New Models / 12 August 2026 / Warren Hawkins

Mahindra unveils new Bolero bakkie in South Africa – And it’s R17,000 cheaper

Mahindra South Africa has unveiled the all-new Bolero MaXX Pik-Up, a single-cab bakkie that is R17,000 cheaper than its predecessor.

Arriving in three specifications – the 1.3 City, 1.5 City and 1.7 HD – the new Bolero is available through more than 100 Mahindra dealerships nationwide with a starting price of R199,900.

According to the Indian carmaker, the Bolero MaXX builds on one of the brand’s most trusted and recognised nameplates, offering reliability, durability, ease of maintenance and strong value.

The range is offered with load body lengths of 2.5 metres on the 1.3 City, 2.64 metres on the 1.5 City and 3.05 metres on the 1.7 HD, and payload capacities of 1.3 tonnes, 1.5 tonnes and 1.7 tonnes – hence the naming convention.

All three models can also accommodate a standard pallet between the wheel arches, providing practical load-carrying versatility.

Despite their load-carrying capabilities, all three Bolero MaXX models can be driven with a standard Code B driver’s licence, making them a practical choice for areas where larger vehicles may face access constraints.

Ankit Taneja, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, said the launch of the new bakkie marks an important step in the evolution of the brand’s single-cab portfolio.

“Built on the Bolero nameplate, which has earned the trust of South African customers over the past 22 years, it strengthens our ability to offer purpose-built solutions for a wider range of commercial applications,” he said.

“As a leading player in the segment, our focus remains on delivering reliability, productivity and strong operating economics for our customers.”

Performance

The Bolero MaXX range has been engineered to deliver strong performance and carrying capacity while maintaining the lowest cost per kilometre possible.

As a result, the new bakkie has been fitted with Mahindra’s m2Di 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which produces 52kW and 200Nm in the 1.3 City and 1.5 City models.

In the 1.7 HD variant, this motor produces 60kW and 220Nm, making it significantly more powerful than the existing Bolero model.

All three variants feature a five-speed manual transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels exclusively.

The resulting configuration results in an average fuel consumption of only 5.9l/100km.

Features

Despite being designed as a workhorse, the Bolero MaXX Pik-Up is also fitted with cabin features to make it comfortable for both driver and crew, including wide cloth seats in a driver-plus-two configuration.

The 1.5 City and 1.7 HD models are finished with a stain-resistant coating, while the driver’s seat features reclining functionality and reach and height adjustment.

Air conditioning, heating and demisting are also standard on the 1.5 City and 1.7 HD models, as is a lockable air-cooled glovebox, bottle holders, cabin lamps and a 12V power socket.

The entire range features rear parking sensors as standard, while ABS is available on the 1.5 City and 1.7 HD models.

The top-spec HD models are also fitted with strong metal bumpers, underbody and side protection, an immobiliser, and emergency locking retractor (ELR) seatbelts for the driver and passengers.