing. The clutch failed at 4,500 km and had to be replaced. By 10,000 km, there was a major clutch and flywheel issue again. The response from Mahindra Service Centre Ambattur has not been reassuring, with no clear root cause identified.

Mahindra Bolero Neo Expert Reviews

Autocar score

We like

Tough-as-nails
Feels built to last

We don't like

Not refined like other compact SUVs
Some missing features

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Mahindra Bolero Neo Images

Color Jeans Blue (dual Tone) Image - 29094

Color Concrete Grey (dual Tone) Image - 29101

Color Pearl White (dual Tone) Image - 29102

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Questions you may find useful

Rakesh Dutt Chamoli

•5w

I am looking to buy a car for my family of six. My daily city driving is around 20 km, and I take trips to the hills twice a year. I currently drive a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (2015 model) and am planning to upgrade within a budget of ₹10-12 lakh. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki XL6, Kia Carens Clavis, and Mahindra Bolero Neo. Please suggest which would be the best option for my needs.

Autocar India

•4w

The Maruti Suzuki XL6 suits your needs best because it is the easiest upgrade from a WagonR with a comfortable ride, light controls and low maintenance, making it ideal for your daily city use while still being practical enough for a family of six on occasional highway and hill trips. The Kia Carens Clavis, in comparison, is the better people mover with more space and a genuinely usable third row, along with stronger long-distance comfort, making it the better choice if you prioritise family travel and space over everything else, though it will feel slightly larger and less effortless in everyday driving. The Mahindra Bolero Neo, on the other hand, is tougher and better suited to rough terrain and hills, but it feels basic, less comfortable and not as family-friendly for regular use, and overall lacks the refinement of the other two . Do keep in mind that both the XL6 and the Clavis will stretch slightly beyond your budget on the road, depending on the variant you choose .

Sourabh N

I am looking to buy a budget 7-seater car and really like the Mahindra Bolero Neo for its looks, mileage, and performance. However, I am concerned about potential DPF issues since my monthly running is only around 500 km, mostly in city conditions. Alternatively, I am considering whether I should opt for a 5-seater SUV like the Skoda Kushaq or Tata Nexon. My family size is six members (5 adults and 1 child), although we will only occasionally travel with all six occupants.

Autocar India

•7w

Mostly city use, only about 500km a month, and a family of six that sometimes travels together consider the Kia Carens Premium (O) petrol manual. It is compact enough to be usable in Pune city, and the petrol engine avoids DPF-related issues. The cabin is much more modern, the seats are comfortable, and even the third row is spacious enough for adults. Not to mention, it is a lot easier to get into than the side-facing seats on the Bolero.With your limited usage, a diesel doesn’t make much sense, and while the Mahindra Bolero Neo will feel tough on broken rural roads, in Pune, the Carens will be the more comfortable, practical and safer family car. It is slightly pricier than the Bolero Neo, and if it's too much of a stretch, then consider the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.Take a test drive with the family, get into the third row, and see if it feels comfortable.

Kia Carens

Mahindra Bolero Neo

Maddy Man

•7w

I am planning to buy a car under 12 lakh for the village's rugged road and highway. Which suitable and comfortable car should I buy?

Autocar India

•6w

Opt for the Mahindra Bolero Neo if your roads are really rough; otherwise, pick the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. That is the simplest way to decide based on your usage.If your village roads are very broken, uneven or kaccha, the Bolero Neo is the better fit. It is built tougher, has a more rugged suspension setup and the height and durability you are looking for, so it will handle bad roads without feeling stressed.If your roads are mixed but you still want comfort and daily usability, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the smarter choice. It offers good ground clearance, a comfortable ride and is much easier to drive on highways and in regular use, while also being simple and reliable to own. The engine is smooth and refined, which makes everyday driving far more relaxed.

Mahindra Bolero Neo

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Bikshu

•18w

I own alto 2020 model, want to upgrade to bigger suv, budget is around 10 lakhs, is bolero neo N11 a good option for me ?

Autocar India

•17w

The ex-showroom price of the Mahindra Bolero Neo N11 is Rs 10 lakh, so you will have to account for costs of insurance, registration and other charges. That said, the Bolero Neo is a rugged SUV, with a surprisingly refined 1.5L diesel engine. Also, it has the ability to seat seven, which gives it an edge over the 5-seater monocoque compact SUVs available at a similar price. However, if you don't need that extra pair of jump seats, we'd recommend you to consider the Maruti Brezza or Mahindra XUV 3XO instead, which are a lot easier and more car-like to drive, and their driving dynamics are also much better than the Bolero Neo. These compact SUVs feel surprisingly robust, however if your usage majorly includes bad and broken roads, the Bolero Neo could be the better pick, simply for its toughness and abuse-friendliness.

Sanjay Jain

I have not yet purchased the Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus 9-seater P10. Is it good for long road trips across India?

Autocar India

•20w

The Mahindra Bolero Neo is a rugged, ladder-frame-based SUV renowned for its robust build quality. However, it's not the best option for long road trips as its on-road ride quality is quite bouncy. The ride comfort is not on par with modern, monocoque SUVs, and the seats aren't supportive enough for long durations.If you are looking for a more comfortable and refined alternative, consider the base Kia Carens Premium (O) diesel-MT, priced at Rs 12.77 lakh (ex-showroom).

Mahindra Bolero Neo

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