2019 Mahindra Alturas G4 review, road test

An all-new generation of SsangYong’s flagship SUV, renamed and rebadged for India. But will India accept a Rs 30 lakh Mahindra?

Published on Feb 01, 2019 08:00:00 AM

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2019 Mahindra Alturas G4 review, road test

Engine refinement and cabin insulation is so good; masks speeds brilliantly while cruising.

Quality of materials used is top-notch. The Nappa leather and quilting on the dash provide a truly luxurious feel.

Last row best for short journeys due to tight legroom and a dark ambience.

This new-gen Alturas G4 gets an all-new D22DTR 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, making 181hp and 420Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to either the rear wheels or all four wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission (torque converter), sourced from Mercedes-Benz.

Start this motor and it settles into a rather silent, petrol-like idle. And it’s not just the engine that’s really refined, the sound insulation overall is very good, so passengers are cut off from outside noise too. On the highway, the Alturas G4 is so silent, and so well insulated that it masks the real speed you are cruising at. It’s only when this engine is spun beyond 2,500rpm that it becomes vocal but the diesel drone never gets too harsh or intrusive.

You’re always aware of road conditions. The ride remains busy with constant body movements.

Performance is again surprisingly good and the Alturas whisks you to serious speeds in a fuss-free manner. Compare it with the Fortuner or Endeavour and you’ll swear that they respond far better initially, thanks to their low-end grunt. The Alturas G4, however, responds and accelerates just as quickly, but because power delivery is very linear, it doesn’t give you the same ‘pinned to the seat’ sensation. Put your foot down and the engine is quick to respond and there’s always power available on tap. The powerband lasts from roughly 1,700-3,000rpm and the engine isn’t a particularly free-revving unit and it maxes out at 4,100rpm before shifting to the next gear. The 7-speed Mercedes automatic transmission works nicely in sync with this motor and masks all traces of turbo lag. It isn’t quick to respond and can feel lazy, but, for the most part, it does the job rather well. There isn’t a Sport mode and you don’t get paddleshifters. It offers a Tiptronic mode that can be activated via the small buttons on the gear selector, which isn’t the most convenient of locations.

Flat-out performance is impressive, with the Alturas G4 taking 11.24sec to reach 100kph, identical to the Endeavour 3.2, but keep your foot pinned to the floor and the Alturas hits 160kph almost a second sooner. Performance in-gears from 20-80kph and 40-100kph in kickdown are 6.41sec and 8.62sec, respectively – figures that are near identical to the Endeavour 3.2.