Mahindra has been in the two-wheeler business for sometime now, and as far as scooters go, it’s been selling the Rodeo and Duro. Both these scooters weren’t all-new products – these were products that Mahindra inherited from the Kinetic-SYM legacy. Now, with the bike maker having its very own research and development department up and running, it’s ready to introduce a product of its own. So, ladies and gentlemen, here’s Mahindra Two Wheelers’ first developed in-house product, the Gusto.
As you can see, the Gusto’s design is path-breaking in many ways. What you do notice first up are those 12-inch wheels front and back. The tail-light cluster design is also interesting. Overall, the Gusto is pleasing on the eye & stylish.
The seat is broad and well-cushioned, you sit upright, and thanks to the long wheelbase, there is enough legroom even for a tall rider. What Mahindra should be given credit for is the innovative height-adjustable seat. Yes, the seat can be raised or dropped. This will be the Gusto’s USP as a family scooter.
Talking about the mechanical bits, the Gusto gets an all-new, all-aluminium 110cc motor. We did like the 125cc mill that powered the Duro and Rodeo, but, according to Mahindra, the Gusto’s motor returns 10-15 per cent better mileage than the 125. The claimed figure is 63kpl. In real-world use, we reckon the Gusto would do around 45-50kpl.
The Gusto provides ease of use, which is a must in this segment. The engine is refined, and vibrations are kept to a minimum. The acceleration from the motor is smooth and progressive, and even at speeds of 70-80kph (surely not the speeds you’d be doing while you go grocery-shopping), the scooter feels planted.
The telescopic front forks and the 12-inch wheels do a good job of tackling potholes. They also provide a good ride. We didn’t have much to complain about the overall performance of the scooter. If there was something we didn’t like, it was the brakes, which feel just about okay. We would have liked a disc up front for better stopping power. Mahindra says future models will come with disc brakes as optional fitment.
To sum it up, the Gusto is a genuine attempt by Mahindra to break into the scooter segment. It has got all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from a Mahindra. It’s got LED parking lights, as well as a remote-operated key that’s got a few party tricks like the Centuro’s key. The seat height adjustment is another interesting feature that will trickle down to other Mahindra scooters in the future. With all those features the scooter is still priced competitively at ₹46,010 (ex-Delhi). We think the Gusto is the offering that will finally make Mahindra sure-footed in the scooter segment.
Gusto houses a 109.6cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled, M-TEC engine developing 8.0bhp at 7500rpm along with 9Nm at 5500rpm, the engine comes mated to a CVT
Mahindra Gusto Features
Features like halogen head lamps with LED lamps, height adjustable seat, remote flip key, find me lamps, guide lamp, large tubeless tyres, instrument cluster with analog speedometer, fuel gauge, easy front kick and utility storage space etc are available on Gusto. The feature rich Gusto gets some of the segment best fitments absent in arch rivals such as Activa, Jupiter and Maestro.
Mahindra Gusto Performance & Mileage
The 109.6cc petrol engine is very frugal in nature and is claimed to deliver impressive fuel economy of 63.7kmpl. Suspension duties are carried out by telescopic air springs, which is not as firm as one would expect.
Mahindra Gusto Wheels & Tyres
The Gusto features large 12 inch tyres that vouch firmness even at high-speeds. These tubeless tyres not just provide stability on road but they are also vital from the point of view of safety.
Mahindra Gusto Competition
In the highly competitive 110cc scooter segment, Mahindra Gusto faces threat from a number of products such as TVS Jupiter, Honda Activa, Yamaha Ray and Hero Maestro.
The verdict
Mahindra’s first genuine attempt at cracking the scooter market comes with good features, at a reasonable asking price.
