Mahindra GOA Pick-up review and test: simple but practical

We live in a world where most brands have accustomed us to a series of vehicles with an unprecedented technological display. Touchscreens, digital instrument clusters and countless buttons take care of the dashboard of the modern car, forcing us to forget the simplicity and modesty of their predecessors. However, there are still brands on the market capable of resorting to a more humble or simple set-up to create effective vehicles. This is the position Mahindra finds itself in, a brand that arrives from India to settle in Spain and offer an affordable and practical option.

On this occasion we travelled to Alcalá de Henares to get an exclusive first look at the Mahindra GOA Pick-up, one of the three members of the manufacturer’s current model range. Thanks to a more than worthy tuning, the GOA is capable of “climbing” and advancing over some of the most inhospitable terrain, but will it measure up to its European rivals? Let’s find out.

A simple design

Mahindra has chosen to bet on a simple yet useful and practical product, leaving behind grotesque designs that seek to show off. The GOA has remained faithful to the original concept of a pick-up, where a load bed of considerable dimensions is perfectly combined with a cab – in this case single or double – and a bulky front end.

The front section is dominated by a nose with clean lines that aims to showcase the adventurous spirit of the GOA Pick-Up. Two practically square headlights, a vertical chrome grille and an air intake on the bonnet complete its “snout”, together with a rough, prominent bumper.

The side profile can take different forms depending on the chosen configuration, since the Indian firm will offer customers the option of a double cab, a single cab and with a cover for the load area. Finally, the rear is arguably the simplest area of all, where two small vertical tail lights and the tailgate bring it to life without any kind of flourish.

A simple interior for all audiences

Mahindra has chosen to go for a rather humble interior for the GOA Pick-Up, a vehicle capable of providing everything necessary without being ostentatious. With this premise we should expect a cabin with all the essentials but without any kind of luxury or frills. However, we should not see this as a negative, but as something practical, especially when it comes to off-road driving.

A completely spherical steering wheel greets us and quickly gives prominence to an instrument cluster that, although it eschews digitalisation, offers the essential information. The centre console is dominated by a seven-inch touchscreen with moderately fluid behaviour. The climate controls, gear lever and transfer case selector are the only other few elements inside the GOA, but is more really needed?

Hard plastic is present across almost the entire cabin, but in its defence I will say the fittings are more than correct. The way Mahindra has used this material reminds me in part of the Suzuki Jimny, a vehicle also focused on the off-road world and whose rather spartan finishes were ideal for getting filled with dirt and mud and then cleaned with great ease, a formula we also find present in the GOA Pick-Up.

But it is time to talk about the practicality of the Indian pick-up, a vehicle capable of seating up to five occupants in its double-cab variant. The front seats are generous and comfortable, meaning both driver and passenger travel comfortably; while the rear row is rather designed for just two occupants, since the centre seat is quite narrow and its backrest is too inclined forward.

Not afraid to leave the asphalt

Before discussing the dynamic behaviour of the Mahindra GOA Pick-Up in detail, I must tell you that during the presentation we only drove on an off-road route, so I will limit myself to analysing its capabilities off the asphalt. This is understandable, as this vehicle has been conceived mainly to take on all kinds of unpaved terrain, and the route covered was an ideal place to test it.

Under the skin of the GOA Pick-Up sits a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine capable of producing 140 CV and 330 Nm of torque. These figures move a total weight of 2,055 kilos in the single-cab variant and 2,155 kilos if we opt for the double cab. I should warn you that the weight is noticeable, but the immediate presence of the 330 Nm of torque – delivered at 1,600 rpm – helps move the whole package with more ease than one might imagine.

During the test I was able to tackle bridge crossings, mud patches and very steep climbs and descents with the GOA. To overcome all these obstacles, Mahindra offers four-wheel drive, a transfer case and an MLD system with automatic locking for the rear differential. This is complemented by an approach angle of 34º, a breakover angle of 18º and a departure angle of 15º.

Thanks to the transfer case, we can overcome most slopes with great ease and drive in first or second gear without a care. During the test, ground grip was practically constant and it lost traction on very few occasions despite mud being present throughout the entire route. However, imprecise and poorly communicative steering may catch us out when the surface is more broken, forcing us to be very attentive before turning or tackling any obstacle.

The suspension tuning is rather firm, but the travel is short, so it will be relatively easy to scrape the bumpers more than once. However, the steepest descents can be tackled with confidence thanks to the hill descent control, which allows us to fully release the brake pedal and approach them with determination.

Conclusion

We live in a world where, if we need a vehicle with a reasonably competent off-road capability, we must face a considerable outlay. Vehicles such as the Suzuki Jimny or the Fiat Panda 4×4 have made it possible for those who wish to acquire a very capable vehicle for a not excessively large sum of money, and now the Mahindra GOA Pick-Up has decided to join them.

The pick-up segment is tending to disappear, but Mahindra has sought to revive it with a vehicle offering a very interesting value for money. It is true that its design is not the most eye-catching, and that its interior is not adorned with the most cutting-edge technology, but its off-road capability is present and is a weighty reason to opt for this vehicle.

With a starting price of 19,118 euros – 15,300 euros during the launch campaign – the Mahindra GOA Pick-Up positions itself as an option well worth considering. This is made possible by its off-road capabilities, a more than adequate interior for carrying up to four occupants, and a willing and capable engine, a formula with which Mahindra intends to conquer the Spanish market.