Mahindra

Bolero offers a lot of carrying capacity for the price. But it’s a cheap bakkie without safety features.

Leaf-sprung front suspension delivers brutal ride quality. But it can haul 1150kg in the loadbed over the worst corrugated dirt roads or potholed surfaces without any issue.

Underpowered 2.5 turbodiesel engine creates a lot of traffic tempo risk, with only 46kW. It means Bolero can’t do much more than 120km/h on the highway. Overtaking ability is extremely limited.

For the bargain price, you do get power steering and air conditioning. But there are no airbags or ABS.

Sensible as a farm or rural dirt road logistics bakkie. Not recommended for highway driving.

The smart bakkie buyer’s budget Land Cruiser 79. Praise comes no higher.

Mahindra’s Karoo trim double-cab S11 Pik-Ups are factory accessorised. Steel off-road spec bumpers and 265/75/16 all-terrain tyres make these bakkies trail-ready straight from the dealer.

Terrific value with a reasonably comfortable and well-equipped cabin and dependable 2.2 diesel engine. Locally assembled, so the parts supply chain is reasonable.

Karoo’s ground clearance is average at 210mm. And so is the 2.5t tow rating.

Farmer approval means everything in the bakkie market.  And you’ll see many of Karoo-edition Mahindras operating on Karoo and Kalahari farms.

Great looking design with real all-terrain ability. Offers 7-seats, a proper low-range 4x4 transfer case, and an enhanced 2.2 turbodiesel engine.

Like Fortuner, it’s a body-on-frame SUV, with independent front and semi-independent rear suspension. Comfy enough on the highway and confident on the worst corrugated dirt roads you can imagine.

Much lower theft and hijacking risk than Fortuner. But like the Toyota, third-row seating integration on Scorpio N isn’t brilliant.

Mahindra’s proven 2.2 diesel is upgraded to 128kW and 400Nm in the Scorpio N, giving it better performance than a Fortuner 2.4 GD.

Z8 Adventure is the best version, with steel off-road bumpers and all-terrain tyres. A true bargain alternative to Fortuner if you need an all-terrain touring SUV.

Terrific design and incredibly generous spec, for Mahindra’s compact crossover.

The 1.2 turbopetrol engine has enough performance to ensure you can cruise with confidence in the far right-hand lane on Gauteng’s highways.

All versions feature ESP and 6 airbags. ‘Luxury’ trim adds adaptive cruise control and auto emergency braking. Amazingly valuable safety features at the price, for driving on South Africa’s hazardous and chaotic roads.

Weirdly, for such a well-designed interior, the steering isn’t reach-adjustable.

AX5L is the best value. All the tech and level 2 driver-assist features, plus sensible 16-inch wheels for local conditions.