In a world where bakkies are getting more advanced, it’s actually nice to see that one brand has stuck the basics and refined the tried and test – let’s talk the Mahindra Karoo PikUp Storm.
The Mahindra Karoo PikUp Storm is on iteration in a line-up of special edition bakkies that Mahindra has made available to our market. The Storm stands side-by-side to the Dew, The Dusk and the Dawn; with each model adding one feature over the other.
The Karoo PikUp is essentially a “no-fuss” bakkie, and we mean that through and through. Though it has a reverse camera and a single USB port in the front and rear of the car(yes, we looked) it seems to be more focused on practicality and getting the job done while ensuring that owners will have a bakkie that just wants to get the job done.
The cabin is laid out as simple as possible, with the 9-inch infotainment system having Android Auto & Apple CarPlay compatibility(wired through the single front-port). One can guess that Mahindra knew that owners of these vehicles would most probably put the car through the most toughest challenge they could possibly can, and will not worry about leaving a scuff on the leather interior – which had remnants of a 90’s classic bakkie that was meant to travel from Cape to Cairo. The simplicity extends to the dashboard where one can not even tell what average fuel consumption they are doing(Mahindra claim 9.3L/100km so we are going to trust that – though we felt like it was a bit lower than that) and an 80L fuel tank.
Let’s move to the exterior of the bakkie – no, there was no inspiration from a zombie apocalypse movie(not that we can think of anyways) but it’s not to say that the sheer sight of the PikUp is not intimidating. The exterior has the bakkie standing at 1915mm, 1820mm wide and packed with steel(yes, steel) front and rear bumper – and yes, the SA taxi drivers DO stand clear because of that. Basically, it gives the impression that this bakkie would serve any and every bit of task handed to it – if it’s handed to it by someone trying to demolish it. The side of the vehicle is fitted with steel side skits to help the occupants get in and out without any hassles and side mouldings for those bushes that refuse to move out of the way. All this steel does add to the overall weight of the car though with the GVM sitting just above 3 tons.
Ultimately, we have to give Mahindra credit where its due. The Mahindra Karoo PikUp is a great bakkie meant to work and prove itself. If anything is to go by, this bakkie is meant to outlast the owner and keep running through the toughest challenge – who knows, we might rope it into our “Great Karoo” excursion as we explore the Cape Karoo in some of South Africa’s best bakkie to see how it holds up. The 4-cylinder, 103kW @ 320Nm turbocharged diesel engine also hold its own on the roads, and the off-road wheels do have an intimidating sound to the on the tar roads, enticing one to take the road less travelled.
The Mahindra Karoo PikUp starts at R624 999 with the Storm coming in at R639 99, has a 4-Years/120000 km warranty, 5-Years/90000 km Service plan and a 4-Years/120000 km Roadside Assistance.
