The diesel-only Mahindra Marazzo is slated to receive a petrol engine option expected to launch around Diwali, the new motor will be a BSVI-compliant unit
The Mahindra Marazzo was launched at a starting price of Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and was quick to find a large set of buyers. While the MPV has a lot going in its favour, a major drawback for many is that there’s no petrol engine option on offer. However, with the demand for petrol-powered cars on a rise and the imminent downfall of the diesel engines with the costs surging with the advent of BSVI norms, many companies are fast shifting their focus to petrol burners.
In sync with this, even Mahindra has planned to launch a petrol variant of the Marazzo in the coming times. Recently, it came to light that the Mahindra Marazzo petrol engine variant will be offered in the coming months, mostly by this year’s Diwali season.
Not many details of the upcoming Mahindra Marazzo petrol variant are available at the moment but what is known for sure is that the new engine will be a 1.5-litre unit that will push out a maximum of 120 horses. The motor will be BSVI-compliant. In all probability, the petrol-powered MPV will benefit from a high refinement level along with better-controlled NVH levels. This will further enhance the user experience.
Currently, the Mahindra Marazzo derives its power from a 1.5-litre diesel engine that produces a maximum power of 120 bhp and a peak torque of 300 Nm. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The MPV offers an ARAI-tested fuel efficiency of 17.6 kmpl, which is quite good for an MPV of its size. The MPV rivals models like the Maruti Ertiga, Renault Lodgy, and Toyota Innova Crysta.
Out of these, it’s only the slow-selling Lodgy that is available only with a diesel engine option. Else, both the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta are available with a petrol engine option each. In fact, the petrol version of the Ertiga even offers a mild-hybrid SHVS setup.
The petrol motor for the Maruti MPV displaces 1.5-litre and outputs 103 bhp and 138 Nm. On the other hand, the Toyota Innova Crysta comes with a 2.7-litre petrol engine option that offers 164 bhp and 245 Nm. Both the rivals are available with both manual and automatic transmission options.
The Mahindra Marazzo comes with the patented ‘best of both worlds’ architecture, which is basically a ladder-on-frame construction with a transversely mounted engine. This allows the company to benefit from the high ruggedness frame construction offers along with a low floor height, FWD layout and reduced transmission losses. Currently, this unique layout is being used only on the Marazzo.
Other than launching the petrol version, the company will even offer an automatic version. However, details of the launch timeline of the automatic variant of the Mahindra Marazzo aren’t available at the moment. In all likelihood, the new transmission variant will be launched close to the introduction of the MPV’s petrol version.
Currently, the Mahindra Marazzo is on sale in four trim options – M2, M4, M6 and M8. It features a shark-inspired design, which, by the way, is the work of the company’s local design centre and renowned Italian design house Pininfarina. The exterior features include projector headlamps with cornering lamps, LED fog lamps with DRLs, LED tail lights, diamond-cut alloy wheels and a floating-effect roof.
The interior of the Mahindra Marazzo is available in 7 and 8-seater configurations, with the latter being Rs 5,000 costlier than the former. The cabin comes with features like a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, Android Auto, Digisense, colour-changing instrument console, cruise control, automatic aircon, multi-function steering wheel and roof-mounted air-con vents.