New Mysterious Mahindra SUV Spied Testing; Is This The Upcoming New Generation Mahindra Bolero?

Mahindra will unveil a new SUV platform on August 15, 2025, which could underpin the upcoming new-generation Bolero

Mahindra revealed its future plans in early May 2025 where it confirmed the debut of a new SUV platform on August 15, 2025. Certain media reports have suggested that this new platform will underpin the upcoming new-generation Bolero. Along with this announcement, Mahindra has also revealed that three new ICE vehicles – 2 facelifts and 1 new-gen model – are set to be introduced by 2026. 

 Now, a new Mahindra SUV has been spotted testing on Indian roads with a boxy body style, which suggests that it could be the next-gen Bolero. Considering the Mahindra Bolero’s cult following, the spotted model could be an addition to the Bolero family.

Could This Be A More Premium Mahindra Bolero? 

Mahindra has four broad nameplates for its SUV family: Bolero, Thar, Scorpio and XUV. Out of these, the Mahindra Bolero nameplate is the oldest and the boxy design makes us lean towards the fact that it could be the next-gen version of this nameplate. 

Our guess is that it could be the premium version of the Bolero, which could sit above the existing Bolero, Bolero Neo and Bolero Neo Plus. The presence of three rows inside the cabin could also lead us to believe that it could be a premium Bolero. Mahindra could also position this model as a probable Hyundai Creta rival and mark its debut in the hotly contested compact SUV space.

Let us now take a look at the spotted new SUV:

What Could Be Spotted?

Although the spotted Mahindra SUV is clad in a heavy camouflage, it gets a relatively boxy design that resembles the Mahindra Bolero as well as its premium sibling, the Mahindra Bolero Neo. 

At the front, this prototype features circular LED headlights (the final version will get a different design) and a grille that features multiple slats typical of Mahindra’s SUVs. Beneath the grille is an air intake channel. While the bumper is covered in heavy camouflage, two rectangular fog lamp housings can be spotted. The bumper could boast a rugged design to give the fascia a tough look.

In profile, what is noticeable are the Scorpio N’s 18-inch alloy wheels, flush-type door handles and rectangular windows that enhance the boxy nature of the SUV. A prominent bulge in the bottom portion of the doors and wheel arches can also be seen, which hint at a rugged black cladding on these areas. All of these look very similar to the current-spec Bolero Neo.

The rear design looks similar to the current-spec Mahindra Scorpio N. However, small wraparound tail lights like those on the Bolero Neo are spotted. A spare wheel mount on the tailgate can also be seen. 

Keen eyed viewers can also spot 3 rows of seating from the multiple headrests that could be seen from the rear windscreen, hinting that the SUV could offer more than 5 seats. That said, no other prominent detail of the interior could be seen from these spy shots.

Also Read: Mahindra XEV 9e And BE 6 Collectively Cross 10,000 Unit Sales In A Little Over 2 Months

Expected Powertrain Options

Mahindra is going to unveil a new platform on August 15 and there are high chances this model could be based on it. It’s still too early to talk about technical specifications, but it is likely that this could get both diesel and petrol engines. The former could be the 1.5-litre diesel engine from the Thar RWD and Mahindra XUV 3XO, while the petrol option could be a new 1.5-litre T-GDI turbo-petrol engine showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo. 

Expected Price And Rivals

If the spotted SUV is an addition to the Bolero family, it could be priced from Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). If that is the case, it won’t have a direct rival, but could be considered an option to compact SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and Toyota Hyryder.

Image Source

Follow the CarDekho WhatsApp channel to get instant updates from the automotive world.