With the goal of upgrading and rising ahead in the competitive small commercial vehicle (SCV) market, Mahindra has launched the Supro Profit Truck Maxi. Rajesh Rajgor takes the vehicle for a test drive to observe first-hand what the snazzy new machine has to offer
The growth and acceptance of small commercial vehicles (SCVs) in the Indian transportation segment has been a boon to the Indian commercial vehicle space. SCVs are a preferred choice of transportation in the last mile delivery segment and have performed pretty well during the pandemic. The growth of e-commerce has accelerated the demand for SCVs as many of us were, or still are, confined to our homes during and after the lockdown. Keeping in mind the demand for these vehicles, Mahindra launched the updated Supro Profit Truck Maxi. The vehicle has been launched in three variants.
LX is the base model, VX is the mid-range model and ZX is the top model. The LX model is equipped with manual steering while the VX and ZX boast of power steering. The top model also comes with company-fitted AC, dual tone interior and body coloured bumper. The applications for the vehicle that can be driven on city roads and highways include market load, agricultural produce, fruits and vegetables, food grains, catering and venue decorators, parcel loads, FMCG, pharmaceutical products, water and cylinder distribution, e-commerce, etc.
The Drive
MOTORINDIA had the privilege to drive the Mahindra Supro Profit Truck Maxi VX model. After entering the cabin, the first thing we noticed was the height of the floor from the ground and the clear view of the road ahead. Soon after settling into the seat and pulling the ELR seatbelt installed for driver safety, the views from the side and rear mirror were flawless. The five-speed manual gear box lever, wide co-passenger seat and relaxing leg space contributed to a really good cabin experience. Even though the pickup on the first gear of this diesel vehicle was a bit slow, the speed was enough to kick-start the vehicle. The acceleration was optimum on shifting to second and third gears.
By the time we reached the fourth gear we were already cruising on the road at a speed of 60 kmph. The fifth gear could help us reach a top speed of 80 kmph and even that speed the vehicle remained absolutely in control and smooth enough to sustain the momentum. On the drive we could feel the load sensing proportionating valve (LSPV) that gives the vehicle brilliant stopping power. The tyre size is 155/80 with rating of R14 8 ply giving wheel base of the vehicle a height of 2,050 mm and a ground clearance of 196 mm. Mahindra claims that the vehicle can clock a high mileage of 21.4 kmpl which can translate into 20% more savings to a fleet operator than any competitive vehicle.
However, this aspect truly depends on the person driving the vehicle. It is possible to get acclimated to the vehicle’s fundamental working and after a few trips of extensive periods combined with some exciting twists, it becomes way simpler to steer, swap gear and get the most out of the machine in order to extract higher fuel economy. The vehicle’s payload, which is 1,050 kg, contributes even more to the transporter’s savings. The Mahindra Supro Profit Truck Maxi is also equipped with vacuum-assisted hydraulic brakes with auto slack adjuster as well as front and rear disc and drum brakes. The vehicle has eight leaf spring suspensions in the front axles and seven leaf spring suspensions in the rear axles, allowing it to carry a lot of weight.
Slick Driving Components
The new LCV is powered by 909 CC 2-cylinder inline direct injection turbocharged BS-VI engine. The engine produces a power of 47.5 HP at 3,750 RPM and a torque of 100 NM at 1,600-3,000 RPM, propelling the vehicle to a top speed of 80 kmph. The diesel tank comes with a 33-litre full capacity. The loading tray length is 8.2 feet x 5 feet with cabin and with chassis. High deck length option is also available. Mahindra provides a high warranty of three years or 80,000 km. The vehicle proudly flaunts the ‘Mahindra’ family front grills and clear lens headlamps that give it an attractive look from the front. It also has a lot of utility storage space like glove box, bottle holder, mobile charging point and floor carpet for driver and co-passenger’s comfort. The vehicle will surely create its own niche in the growing SCV market.