Mahindra Bolero 2025: The morning sun glinted off the camouflaged test mule as it kicked up dust on the outskirts of Nashik. Despite the disguise, the boxy silhouette was unmistakable – a Mahindra Bolero, but not quite as we know it. Larger, more imposing, and riding on alloy wheels that wouldn’t look out of place on a premium SUV, this was clearly something different.
After tracking several test vehicles over the past month and speaking with sources close to the development team, I can confirm what industry insiders have been whispering for months: Mahindra is preparing to dramatically reposition the Bolero for 2025, taking its rugged workhorse upmarket to challenge established players like the Toyota Fortuner.
Mahindra Bolero 2025 The Bold Reinvention of an Indian Icon
The Bolero has been Mahindra’s bread and butter for over two decades, selling consistently in rural and semi-urban markets where its no-nonsense durability earned it legendary status.
However, with changing consumer preferences and the success of Mahindra’s more premium offerings like the Thar, XUV700, and Scorpio-N, the company sees an opportunity to elevate the Bolero to unprecedented heights.
“The Bolero nameplate carries immense equity in the Indian market,” explained a senior Mahindra executive who requested anonymity due to the project’s confidential status.
Our research showed that many premium SUV buyers started their automotive journey with a Bolero. There’s a deep emotional connection and trust in the name that we can leverage in higher segments.”
This reinvention represents Mahindra’s most ambitious brand stretch to date. While the current Bolero sells primarily on practicality and value, the 2025 model aims to combine the nameplate’s rugged heritage with genuine luxury and technological sophistication – a combination that Mahindra believes can challenge established premium SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner.
Design: Retaining Identity While Moving Upmarket
The 2025 Bolero (codenamed Z301 internally) maintains the boxy, upright stance that has defined the model since its inception, but with significantly more refined proportions and details.
The test vehicles I observed featured a more imposing front end with a taller hood line, vertical slat grille reminiscent of the Scorpio-N but with unique detailing, and sophisticated LED headlamps flanking it.
“The design brief was challenging,” said Pratap Bose, Chief Design Officer at Mahindra, during a separate interview discussing the company’s upcoming models.
While not explicitly confirming the Bolero project, he noted that “reimagining iconic vehicles requires maintaining their essence while elevating the execution to contemporary standards – respecting heritage without being constrained by it.”
The side profile reveals the most significant changes. The new Bolero is substantially larger than the current model, with a wheelbase estimated at around 2,850mm – approaching Fortuner territory.
The squared-off wheel arches house 18-inch alloy wheels on higher trims, while the glass area is more generous with a subtle upward kink at the C-pillar adding visual interest.
Around back, the traditional vertical taillamps have been reimagined with LED elements, while the tailgate design maintains the side-hinged opening – a nod to the model’s heritage that also offers practical advantages for tight parking spots. The spare wheel has been relocated beneath the vehicle, allowing for a cleaner rear design.
Available in six colors including the traditional white and silver, plus new additions like Napoli Black, Deep Forest, and the eye-catching Copper Dune, the 2025 Bolero aims to offer more personalization than ever before.
Powertrain: Capability Meets Refinement
Under the hood, the 2025 Bolero marks a significant departure from the utilitarian origins of its predecessor. The base engine is expected to be a revised version of Mahindra’s 2.2-liter mHawk diesel, producing approximately 155hp and 360Nm of torque – substantial increases over the current model. Higher variants will reportedly feature a new 2.0-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine developing around 170hp.
Both engines will be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, with a 6-speed torque converter automatic available as an option – a first for the Bolero nameplate.
The four-wheel-drive system has been completely redesigned, incorporating a shift-on-the-fly transfer case with low-range and a locking rear differential on top-spec variants.
“We benchmarked the NVH levels against vehicles costing twice as much,” revealed a powertrain engineer familiar with the project. “The goal was to maintain the bulletproof reliability the Bolero is known for while adding refinement that premium customers expect. It can’t feel like a workhorse that’s been dressed up – it needs to deliver a genuinely sophisticated driving experience.”
Fuel efficiency remains a priority despite the performance improvements, with the diesel variant expected to return approximately 14-15 km/l in real-world conditions. The automatic transmission includes drive modes (Eco, City, Sport) that adjust throttle response and shift patterns to suit different driving scenarios.
Perhaps most significantly, the chassis architecture has been completely reimagined. While maintaining a body-on-frame construction that’s essential for serious off-road capability, the new platform features a significantly stiffer structure with improved torsional rigidity. The suspension consists of double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup at the rear – a major upgrade from the current model’s more rudimentary arrangement.
Interior: The Most Dramatic Transformation
Step inside the 2025 Bolero, and the transformation from utilitarian workhorse to premium contender becomes most apparent. The cabin architecture has been completely reimagined with a focus on materials, technology, and comfort that would have been unimaginable in previous Bolero generations.
The dashboard features a horizontal layout with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system positioned prominently in the center. This is complemented by a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that offers multiple display configurations.
Physical controls remain for climate functions – a thoughtful touch that acknowledges the vehicle’s appeal to both traditional and new-age customers.
Material quality takes a quantum leap forward with soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and door panels, leatherette upholstery on mid and higher trims, and genuine leather on the top-spec variant. Wood trim elements (sustainably sourced, Mahindra emphasizes) add warmth to the otherwise tough-looking interior.
The seating configuration offers both 6-seat (with captain’s chairs in the second row) and 7-seat arrangements, with the third row designed to accommodate adults in reasonable comfort – a crucial factor when competing with the Fortuner.
The second-row seats feature one-touch tumble functionality for easier third-row access, while both rear rows can be folded flat to create a substantial cargo area.
Practical touches abound, from the multiple storage compartments throughout the cabin to the cooled glovebox and the wireless charging pad cleverly integrated into the center console. USB-C ports are provided for all three rows, acknowledging the device-heavy reality of modern family travel.
Technology: Leapfrogging the Competition
The technology package in the 2025 Bolero represents Mahindra’s most comprehensive offering yet, with features that match or exceed those found in the Toyota Fortuner.
The AdrenoX infotainment system (first seen in the XUV700) has been further refined with faster processing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected car features through the Mahindra BlueSense Plus app. This allows remote engine start/stop, cabin pre-cooling, geofencing, vehicle tracking, and over-the-air updates for maps and system software.
The premium Harman Kardon audio system features 12 speakers strategically positioned throughout the cabin, with a subwoofer and external amplifier delivering impressive sound quality. The acoustic tuning has been optimized specifically for the Bolero’s cabin architecture.
Driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system with off-road modes that show wheel positioning and terrain immediately around the vehicle – particularly useful during technical off-road driving.
“We didn’t want to just match the competition – we needed to surpass them in areas that matter to today’s premium SUV buyers,” noted a product planner involved with the project. “Technology integration was identified as an area where we could establish a clear advantage.”
Market Positioning and Price: The Crucial Equation
With prices expected to range from ₹16 lakh for the base variant to ₹24 lakh for the fully-loaded 4×4 automatic (ex-showroom), the 2025 Bolero positions itself in an interesting space – significantly more expensive than the current Bolero but still undercutting the Toyota Fortuner by a substantial margin.
This pricing strategy aims to attract both existing Bolero owners looking to upgrade and Fortuner aspirants who find the Toyota’s ₹32-50 lakh price tag prohibitive.
Mahindra believes there’s substantial untapped potential in this price bracket, particularly with the strong emotional connection many Indians have to the Bolero nameplate.
“The premium SUV segment has been dominated by a handful of players for too long,” said the Mahindra executive. “We’re not trying to be a budget alternative – we’re offering a genuinely premium product with a distinctive character at a more accessible price point. The value equation becomes compelling when you compare feature-for-feature with vehicles costing 30-40% more.”
Mahindra plans to sell the 2025 Bolero through its premium World of SUVs dealership network, providing an upscale purchase experience to match the vehicle’s positioning.
The company expects monthly sales of approximately 5,000-6,000 units – modest compared to the current Bolero’s volumes but substantial in the premium segment.
The Toyota Challenge: David vs. Goliath?
Taking on the Toyota Fortuner – a vehicle that has dominated its segment for over a decade with almost cult-like owner loyalty – represents a formidable challenge.
The Fortuner’s reputation for bulletproof reliability, excellent resale value, and prestigious brand image has made it the default choice for many premium SUV buyers despite increasingly capable competition.
Mahindra’s strategy isn’t to directly replicate the Fortuner formula but to offer a distinctive alternative that plays to the company’s strengths. While the Fortuner emphasizes on-road presence and comfort with capable off-road ability as a bonus, the 2025 Bolero plans to flip this equation – positioning itself as a serious off-roader that doesn’t compromise on luxury and technology.
“We’re not trying to out-Toyota Toyota,” explained the executive. “The Bolero has its own authentic heritage and character. By elevating the execution while staying true to those core values, we’re offering something genuinely different in the market – not just a more affordable Fortuner alternative.”
This approach extends to the ownership experience as well. Mahindra plans to offer a 5-year/unlimited kilometer warranty package, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a transparent maintenance cost structure that undercuts the Fortuner’s relatively high service costs.
Mahindra Bolero 2025 Conclusion: A Gamble Worth Taking
The 2025 Mahindra Bolero represents the company’s most ambitious product repositioning to date. By taking a beloved but utilitarian nameplate upmarket to challenge established premium players, Mahindra is making a bold bet on both its engineering capabilities and the emotional connection Indian consumers have with the Bolero brand.
Will it succeed? The execution will be crucial. Previous attempts to stretch mainstream brands into premium territory have met with mixed results in the Indian market.
However, Mahindra has demonstrated with recent launches like the XUV700 and Scorpio-N that it can deliver genuinely impressive products that challenge segment conventions.
For the Bolero to effectively challenge the Fortuner, it needs to deliver not just on paper specifications but on the intangible qualities that make premium vehicles feel special – refinement, attention to detail, and a cohesive overall experience. The glimpses I’ve seen suggest Mahindra has approached this challenge with appropriate seriousness and ambition.
If successful, the 2025 Bolero could redefine perceptions of what an Indian automotive brand can achieve and potentially open new market segments for Mahindra both domestically and internationally. That’s a prize worth pursuing, even if the path to get there is as challenging as the terrain the Bolero has conquered for decades.