Mahindra Alturas G4 Review (First Drive) — The Benchmark For Future Mahindra SUVs?

DriveSpark was invited to Amby Valley for the official first-drive experience of the Alturas G4. We spent a couple of hours with the flagship Mahindra and needless to say, it really impressed us. Here's what we have to say about the Mahindra Alturas G4!

Design & Styling

Upon seeing the SUV for the first time, we knew that it was just as premium or even more than we expected. The Alturas G4 is long, broad and sits high with minimal boxiness.

At the front, the huge bonnet gets a lot of creases and lines running along it that add up to the bulkiness. Unlike the previous-generation Rexton on offer, the Alturas G4 gets the signature Mahindra grille with chrome accents. The good-looking headlamp cluster (with DRLs) has HIDs for low beam and a halogen bulb for the high beam. The LED fog lamps are accompanied by cornering lights.

Moving on to the sides, the 18-inch five-spoke machined-alloy wheels look great and compliment the size of the car. There is a chrome finishing around the windows which goes really well with the gloss black paint scheme.

The ORVMs are heated and they come with LED turn signals. The illuminated door handles add some drama at night.

The all-LED tail lamps look good and there is a chrome strip that runs along the boot joining both. The "ALTURAS G4" badging is right at the centre of the boot, and to be honest, the font and the position look really odd.

The Cockpit

As soon as you open the driver's door, the seats welcome you by moving back and once you get inside, they get back to their original place. The dashboard of the Alturas is covered with a soft-touch leather coat. The overall fit and finish on the inside are nothing short of premium.

The centre console has also got a leather finish. The multi-function steering wheel has a good feel to it and the steering-mounted controls keep the driver's focus on the road. The buttons can control functions on the instrument console, as well as the infotainment system.

Stereo And Infotainment

Speaking about the infotainment system, the Alturas G4 comes with an eight-inch touchscreen unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The response is quite good and the UI is smooth. The six-speaker stereo system,however, does not sound that great for a flagship product and would make one consider upgrading it to an aftermarket unit.

Another interesting feature of the infotainment system is the ability to record LIVE radio. The recorded audio will be saved in the inbuilt memory and cannot be downloaded; thus causing no copyright issues.

The instrument cluster has a well-sized LCD display which provides all the essential vehicle information. The readings are quite legible too; something which some cars fail to offer.

Practicality, Comfort & Boot

When it comes to practicality, the Alturas G4 has a lot on offer. The dual-tone quilted Nappa leather seats give the SUV a premium feel. Only the driver's seat gets the eight-way electric adjuster with memory function.

The second row has no issues as far as headroom and knee room are concerned. However, folding the second row to get to the third row, is quite a challenge. Speaking about the third row, it has enough headroom, but lacks legroom.

Overall, the cabin is really spacious and airy, while the third row does not feel claustrophobic. The sunroof has an anti-pinch function so that your hand would not get stuck when it's closing.

The Alturas G4 features a lot of storage space for bottles and your knick-knacks. The AC cools the cabin down quickly and features dual-zone climate control. There are vents present for the third row as well.

With the third row up, the boot capacity is really less. There is a 60:40 split function for the middle row and 50:50 for the third; thus adding more space and practicality. The Mahindra Alturas G4 is equipped with an electric boot release with a sensor.

Hence, if you have gone shopping and your hands are full, you just have to stand within one meter of the boot and it will release automatically. Make sure that you have the car keys in your pocket or else the boot won't open.

The cabin also features ambient lighting and LED lamps for all the rows. Other features such as the tilt and telescopic steering, front and rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, illuminated glove box, tyre pressure sensor and electric park with auto hold; come as standard.

Engine, Performance & Driving Impressions

Powering the Mahindra Alturas G4 is a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 178bhp and 420Nm of peak torque. The engine comes mated only to a Mercedes-sourced seven-speed automatic transmission and is Euro-VI-ready. In fact, a good majority of mechanical components in the previous-generation Rexton is borrowed from a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class (W163) SUV. The Mahindra Alturas G4 will be offered in two variants: 2WD AT and 4WD AT.

We did not get a lot of time to spend with the car, but we could observe that the punch from the engine is good enough to push the SUV hard. The torque kicks in at as low as 1600rpm. The steering might seem a bit light for some, but it is certainly not that bad.

Being an SUV, the Alturas G4 is meant to be capable over challenging terrains too. Though we couldn't do any hardcore off-roading, we knew that the high ground clearance and the torquey engine wouldn't disappoint. There are three modes for the four-wheel-drive system: 2WD Low, 4WD Low and 4WD High; basic setups of any conventional off-roader. The differentials are placed well up from the ground, as you can see.

The Mahindra Alturas G4 features a dedicated Winter and Summer function too. While Summer mode offers the normal driving characteristics, Winter does not allow the SUV to launch on first gear, but second. This proves vital for optimal traction in snowy and slippery terrains.

Brakes on the Alturas G4 are amazing and the 255/60 R18 tyres provide excellent grip. There is a lot of body roll, as expected from a car of this size, but the suspension setup is good and can take over small bumps and potholes with ease. The Alturas G4 is indeed a good handler too, despite its minor shortcomings.

Full Specifications

Model	ALTURAS G4 4x4
Engine	2.2-litre Euro-VI Diesel
Displacement (cc)	2189
Power (bhp)	178
Torque (Nm)	420
Transmission	7-speed Automatic
Mileage (km/l)	NA
Tyre Size	255/60 R18

Safety And Key Features

This flagship SUV from Mahindra is loaded with safety features including nine airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-Roll Protection (ARP), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Brake Assist (BAS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), ABD+EBDand ISOFIX mounts. The proportions of the Alturas G4 also suggest that it is a safe vehicle to be in.

Competitors

Once launched, the Alturas G4 will go up against the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Skoda Kodiaq, Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The segment in which the Alturas competes is quite competitive, with the majority of the market inclined to the likes of the Fortuner and Endeavour.

Here is a fact check comparison of the new Mahindra Alturas G4 with its two main rivals:

Model	Displacement (cc)	Power/Torque (bhp/Nm)	Mileage (km/l)
Alturas G4 4x4	2189	178/420	NA
Ford Endeavour	3198	200/470	11
Toyota Fortuner	2755	177/420	14.5

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

The Alturas G4 is the best offering from Mahindra till date. It is the perfect upgrade from something like an XUV 500, and Mahindra has tried their best to reduce its price through localisation. Of course, no vehicle is perfect and the Mahindra Alturas G4 does have some flaws; though not serious. What do you think of the flagship Mahindra?