HomeCar ReviewsMahindra Verito Vibe compact sedan drive review

Mahindra Verito Vibe compact sedan drive review

Mahindra Verito VibeExteriors – Mahindra Verito Vibe is made in compact sedan configuration but looks like a hatchback. They call it a notchback. Front fascia consisting of stylish carbon finish grille, simple headlamps, basic fog lamps and boxy bumper is same as Mahindra Verito’s. Subtle lines on bonnet help Verito Vibe not look very dated. Side profile gets plain looking wing mirrors and door handles, but alloy wheels are modish. Overall appeal of the sub-4 metre Verito would be deemed sporty by many, but even A segment cars nowadays are fluidic and flamboyant, which Vibe is not.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-001 frontRear facade, especially tail lamp assembly is the highlight of Mahindra Verito Vibe. Notchback structure with minimal protrusion of boot demanded the lamp units to be mounted on C pillar, on either side of windshield. Engineers at Mahindra came up with clever design making the tail lamps look less obvious as possible, by putting roof rails on top of the car and having the light units extrude from the rear end of the rails. Chrome garnish as seen on boot lid of Verito sedan is retained and overall appearance of Verito Vibe’s posterior is trailblazing.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-002 sideInteriors – Mahindra Verito Vibe has very different interiors compared to other cars in price range. Dashboard and door panels are given off white colour which makes the cabin look bright. Dashboard layout is simple and functional, but same cannot be said about centre console. Mahindra’s music player offered in Verito Vibe is inconvenient to use. Buttons / controls are not easy to recognise in first glimpse and USB / pen drive initialisation takes very long time. Single line segmented display that shows menu and track information is very hard to read. Sound / speaker quality is also not the best.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-023 interiorsPlastic quality of dashboard is good but black components, chiefly power window switch casing seem weak. Accessibility of inside door handle is hindered by aforementioned black part of door panel; needs getting used to. There are no bottle holders in doors but front pair come with map pockets. Rest of elements and aspects of Mahindra Verito Vibe’s interiors are appreciable. Two cupholders are provided at centre for driver and shotgun. There is a sizeable utility shelf above glovebox compartment and the latter is also big enough to be useful. Mahindra managed to give Verito Vibe electrically adjustable Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVM), but Inside Rear View Mirror (IRVM) does not have day / night mode. The car comes with driver side Airbag

Mahindra Verito Vibe-030 centre consoleInstrument console gets analog speedometer, tachometer and Computerised Driver Information System (DIS) displaying trip distance, average fuel consumption, average speed, distance to empty, digital clock, mileage (total & partial), temperature and fuel level.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-026 instrument clusterEngine & Performance – Verito Vibe is powered by same 1.5 litre dci CRDI Renault K9K diesel engine that is also doing duty in Verito sedan, producing maximum power of 64 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 160 Nm @ 2,000 rpm, mated to 5 speed manual transmission. This engine deserves applaud for its exceptionally linear power delivery despite having a turbocharger. While most automakers let their power houses exhibit some amount of turbo lag before they swing and deliver a punch of power, the K9K engine used in Verito has consistent propulsion throughout the rev band. The power plant is definitely not very powerful, but the achievement of such stable linearity makes it highly drivable in city. Along with superior gear shift quality, Mahindra Verito Vibe is a near ideal choice for those who make a living out of driving in traffic. Claimed mileage of Verito Vibe is 20.8 kmpl.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-034Steering – Steering wheel does not have tilt adjust capability but given position is comfortable. Size, form and material of steering wheel are driver friendly, so is the feel of turning and minimal feedback it returns. Steering is light enough not to tire driver on driving for long time, and resistive enough to get the driver involved; in short, it is noteworthy.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-017 driver seatHandling, Ride Quality & Comfort – Mahindra Verito Vibe feels quite heavy yet handles well in pressing situations. It may not hold best during high speed manoeuvring but it has good stability and composure. Ride quality could be best in class, which is Verito Vibe’s forte and USP. Be it deep potholes or huge speed breakers, Verito Vibe gets occupants across without informing them about magnitude of the hurdle. Good travel experience is not just because of its suspension characteristics, but also due to comfortable seats. Rear leg room and thigh support could also be best in class.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-020 legroomBraking – All above traits of Mahindra Verito Vibe prove that it is rather a city car than adventurous or touring. In that account, braking performance of the notchback is up to standard. Front wheels get disc brakes; Vibe is equipped with ABS and EBD. Tires are 185/70 R14.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-009 photoVerdict – Although Mahindra has got all fundamental features like engine, chassis, suspension and steering right, they need to evolve in interior quality and features department to generate big numbers against severe competition in segment / price range. Mahindra may claim superiority in affordable SUV segment, given lack of competition, but they cannot tread lightly in sub-4 metre compact passenger vehicle space, which is currently one of most important and attention seeking car segment in India. Having basic mechanicals reliable, it is not a tough job to put together attractive features in Verito Vibe. But we don’t know Mahindra’s end game with this product yet.

Price – Mahindra Verito Vibe is offered in three variants, D2, D4 and D6, priced at Rs. 5.71 lakhs, Rs. 5.97 lakhs and Rs. 6.57 lakhs respectively (ex-showroom Delhi). Verito Vibe is certainly not the most affordable in its segment.

Mahindra Verito Vibe-007 rearWhy would you buy Mahindra Verito Vibe:

Drivability
Ride quality

Why would you not buy Mahindra Verito Vibe:

Price
Looks
Lack of tempting features
Limited access to 330 litre boot space

Also read:

Mahindra Verito Vibe first images from launch event

Mahindra Verito Vibe launch photos and details.

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