The Unyielding Legend Gets a Refresh: Mahindra Bolero and Bolero Neo Charge into 2025
The very name ‘Mahindra Bolero’ conjures up images of rugged dependability, of a vehicle that fears no road, no terrain, and no challenge. For over two and a half decades, it has been the unshakeable pillar of utility and toughness in the Indian automotive landscape, earning a loyalty that few other vehicles can match. Now, the legend gets a much-needed polish for 2025 with the launch of the updated Bolero and its urban-focused sibling, the Bolero Neo.
While the core mechanical resilience remains, Mahindra & Mahindra has strategically injected a dose of modernity, style, and comfort into its longest-running SUV range. The 2025 facelift, priced attractively between ₹ 7.99 lakh and ₹ 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom), proves that you don’t need a complete overhaul to stay relevant—a thoughtful refresh is enough to keep the spirit alive.
Bolero: The Workhorse with a Fresh Coat of Armour
The classic Bolero maintains its iconic, boxy silhouette, but subtle yet impactful visual tweaks ensure it looks ready for the current decade. The front fascia sees a refresh with a new grille design featuring sharper slats and a restyled bumper. For the first time, select variants now proudly sport front fog lamps, adding both utility and a touch of sophistication. Enthusiasts will undoubtedly be drawn to the new, commanding Stealth Black paint shade, which instantly enhances the Bolero’s overall stance.
The upgrades are most felt inside the cabin, elevating the experience from purely utilitarian to genuinely comfortable. The biggest addition is the introduction of a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit in the higher trims, a feature long requested by customers, supporting essential multimedia functions. The top-spec B8 variant now spoils its occupants with premium leatherette seats and stylish diamond-cut alloy wheels.
Crucially, Mahindra has focused on improving the ride experience with the incorporation of RideFlo Tech. This advanced ride and handling package, featuring an improved suspension architecture, is designed to deliver a smoother, more composed, and less jarring ride, especially on the rough surfaces the Bolero is so often tackling. Combined with new comforts like USB Type-C ports, improved bottle holders, and steering-mounted controls, the Bolero is truly modern inside.
Despite all the aesthetic and feature-based enhancements, the Bolero retains its trusted mechanical heart: the 1.5-litre mHawk75 diesel engine. This motor continues to churn out a dependable 75 hp and 210 Nm of torque, perfectly paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, staying true to its uncompromised, body-on-frame DNA.
Bolero Neo: Urban Sophistication Meets Toughness
The Bolero Neo, which caters to the more urban and semi-urban customer, receives updates that accentuate its contemporary appeal. It flaunts a sleeker front grille with horizontal accents, redesigned headlamps with DRLs, and bold 16-inch dark metallic grey alloy wheels. New, vibrant exterior paint choices like Jeans Blue and Concrete Grey—some available with dual-tone finishes—further solidify its position as a stylish, sub-4-meter SUV.
Inside, the Neo offers a more premium environment with two new interior themes: Lunar Grey and Mocha Brown, alongside leatherette upholstery. The main highlight is a larger 22.8 cm touchscreen system, which, unlike its sibling, comes with a rear-view camera and is expected to offer wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on higher trims.
Under the hood, the Neo continues to be powered by the more potent 1.5-litre mHawk100 diesel engine, producing a punchy 100 hp and 260 Nm of torque. It too benefits from the RideFlo Tech, specifically complemented by Frequency Dependent Damping (FDD) suspension, ensuring a ride that feels controlled and refined over bumps. Furthermore, its body-on-frame construction, coupled with Multi-Terrain Technology (MTT) featuring a mechanical locking differential on the N10 (O) variant, gives it an edge in tricky conditions, blending urban convenience with genuine off-road capability.
A Surprising Price Correction
Perhaps the most pleasant news for prospective buyers is the substantial price rationalisation across most of the existing line-up. While new top-end variants—the Bolero B8 and Bolero Neo N11—have been introduced to accommodate the new feature set, the rest of the variants see a welcoming price drop, in some cases by as much as ₹ 0.80 lakh! This makes the updated Bolero range an even more compelling proposition in the competitive utility vehicle segment.
| Bolero Variant | Previous Price (Rs. lakh) | New Price (Rs. lakh) | Difference (Rs.) |
| B4 | 8.79 | 7.99 | ↓ 0.80 lakh |
| B6 | 8.95 | 8.69 | ↓ 0.26 lakh |
| B6 (O) | 9.78 | 9.09 | ↓ 0.69 lakh |
| B8 | — | 9.69 | — |
| Neo Variant | Previous Price (Rs. lakh) | New Price (Rs. lakh) | Difference (Rs.) |
| N4 | 8.92 | 8.49 | ↓ 0.43 lakh |
| N8 | 9.54 | 9.29 | ↓ 0.25 lakh |
| N10 (O) | 10.29 | 9.79 | ↓ 0.50 lakh |
| N11 | — | 9.99 | — |
The 2025 Bolero and Bolero Neo facelifts represent a thoughtful evolution rather than a revolution. Mahindra has successfully integrated modern amenities and styling tweaks without sacrificing the rugged, no-nonsense spirit that has defined the Bolero’s 25-year legacy. For the loyalists, it’s the same trusted vehicle, only better equipped. For the new generation of buyers, it’s a taste of authentic SUV toughness, now paired with the technology and comfort they demand. The Bolero legend, it seems, is far from over.