Mahindra Marazzo 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

Mahindra Marazzo Variants and Features

The Marazzo is available in a total of 4 variants and comes with only one engine option. These 4 variants are further divided on the basis of 7 or 8 seat configurations. The base 7 seater variant is the M2 which is priced at Rs. 9,99,900 (Ex-showroom). Interestingly, the base 7-seater variant and the base 8 seater variant carry the same price stamp. The price difference in the 7-seater and 8-seater variants kicks in from the M4 variant which is priced at Rs. 11,56,472 for the 7 seater configuration. The M6 is priced at Rs. 13,08,491 (Ex-showroom) for the 7 seater version. And the top of the line M8 variant goes up to Rs. 14,76,538 (Ex-showroom) for the 8 seater version. Hence, the Marazzo undercuts the king of the MPV segment, the Toyota Innova, in terms of pricing. The prices list of the Marazzo ends where the Innova’s begin.

We Recommend

We would recommend you to go for the W6 variant as it is the most value for money variant in the lineup. It not only comes with an option of 7 or 8 seater configuration but also all the necessary modern features like an infotainment touchscreen. This variant gets a lot of features that the other 2 variants below it don’t. The W8 variant gets a few more features than the W6 variant but the price difference is more than a lakh between the two. Hence, making the W6 variant the most lucrative and value for money variant. 

Mahindra Marazzo Engine and Performance

The Mahindra Marazzo comes only with one engine option which is a D15 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel motor. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and unfortunately does not get any automatic gearbox. It develops 121 BHP pf power at 3,500 rpm and 300 Nm of peak torque at 1,750 - 2,500 rpm. Fire up the engine and you'd be welcomed with a little grunt courtesy of its Diesel engine. It feels almost silent at idle as the refinement levels are surprisingly better than many of its rivals. The Marazzo starts off the line cleanly but there is a noticeable turbo lag below 2000 rpm.

The clutch is on the lighter side and the gearbox is unlike any other Mahindra. It is quite smooth to operate and comes with well-defined ratios. The gear shifts are on the longer side just like every ladder on frame SUV. Within the city, this engine requires you to rev it up a bit to get smoothly off the line otherwise there is always a risk to stall it. This can get annoying for some in stop and go traffic conditions. But on the highway, the Marazzo feels at home and if you keep the engine on boil you can make rapid progress. Once past the 2000 RPM, this motor pulls strongly.

Hence, it feels the best in the mid-range but there is no point going over 4000 rpm as the power tapers off quickly. Even under the full load, Marazzo’s diesel mill feels adequate but it lacks the lower end punch like that of the Toyota Innova or the all-new Suzuki XL6. Overall, this engine comes with great drivability with some minor drawbacks. It is very refined and most users will enjoy the mid-range performance after they are through with a small learning curve to get the most out of this engine.

Gone are the days when the Innova used to come with sub-par power figures, now it leads the pack in terms of performance. The Marazzo generates the second-best power and torque figures in its segment. Since the XL6 only comes with a petrol engine, it generates the least amount of power and torque. But due to its lightweight, it performs satisfactorily. The BR-V and the XL6 feel very similar in terms of engine performance. 

Acceleration

A 0-100 kmph timing is not exactly what a buyer of this segment is looking for. Nonetheless, the Marazzo completes its 0-100 kmph sprint in 14.1 seconds. This shows that the Marazzo is not the best when it comes to outright performance. Although MPVs are not meant to offer outright performance rather they are built to carry 7-8 people around in immense comfort.

The Innova is a second quicker than the Marazzo due to its more powerful engine. An interesting thing to note here is that both the MPVs with the monocoque construction are quicker than the Marazzo even with a smaller engine. This is due to the lighter weight of the BR-V and the XL6.

Ride and handling

Ride quality is one of the most important factors that influence the success of an MPV. Well, here, Mahindra has taken the utmost care to make sure that it gets the comfort quotient right. It gets an aluminum-intensive double-wishbone suspension at the front and a twist-beam at the rear. The Marazzo drives like no other Mahindra which is a very good thing. 

The low-speed ride is impressive as the suspension is well damped to take on Indian road conditions. It does not portray any side-to-side sway movement like other Mahindras. Although on rough roads the suspension can get unsettled but as you pick up more and more speed, things improve considerably. Even while dealing with the roughest of roads, the suspension continues to work silently and there are no unpleasant noises at any given moment.

Within the city, it can soak in most bumps and potholes with ease. You would not need to slow down on rough patches as the suspension is potent enough to deal with such situations. Over on the highway, the rear end gets a bit bouncy at triple-digit speeds reminding you that it is an MPV. Nevertheless, the Marazzon is very car-like to drive within the city speeds and feels abuse-friendly.

The body roll is evident even while it is within limits according to MPV standards. The steering is super light at low speeds making it easier to maneuver in urban conditions. On the highway, the steering gains more heft and weight but it does not give you much confidence to push the car harder. The feel, the feedback, it's missing from the Marazzo.

Mahindra Marazzo has a turning radius of 5.25 m, which is smaller than the Innova's 5.4 m and only slightly bigger than the XL6's 5.2 m. Laden ground clearance is rated at 165 mm which comes in handy considering the Indian roads. 

The best handling car in this segment is the BR-V as it’s steering inspires the most confidence. The monocoque constructed cars have better handling dynamics than the ladder on frame cars like the Marazzo. However, the ladder on frame cars are best for rough road ride and comfort. Hence, the Marazzo and Innova can take more beating than the XL6 and the BR-V.

How well does it Brake?

Braking is one of the most important factors in terms of the safety aspect of a car. Mahindra has gone a step further than its rivals by providing the Marazzo with disc brakes on all 4 wheels. This is a feature that no other car in its segment can match.

Even the Innova, which will make you shed more bucks for it, comes with drum brakes at the rear. Hence, the Marazzo provides excellent braking performance. It also comes with ABS and EBD as standard on all variants.

Fuel economy

Mileage is one of the most important factors for an Indian buyer and Mahindra seems to be well aware of that. Hence, due to the smaller engine of the Marazzo, it provides more mileage than the Toyota Innova. It manages to return an overall fuel economy of 17.3 kmpl. It is not the best in the segment but for a 1600 kg car, it is quite a respectable figure. 

The top variant of the Marazzo gets an Eco mode as well to enhance the Fuel economy. The interesting point here to note is that the XL6 provides the best in class fuel economy figures even with a petrol motor. This is due to its smaller engine and lighter weight. The Innova is the heaviest of the bunch and that weight takes a toll on its fuel economy.

Mahindra Marazzo Exterior Design and Styling

Like many of the newly launched cars, the Marazzo’s design is also inspired by a living being. Mahindra has given it many design elements that are inspired by a shark. On the front, the Marazzo gets a claw-like grille and smoked headlamps. The top of the line M8 variant gets DRLs too. The smoked headlamps make it look a bit sporty from the front and the air dampers upper portion gets a mesh design with a chrome insert below. The Marazzo looks the most aggressive from the front. From the side, the Marazzo looks very van-like in appearance as there are not many shark inspired elements seen here. The large wheel arches and some cladding added to the sides help it have a character when looked from the sides.

The front and rear overhangs don’t look too long which helps it have a proportionate stance. At the rear the Marazzo gets an overtly big tail lamp assembly and a big chrome strip connecting the tail lamps. The rear might need more work but still, it does not look overdone like most Mahindras. Panel gaps are among the best we have seen on a Mahindra vehicle. Overall the Marrazo looks like a very smart MPV and is surely one of the more pleasant designs in the MPV segment.

The Mahindra Marazzo is smaller in terms of dimensions than the segment leader, Toyota Innova in every way. But the Marazzo has a bigger wheelbase than the Innova. It also looks more car-like and is also more car-like to drive when compared to the Innova.

Exterior Features

• Sporty roof rails

• Muscular contours

• Cornering Lamps

• Dual-tone Front & Rear Bumper

• Side body cladding

• Daytime running lamps (DRLs)

Mahindra Marazzo Interior and Comfort

The interior of a car is more important than the exterior appeal of a car for a lot of customers. Hence, just like the exterior, the interior of the Marazzo has been designed by the Mahindra Design Studio and Pininfarina. The interior of the Marazzo is certainly different than the previous Mahindras we have seen so far. It looks more contemporary and better put together than most Mahindras on the market today. Doors open in triple-stage action and do not feel heavy like with some of its rivals. Front visibility is excellent as you sit higher up than most compact SUVs. The floor is a bit on the higher side but lower than most full-grown SUVs. Once inside, the cabin feels roomy no matter where you sit. Front seats provide a good amount of under-thigh support and excellent headroom and shoulder room. The side bolstering feels adequate but not the best in its class. You also get lumbar support for both the front seats.

The dashboard gets a black and beige treatment which helps it have a fresh appeal. Some buttons have been carried over from older Mahindras like the XUV 500. There has been extensive use of piano black elements all over the dashboard. The second row of seats is the best place to be in the Marazzo, especially with the captain seats. It provides ample knee room and long journeys are no big deal in the captain seats. The large windows really help the car feel roomy on the inside. On the other side, the 3rd row of seats is best left for children. Windows on the 3rd row of seats also are on the smaller side. You sit in knees up position like most of the 7 seater cars but the shoulder room is quite impressive. The fit and finish inside the cabin remain a hit and miss affair.  Overall, the quality and finish of the cabin is satisfactory, but not premium. The ergonomics are well-sorted and you can easily spend long hours inside the Marrazo’s cabin.

The best cabin experience is certainly offered by the Toyota Innova but it remains the most expensive car in its segment. On the other hand, the Marazzo is neck and neck with the Innova in certain areas and it also gets some soft-touch materials inside its cabin. The XL6  and the BR-V provide a smaller cabin in comparison to the other two MPVs. 

Infotainment system

The infotainment system of the Marazzo comes with a lot of features. It comes with so many features that it can easily look a bit cluttered to some customers. It comes with an 8 Gb internal storage space that you can use to store images, songs or videos. The 7-inch infotainment sits right in the center of the dashboard and gets certain dedicated buttons. It also gets haptic feedback in the top trim which no other carmakers provide in the segment. 

The infotainment system is sometimes slow to respond but not to a level that it will annoy you. The system is easy to live with and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. 

Other interior features include

• 4 Speakers 2 tweeters

• Voice commands

• Apple Carplay and Android Auto

• USB and AUX connectivity

• Steering mounted audio controls

• Emergency Call & Ecosense 

• Turn by Turn Navigation Indicator in Cluster (with onboard Navigation)

Boot capacity

The boot of the Marazzo is certainly not as roomy as its cabin. The Marazzo comes with the smallest boot in its segment. Even the cheaper offerings like the XL6 offer more boot space than the Marazzo. Is comes with a practical boot however as the loading lid is not very high. Everything considered the boot of the Marazzo does not live up to the name of a people’s carrier.  

The biggest boot space is still provided by the Toyota Innova followed by the Honda BR-V. However, once you fold the 3rd row of seats of any of these MPVs, they would offer a much larger boot space than any hatchback or a sedan in the segment.

Mahindra Marazzo Safety

With the news of safety norms kicking in recently, all the manufacturers have updated their products in terms of safety. The Marazzo is equipped with dual front airbags, ABS + EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, impact-sensitive door locks and all-round disc brakes as standard. But we wish that Mahindra would have provided the top of the line variant with 6 airbags as it continues to get only 2 airbags. Nevertheless, Mahindra claims that it meets all the crash regulations that are to be implemented soon in India. 

• Dual front airbags

• Reverse parking sensors

• Reverse parking camera

• Brake assist

• ABS with EBD

• Disc Brakes on All Wheels

• Rear Defogger with Auto Timer

• ISOFIX child seat mounts

• High-speed warning buzzer

How Does Mahindra Marazzo fares against the Rivals?

Mahindra Marazzo VS Maruti Suzuki XL6

As Maruti Suzuki has announced its exit from the diesel market in India by April 2020, the XL6 is the only car here which does not offer a diesel engine. It is based on the Ertiga but promises to provide a more premium experience than the former car. It is also the cheapest offering in this segment and comes in a 6 seater configuration. When compared to the Marazzo the XL6 falls short in terms of cabin space and ride quality when compared to the Mahindra Marazzo.

Mahindra Marazzo VS Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova is the undisputed king of the MPV segment. It is not what an MPV could be but what an MPV should be, for many. It is a car synonymous with reliability and longevity. But now the new Innova is nothing like the previous one, especially in terms of pricing. It is the most expensive car in its class but also comes out as the most premium car in its segment. When compared to the Marazzo the Innova comes out on top in most departments. But Innova’s prices start where the Marazzo’s end, hence making it a lucrative offering.

Mahindra Marazzo VS Honda BR-V

The Honda BR-V is the successor Honda’s first offering in the MPV segment, the Mobilio. It offers well-balanced looks and looks the most sporty car in its segment. The BR-V offers 2 engine options, unlike the XL6. It also comes with certain first in segment features like paddle shifters. When compared to the Marazzo, the BR-V offers better performance and driving dynamics. But Honda seems to have priced the BR-V on the higher side and it cannot match the road presence and comfort offered by the Marazzo.

Final Verdict

With the MPV segment seeing new launches, every car manufacturer is trying to offer a more premium experience. The Marazzo claims to offer the same and it is quite different from other Mahindra cars we have seen so far. But when compared to its rivals the Marazzo fails not bring something new to the table. The biggest drawback of the Marazzo is its boot space and Mahindra’s after-sales is not among the best in the segment. But if you can ignore these two drawbacks then the Marazzo is one of the most practical and promising products from an Indian car manufacturer.