Eicher Polaris Multix MX Review

When we speak of Eicher, we talk about rugged trucks, buses and motorcycles. When we talk about Polaris, we recall immense off road capability. Combine both of these brands and what you get is the Multix, a versatile utility vehicle for your daily family and business use. It combines the utility of a LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) and a passenger car. We got our hands on this little innovation on the outskirts of Delhi where we beat it around some very rugged terrains and found out all about the versatility of the Multix.

This is not one of those vehicles which will make your heart skip a beat but is rather a product which brings unparalleled utility. It is simple and cute to look at and despite its small proportions is quite spacious on the inside. Offered in some striking colours, this Personal Utility Vehicle also gets ample of plastic cladding and uses a patented Flexituff compound on the body panels. Flexituff can resist most bangs and is quite durable, it is also a very economical to replace. The vehicle has been built on a strong tubular frame which can keep occupants safe in the advent of a roll over.

 Powering the Multix is a 510.7cc, single cylinder, 4-stroke, diesel mill which churns out 9.78bhp of peak power at 3000rpm and 27.1Nm of peak torque from 1400-2200rpm. This naturally aspirated diesel engine is a work horse and solves its one purpose, to lug around its cargo efficiently. It returns 28.45kms to a litre of diesel and with an 11.5 litre fuel tank the Multix gets a decent operational range. The single cylinder, however, is noisy and NVH levels for cabin occupants can be irksome. The Multix is not quick, if that is a question plaguing your mind but can reach a maximum speed of 50-60kmph. But do remember this vehicle was built with utilitarian purpose in mind and is not meant to transport you and your girl friend wearing those high heels to the nearest discotheque.

The engine has been mated to a 4-speed gearbox. The gear shifts are a bit notchy but short throws of the gear lever come as a relief. What stands out the most on this vehicle is its independent suspension setup which caters for an incredibly comfy ride. Be it broken roads, farm trails or just bumps and breakers, the independent suspension setup on the Multix will gobble all undulations and keep its occupants seated comfortably. Another salient feature of the Multix is its short turning circle radius of just 3.93m, which makes maneuvering woes of goods carriers a thing of the past. We took the Multix through a tightly knit slalom course and were pleasantly surprised by the vehicles capability. The steering has also been weighted decently and does not wear you out easily.

All of what we have spoken of so far will not make your jaw drop, but what if we told you that this vehicle comes with the capability of pumping out water from a tube well or producing 3Kw of electricity to power your house or that it can be used to power a grinding machine to churn fodder or power a fan to blow the chaff off grain. The Multix comes with an X-Port which generates upto 3 Kilowatts of power and can be connected to agricultural machinery such as the ones mentioned above to aid daily operations and combine all of these in one single platform. Like mentioned earlier, this vehicle is a workhorse, it combines multiple uses and offers them as a single product solution, which at present is not being offered by any other manufacturer in the country.

The versatility of the Multix does not end there. It gets a boot storage space of 418.3 litres and also comes with a rear cover available as optional fitment which increases the storage space in the rear to about 840 litres. If that also falls short for your needs, the back seat of the cabin can be folded down and the rear window dismantled to create a storage space of 1918 litres. The Multix also packs hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels, which are effective but lack the right amount of bite and feel, one does need to be a wee intuitive about the stopping distance and we felt sharper brakes would enhance its performance. That being said, the Multix does not go too fast, hence the present braking setup is adequate to bring this vehicle to a halt when needed.   

With a high ground clearance of 225mm, the Multix is capable of clearing most obstacles with ease. We got a chance to throw it around over bumps, logs and through slush. It gets adequate torque at the wheels and cleared most of the undulations without a fuss. It is also being offered with a host of handy after market installations which increase its utility and appeal. The MX variant which we tested comes in at a price point of just Rs. 2.72 lakh (ex-showroom). The Multix is an immensely capable vehicle which combines practicality and utility for your business as well as personal usage. The vehicle does not come with a blower and is without an air-conditioner. But then the world of commercial vehicles is all about physical labour, hard work and sweat!