Mahindra Gusto

A dreamy morning set amidst the lost dunes in the desert at Khimsar,Rajasthan. We await the arrival of our ride. The all new Mahindra Gusto, one of the first indigenous scooters built by the two wheeler unit of Mahindra & Mahindra, has been generating some hype ever since the camouflaged versions of the product started testing on the roads. There has been a great deal of chatter about this new scooter from Mahindra because of the claimed innovative design and features. Finally the time comes and we hop on to the refreshing and edgy new Mahindra Gusto.

Engine & Performance

At the heart of the new Gusto is a powerful aluminum M-Tech 110cc 4-stroke, air cooled engine which produces 8bhp @ 7500rpm and churns out 9Nm of torque @ 5500rpm. From the moment you say go and just rev this peppy little engine the Gusto does not fail to amaze you. It will pull cleanly from 0-70kmph without even breaking a sweat. The Gusto on the engine front is a perfect scooter for the average city goer as it does not fail to please you in terms of performance and pick up. But it does feel out of breath once it crosses the 70kmph mark. We took the Gusto to 83kmph before breaking but unlike most scooters the engine did not shudder which goes to show how good the build quality is. The Gusto will take its sweet time to reach the 83kmph mark but none the less it will get you there and maintain that speed if you demand it to. This peppy little 4-stroke has been designed and engineered in Mahindra’s very own R&D facility in Pune which was set up three years back. The Gusto is light and zippy even though it has one of the longest wheel bases in the segment at 1275mm. The Mahindra Gusto also has been built for heavy duty use and as one of the stipulated parameters of testing we took the scooter over rugged terrain. Shockingly the Gusto held its own even over rough ground and through the desert sands.

Ride & Handling

The new Gusto comes with some of the most innovative features in the two wheeler segment. Mahindra has once again shocked the industry with another patented innovation which is added to the Gusto, a height adjustable seat. The Vx version of the Gusto will get this height adjustable seat.The height adjustment will adjust the rider’s position between the 770mm to 735mm range. This is one feature which gives the rider a more comfortable riding position and options to adjust their seating position depending on their need. Keeping a unisex clientele in mind Mahindra Two Wheeler’s new Gusto is definitely an option you would want to consider as it is convenient to drive for both male and female riders. The 12 inch tubeless tyres give the scooter a good stance.The ground clearance of the Gusto is 165mm and it has a very sturdy and balanced ride. Over smooth roads and rugged terrain the Gusto feels very comfortable with a telescopic air suspension in the front and hydraulic long stroke suspension in the rear. The Gusto seems to draw its genes from one of those mighty Mahindra SUVs as it seems to decimate all that is thrown in its path. Even when you are cornering at around 50-60kmph the scooter feels very stable and one does not fear to dig deeper. One area where I would give the Gusto a ten on ten is the braking department. The scooter has the best stopping distance in the segment and the brakes are very efficient. Both brakes are 130mm mechanical drum brakes and Mahindra has claimed it would make a front disc brake variant soon.