Mahindra wanted to be a part of the action in the MPV segment, to take on the likes of the Toyota Innova Crysta and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The Marazzo, as they call, is not only an all-new model but is also the start of the brand’s fresh and modern approach on their new products. So the Marazzo is new from ground-up; it gets an all-new chassis, engine, transmission and mechanical components. This is the first car to be developed by the Mahindra North American Technical Centre. It has been priced between ₹ 9.99 lakh and ₹ 13.90 lakh for the top-of-the-line M8 variant. The Marazzo is sold in 7 and 8 seat configurations and comes with a single diesel engine option.
The styling
The Marazzo isn’t particularly striking to look at, but it isn’t boring either. It has a well proportioned and balanced look and has the typical cab-forward MPV silhouette. At the front, it gets a stubby bonnet, a shark-inspired grille, flanked by stylish but small headlamps with fake LED strips above. It also boasts of wide wing mirrors, and the smart character lines on the sides give it a good definition and the wheel arches are mildly flared. You’ll also notice the up-sweeping window line which is highlighted by a chrome strip. The 17-inch black alloys look cool too. The arrow-tip-like tail lights are a bit too big and are joined by a thick chrome bar in the middle.
Lots of equipment
Features-wise, the Mahindra Marazzo comes loaded with power adjustable wing mirrors, roof-mounted antenna, driver’s seat height adjust, rear wiper, 17-inch alloy wheels, projector headlamps with a follow-me-home function, LED DRLs, Android Auto compatibility for the infotainment system with voice recognition, cruise control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, keyless entry and front and rear fog lamps, rear parking camera and parking sensors, two airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist and Isofix child seat mounts.
Under the hood
The Marazzo is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 120bhp and 300Nm of torque, with power being sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. The engine is quite refined and vibrations can barely be felt in the cabin, and it sounds coarse only when taken to the red line. The MPV pulls seamlessly at even three-digit speeds but takes a while getting there. On inclines, it needs revs, because it feel like it is lacking grunt. There’s a good surge of power after 1700rpm.
The rivals
The Marazzo takes on competition like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Renault Lodgy. While Maruti offers a petrol engine, Mahindra sells the Marazzo only with a diesel engine. There is no option of an automatic gearbox on the Marazzo. Also, grab the latest info on the new cars, only at autoX.
