Indian auto manufacturer Mahindra& Mahindra has been on a product offensive since last year. Among a slew of launches from Mahindra’s stable, the one that caught the fancy of auto enthusiasts and industry rivals alike was the Marazzo MPV. The Marazzo is unlike any Mahindra from the recent past. It’s a genuine breath of fresh air in the way it looks, drives and feels on the inside. Taking on established rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga at one end of the spectrum and the Toyota Innova Crysta on the other is no mean task, but the Marazzo manages to find a nice sweet spot right in the middle.

Designed in collaboration with the Mahindra design studio and Pininfirina, the Mahindra Marazzo sports a streamlined design with shark cues evident in its exterior with the toothed grille up front. The front end also gets sharp LED projector headlamps that should offer a better illumination than the conventional units. Despite its burly and masculine exterior, the Marazzo remains nimble when it comes to maneuverability.

 

The LED tail lamps on the Mahindra Marazzo look impressive with the arrow design, which goes in sync with the overall sharp design approach. The brake light when illuminated is reminiscent of a boomerang, which further accentuates the premium styling on the MPV. Staying true to its design theme, the Mahindra Marazzo features shark fin antenna. Nowadays, more and more carmakers are opting for the shark fin antenna as it adds to style without adding much weight and has better longevity.

The Mahindra Marazzo offers a spacious passenger cabin and can seat upto 8 people. While the first and second row offers decent leg, shoulder and headroom, the third row is best suited for children. The Marazzo offers 190 litres of boot space that can be increased upto a huge 1055 litres with both second and third row folded down, if the need arises. The only flipside is that the second row doesn’t fold down flat.

The cabin boasts of features like a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 4.2-inch TFT display for the instrument cluster and a roof-mounted surround cooling air conditioning system for second and third rows. Other convenience features like rear seat entertainment and electrically adjustable captain seats are part of the interior accessories package designed by DC and are an optional extra.

Patented air distribution system provides passengers with a choice of either direct airflow or diffused airflow, thereby enhancing comfort. Along with Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC), Mahindra Marazzo's cabin cools really fast even in the hot and humid Indian weather conditions.

The Mahindra Marazzo has a transverse engine mounted horizontally across the width of the engine compartment which allows for a bigger cabin for the passengers. The 4-cylinder engine is also designed to minimise noise and vibrations. The new generation 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 121 bhp of maximum power and 300 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels.

The diesel powertrain produces linear power from as low as 1500 rpm and responds well to throttle responses. The ride and handling is pretty sorted and the suspension is well tuned for Indian road conditions. The body roll is well contained and the braking is confidence inspiring. The Marazzo has a great road presence and a commanding stance.

Mahindra Marazzo MPV comes equipped with safety features like dual front airbags, a passenger airbag off-switch, a speed sensitive door lock/unlock feature, ABS with EBD and brake assist and Isofix child seat mounts as standard equipment on all variants.

The top-end M8 trim features 17-inch machined alloy wheels, LED daytime running lamps, leatherette seating upholstery, dual USB sockets for front and rear passengers, puddle lamps, cooled glove box with illumination, infotainment system with Android Auto compatibility, cruise control, reverse camera with display, automatic climate control and power folding and adjustable wing mirrors.

The Mahindra Marazzo is available in four variants - M2, M4, M6 and M8. All the trims are available in both 7-seater and 8-seater configurations.

 

Technical specifications:

Overall Length: 4585 mm

Overall Width: 1866 mm

Overall Height: 1774 mm

Wheelbase: 2760 mm

Turning Radius: 5.25 m

Engine Displacement: 1497 cc

Maximum Power: 121 bhp @ 3500 rpm

Maximum Torque: 300 nm @ 1750-2500 rpm

Transmission: 6 Speed Manual

Fuel Tank Capacity: 45 litres

Tyres: M2, M4, M6 (16-inch tubeless radial), M8 (17-inch tubeless radial)