J4X4 GARAGE – MAHINDRA PIKUP

A simpler lineup underpins Mahindra’s updated ute range for 2020, which brings better tech and a bump in price.

But how red is it? I tell you what, there will be no conspicuous driving around in this second round of lockdowns we’re having in Melbourne right now. But still, taking some photos and testing this small cheap ute is work duties.

Pricing starts at $23,990 plus on-road costs for the 4×2 single cab S6+ cab-chassis ute. It’s also available with 4×4 for $27,990 plus on-roads. That looks good.

But while that does indeed seem cheap, this S10+ dual-cab ute with style side tray is priced from $32,990 plus on-roads and adds a 7.0-inch infotainment system with sat-nav and reversing camera.

That’s sharp pricing, but something with a ‘two’ at the start would really have our interest. The problem we’ve found is that the infotainment system isn’t exactly all that polished, deciding to blare out at full volume when turning the car on – regardless of the volume setting it was previously at. And the alarm does a good job of going off, even when we had the engine turned on!

That said, with a simpler radio, you’d lose some of the strange habits it has, and it’d be a really sharp equation for work duties. It even looks farm-ready with some of Stihl gear in the back.

In fact, we’re topping it up with a heavy load and putting some stress on the engine next, so we’ll let you know what it’s really like – so far, we’re not used to the clutch pedal feel and feel like a learning stalling it at the round about.