© JAMES TAYLOR
Editor: Land Rover Enthusiast Magazine

BACKGROUND

The Mahindra CJ3 and CJ5 models are a breed apart in the 4x4 world. No other 4x4 so successfully captures the retro-look which became fashionable in many areas of the motor industry during the Nineties. However, the Mahindra was not styled deliberately to suit that fashion; its old-fashioned look comes from the fact that it is actually a licence-built and mechanically updated version of the CJ3B Jeep, which was introduced in 1953 and last built by Jeep in the USA as long ago as 1964.

The manufacturing licence is held by Mahindra and Mahindra of Bombay, but the vehicles sold in Britain are actually built up in Greece from kits exported from India. Most versions sold in the UK have a licence-built version of Peugeot's elderly 2.1 litre diesel engine, which was introduced back in 1968.

However, the Mahindra is not all old-fashioned. Its channel-section ladder-frame chassis with its leaf springs and drum brakes is mated to newer items like an (optional) overdrive gearbox, a brake servo, low-profile tyres and (since 1992) power-assisted steering. Similarly, Mahindra have developed their own long-wheelbase version of the CJ3, with 91 inches instead of 80 inches between the axle centres. Rather less common among the Mahindras in Britain today is a third model, the CJ5 which is an even longer-wheelbase model based on the Jeep of the same name built between 1955 and 1983. This can be fitted with a larger (2.5-litre) Peugeot diesel engine. Commercial versions have also been available.

CHARACTER SUMMARY

The Mahindra models are difficult to take seriously as everyday vehicles because of their many shortcomings: build quality, road performance and refinement are all way below the accepted norms. Nevertheless, they do make good weekend fun 4x4s as they offer open-air motoring, off-road ability and fashionable looks in a very reasonably priced package.

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

Acceleration in a Mahindra is leisurely, and top speed not really adequate for modern road conditions - certainly not motorways. The steering offers little feel and the brakes are not very powerful; a harsh and bumpy ride is matched by high noise levels at all speeds.

Nevertheless, the Mahindras make good off-road performers. Short front and rear overhangs, and the short wheelbase (on CJ3 models) contribute to their ability in rough terrain. However, axle articulation is limited by the stiff leaf spings, and the standard wide low-profile tyres are present for looks

rather than mud-plugging ability. The engine lacks bottom-end torque, but very low gearing compensates for this to a large extent.

RELIABILITY, WEKNESSES & SPARES

The Mahindra models do not have a good reputation for a number of reasons.

Build quality is almost invariably poor and many vehicles succumb to rust very early on. More recent examples have been rustproofed by the importers, although even that does not seem to prevent rust altogether. Water leaks into the body are common, and the pre-1992 soft-tops do not last very long before tearing. Early models suffered from unreliable electrical components, although later ones seem to be better in this respect.

RESALE VALUES

The poor reputation acquired by early Mahindra imports has depressed resale values, the price-cuts made by the new importers in November 1992 doing nothing to prop them up. Although the vehicles are cheap to buy in the first place, depreciation is heavy.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS