Don’t mistake it for a hatchback. Mahindra’s new Verito Vibe is a two-box saloon, and it comes with all the traits of the Verito.
This quasi-hatchback, however, has other strengths which are passed down from the full-sized Verito saloon. Most obvious is the Vibe’s cavernous cabin that is identical to the Verito’s and this means sufficient room for five, full-sized adults. The rear bench is particularly wide and generous enough to make sitting three abreast pretty comfortable. A full-sized centre head restraint for the middle passenger endorses this. The front seats are pretty wide and generous too but seem to lack sufficient bolstering, especially near the lower back area. In terms of ergonomics, the Verito’s flaws are carried over, which includes a centre console that sits a bit low - so to operate the 2-DIN audio system and the air-con controls, you have to take your eyes of the road. Also, taller drivers will miss the adjustable steering wheel as it sits a little too low in this car. Other flaws include patchy cabin quality like hard plastics and sloppy stitching on the seats, which all feel a bit low rent. The switchgear though feels quite good to operate and the chunky door handles M&M has redeveloped feel quite solid.
The Vibe is powered by the same proven 1.5-litre DCi Renault diesel engine that’s been powering the Logan and later Verito since 2007. Since the Verito’s 1.4-litre petrol engine does not qualify for the excise benefits offered to small cars and there is no engine option below 1.2 litres (to get the advantage) M&M has sensibly not bothered to offer the Vibe with a petrol option.