Mahindra Bolero vs Mahindra Bolero Neo vs Tata Nexon (2026)
The classic compact suv shortlist, settled with numbers (August 2026):
- Pick the Mahindra Bolero if you want the most seats (7).
- Pick the Mahindra Bolero Neo as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere.
- Pick the Tata Nexon if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.37 Lakh), the most power (118 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.08 kmpl), the best crash-test score (5 stars).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
| Spec | Mahindra Bolero | Mahindra Bolero Neo | Tata Nexon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹9.80 Lakh – ₹11.20 Lakh | ₹9.90 Lakh – ₹12.20 Lakh | ₹7.37 Lakh – ₹14.22 Lakh |
| Engine / Motor | 1.5L mHawk75 diesel | 1.5L mHawk100 diesel | 1.2L turbo-petrol / 1.5L turbo-diesel / 1.2L turbo iCNG |
| Max power | 75 bhp | 100 bhp | 118 bhp |
| Fuel options | Diesel | Diesel | Petrol, Diesel, CNG |
| Transmissions | Manual | Manual | Manual, AMT, DCT |
| Mileage (claimed) | 16 kmpl (claimed) | 17.3 kmpl (claimed) | 17.44 kmpl (petrol MT), 24.08 kmpl (diesel), 24 km/kg (CNG) |
| Seating | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Safety rating | Not tested | Not tested | 5 stars |
| Airbags (max) | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Boot space | — | — | 382 L |
Mahindra Bolero in short
The Bolero is Mahindra's evergreen workhorse, a ladder-frame 7-seater that has ruled rural and semi-urban India for over two decades. It sells on toughness, cheap maintenance and a vast service network rather than features or refinement. There is no direct rival at its price; buyers cross-shop it with the Bolero Neo and used Scorpios.
Full Bolero prices & variants →Mahindra Bolero Neo in short
The Bolero Neo is the modernised take on the Bolero formula, built on a hydroformed ladder-frame chassis derived from the TUV300. It pairs the tough-SUV appeal and 7-seat practicality of its elder sibling with a more powerful 100 bhp diesel and a marginally better-equipped cabin. It sits in a niche of its own, competing partly with sub-4m monocoque SUVs like the Tata Nexon diesel on price.
Full Bolero Neo prices & variants →Tata Nexon in short
The Nexon is Tata's best-selling model and a perennial top-three player in India's cut-throat sub-4-metre SUV segment against the Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. The 2023 facelift brought a dramatic Curvv-inspired design, twin digital displays and a 7-speed DCA automatic. It holds 5-star ratings from both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP, and is the only car in the class with turbo-petrol, diesel and turbo-CNG options.
Full Nexon prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Bolero vs Bolero Neo vs Nexon — which should I buy?
Pick the Mahindra Bolero if you want the most seats (7). Pick the Mahindra Bolero Neo as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere. Pick the Tata Nexon if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.37 Lakh), the most power (118 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.08 kmpl), the best crash-test score (5 stars). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among Bolero, Bolero Neo, Nexon?
The Tata Nexon starts lowest at ₹7.37 Lakh, against ₹9.80 Lakh for the Bolero and ₹9.90 Lakh for the Bolero Neo (ex-showroom, August 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Mahindra Bolero: not yet NCAP-tested; Mahindra Bolero Neo: not yet NCAP-tested; Tata Nexon: 5 stars.