Mahindra is stepping into the UTV market in a big way. The Retriever 1000 is a standard UTV pushing 83 horsepower thanks to its 999cc twin-cylinder engine. (Photo courtesy of Wheels Afield Magazine)
September 25, 2018
By Derrek Sigler
Ag giant, Mahindra, takes aim at the adventure UTV market with two new models
If you’re at all familiar with tractors, you know about Mahindra . With competing ag equipment brands marketing and selling UTVs, it made sense for Mahindra to jump into the marketplace. The new Retriever 1000 is part of the company’s continued joint venture with Intimidator UTVs. And the Roxor, Mahindra’s newest machine, is something completely different in the UTV world.
Retriever 1000
Mahindra’s M-Pact series of UTVs are serious work machines, but not exactly built for hardcore adventuring off the main trail. To that end, hunters and outdoorsmen should look to the Retriever series, which gets a boost in 2018. The 1,000cc twin-cylinder engine outputs up to 83 horsepower, delivering 67 ft.-lbs. of torque, which is impressive, and a top speed around 60 mph. At the lower end, the Retriever 1000 has 2,500 pounds of towing capability and 1,200 pounds of bed capacity with a standard hydraulic dump-box assist. For added durability, the standard bed can be upgraded to a Flexhauler all-steel version for a moderate upcharge.
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The Mahindra rolls on 14-inch aluminum wheels that are laced with 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires, giving the Retriever an obstacle-avoiding 16 inches of total ground clearance. Up front, auto-styled LED lights illuminate the path and are protected by an aggressive grille and brush guard. Rider comfort comes in the form of padded bucket seats, and drivers get the added benefit of a heads-up 4.3-inch digital gauge. Six-passenger crew models are available, and the Retriever 1000, along with all Mahindra UTVs, comes in a gas or a diesel version.
Roxor
The new Roxor takes on the look of the iconic Willys. Non-street legal, the Roxor is made to cover rough terrain with its 2.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo diesel motor, and BF Goodrich All-Terrain K02 tires. (Photo courtesy of Wheels Afield Magazine)
If you think the Roxor looks like an old Jeep, you’re right. Mahindra has had a license to build and market old Willys Jeeps since 1947, and the Roxor is 100-percent American-assembled.
The Roxor rides on a box-steel frame with a full steel body that seats two, with an additional cargo capacity of 349 pounds. Powering the little Willys lookalike is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 62 horsepower and 144 ft.-lbs. of torque. This, along with a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed manual transfer case, gives the Roxor a top speed of 45 miles per hour, fuel economy of 32–34 miles per gallon, and a range of around 350 miles.
The Roxor comes in Carbon Black, Classic White, Fire Orange, and Tahoe Blue. The LE model has a soft top, an 8,000-pound Warn winch, a 40-inch KC HiLites light bar, and heavy-duty bumpers. According to Mahindra, the goal is to make the Roxor as customizable as current Jeeps, with add-ons coming right from the factory.