A budget 7-seater SUV with a G-Wagen look just got new tech and comfort upgrades for 2025
It’s hard not to notice that the Mahindra Bolero looks like a G-Class sketched by someone who only caught a glimpse of one in traffic, yet that hasn’t stopped it from attracting a loyal crowd. Credit where it’s due, though, as when a vehicle costs less than a set of G-Class wheels, it’s easy to forgive a few design liberties.
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First rolled out in 2000, it’s been tweaked, polished, and repackaged more times than anyone’s counting, but the basic brick-on-wheels silhouette refuses to retire. Fourteen years into its current generation, the veteran off-roader has been given another “update,” which mostly means some light cosmetic work and just enough tech to convince you it’s new.
New Grille, Same Grit
This latest version adopts a new design for the grille featuring five vertical slats and subtle chrome inserts. There is also a new B8 flagship trim riding on 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.
Finally, the color palette has been expanded with the addition of the new Stealth Black shade. Despite its rugged looks, the Bolero has a compact footprint measuring 3,995 mm (157.3 inches) long with a wheelbase of 2,680 mm (105.5 inches).
Inside, time seems to have stopped sometime around the early 2000s, though the big highlight of the refresh is an elongated 7-inch touchscreen mounted low on the center console. It doesn’t bother with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but there’s Bluetooth, which technically counts as modern. At least it breaks up the otherwise time-warped dashboard.
The instrument cluster displays digital graphics that wouldn’t look out of place on a retro wristwatch, while the rest of the cabin remains wrapped in hard plastic.
Other additions include a USB-C charging port and audio controls on the steering wheel. Finally, the seats have been slightly redesigned, with the flagship B8 swapping the vinyl upholstery for more a more premium leatherette material.
All variants have a seven-seat layout with a foldable third row and come standard with dual airbags and rear parking sensors.
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The Bolero still rides on the same ladder frame chassis, but the suspension has gained “RideFlo Tech” promising enhanced comfort and handling on any terrain.
Under the hood lies a carry-over 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine which is good for 75 hp (55.9 kW) and 210 Nm (154.9 lb-ft) of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels exclusively via a manual gearbox.
The Bolero Neo Has Also Been Updated
Alongside the standard Bolero, Mahindra has also given a light refresh to the Bolero Neo, the slightly more modern sibling that first arrived in 2015. It shares its ladder-frame platform with the Scorpio and matches the Bolero’s compact 3,995 mm (157.3 inches) length.
A decade after its launch, the Bolero Neo adopts a redesigned grille with horizontal slits, and a new N11 flagship trim that rides on Dark Metallic Grey 16-inch alloy wheels . The rest of the design remains virtually unchanged, although Mahindra has added the new Jeans Blue and Concrete Grey exterior shades that can be combined with a black roof.
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The seven-seater interior offers the option between Lunar Grey and Mocha Brown color schemes depending on the trim. On the tech front, the Bolero Neo is fitted with a larger 9-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 7 inches) that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and displays feed from the rearview camera. It also features a USB-C charging port next to the regular USB.
Under the skin, the Bolero Neo benefits from Frequency Dependent Damping suspension, Multi-Terrain Technology, a locking differential, a tweaked steering setup and improved brakes.
The carry-over 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel generates 99 hp (73.5 kW) and 260 Nm (191.8 lb-ft) of torque sending power to the rear wheels via a manual gearbox.
Pricing
Both the updated Bolero and Bolero Neo are now available to order in India. Prices range from ₹7.99–9.69 lakh ($9,000–10,900) for the Bolero, and ₹8.49–9.99 lakh ($9,600–11,300) for the Bolero Neo, keeping both models among the most accessible true SUVs on the market today.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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