Ashok Leyland BADA DOST

The Ashok Leyland Bada Dost is a popular commercial vehicle range in India designed to take on the tough challenges of fleet operations initiated by businesses. As a part of Ashok Leyland's "Dost" series of vehicles, the Bada Dost range is considered a premium offering in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment. 

Being versatile, reliable, and robust light commercial vehicles, the Bada Dost range has carved a niche for itself in the competitive Indian commercial vehicle (CV) market. Backed by a powerful engine, exceptional load capacity and great efficiency, the Ashok Leyland Bada Dost range of trucks is deemed as some of the best trucks in the Indian CV market.

With robust chassis construction and a bigger load body, the Bada Dost range of trucks is capable of driving in profitability for fleet owners and operators that utilise them. Offered in 11 variants, the base model being the 2350/FSD/i1 and the top-end model being the 2590/FSD/i4, the Bada Dost range is also suitable for a multitude of applications.

Equipped with top-class features such as a mobile charging point, lockable glove box, adjustable driver seat and a digital instrument cluster in addition to the factory-fitted heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC), the Bada Dost range of trucks can also be defined as the king of comfort and performance.

Priced at Rs. 8.15 lakh - Rs. 9.47 lakh (ex-showroom), the Ashok Leyland Bada Dost range of trucks is considered to be value-for-money commercial vehicles in the Indian light commercial vehicle segment.

Ashok Leyland Bada Dost Performance

The Ashok Leyland Bada Dost range is powered by a highly advanced diesel engine. The Bada Dost i1 and I2 are equipped with a 1478cc, BSVI-compliant diesel engine which can churn out 69.7hp while the Bada Dost i3 Plus and i4 are powered by a 1478cc diesel engine which can produce 79.1hp. All these models get a 5-speed manual transmission.

In terms of suspension, the Bada Dost range of trucks is equipped with parabolic suspension on the front end for higher stability and a semi-elliptical suspension system on the rear end for better load-carrying capacity and rigidity.

Further, all four Bada Dost trucks come equipped with hydraulic vacuum-assisted brakes for effective braking performance in rugged terrain and in full-load conditions.

Ashok Leyland Bada Dost Specifications

The Bada Dost i1, with a GVW of 2652kg, offers a rated payload capacity of 1250kg. Similarly, the Bada Dost i2, featuring a GVW of 2880kg, provides a rated payload capacity of 1425kg. The Bada Dost i3 Plus, with a GVW of 2990kg, has a rated payload capacity of 1325kg and lastly, the Bada Dost i4, with a GVW of 3490kg, offers the highest rated payload capacity of 1825kg.

Ashok Leyland Bada Dost Features

Key features of the Bada Dost truck range include a spacious cabin, a digital instrument cluster, a front impact absorption bar, disc brakes, ELR seat belts, a tail lamp protector, adjustable driver seats, a lockable glove box and 12V mobile charging point, power windows and a music system, among others. 

Ashok Leyland Dost Plus Rivals

The Bada Dost range of trucks from Ashok Leyland is a high-performance and value-for-money light commercial vehicle (LCV) range which can take on challenging fleet operations effortlessly. It competes with rivals in the LCV segment such as the Tata Ace Gold, Mahindra Bolero Maxitruck Plus and Mahindra Bolero Maxx Pik-Up among others.  

Overview

Ashok Leyland Bada Dost takes the Dost family of trucks to the next level in almost every possible element. To garner a bigger share in the fast-growing light truck market, the company has been expanding into the LCV segment with more and more products and their variants. The strategy is to offer multiple options to the customers and widen the portfolio across key segments to expand volumes. The Bada Dost- developed as a ground-up/a completely new development-is one product that now caters to the higher end of the LCV customer who wants to graduate from the Dost as they look to accelerate their business or buy a second vehicle into their fleet.

If you look at the Bada Dost- it has got several appealing aspects-firstly the design and overall exterior of this truck are quite appealing. Ashok Leyland has positioned this truck as a premium, international quality product with a modern design with some of the segment-leading features. This is targeted both the driver and owner-driver customer segment who now want a much more comfortable, safer and feature leaden truck. Ashok Leyland Bada Dost seems to tick all the right boxes when it comes to expanding the Dost family of trucks expansion in the market by catering to a new segment of customers. Are you looking to buy one? We explore this stylish and modern truck in detail to help you understand it better before you make up your mind to purchase one. 

Exterior

It is highly evident that Bada Dost looks stunning from the outside. It has been successful in taking Indian light trucks to just another level. We have some modern products in this segment by rival truck makers, and Bada Dost makes it even more contemporary. Ashok Leyland's design team has done their homework in designing this truck quite brilliantly! On the front, the Bada Dost shares some similarities with the existing Dost and gets new design angels of its own. Unlike passenger cars, the look and design aren't vital in the truck's purchasing decision. Yet, Bada Dost certainly would appeal to the new driver-cum owners when it comes to the look and modern design elements. 

Bada Dost is launched with two variants, the i4 & i3; the key difference is the payload capacities and the dimensions. The i4 is 1860 kg whereas the i3 is a 1400 kg payload truck. The dimensions are also different in both variants; the wheelbase of 2590 mm & 1842 mm width is common. The overall length and height is 4935 mm and 2037mm for the i3, 5025 mm & 2061 mm for the i4 variant. Likewise, the cargo body is also different to carry the respective payloads. The i4 variant cargo body is 9.8ft x 5.9ft x 1.7ft, with a loading platform height of 3.1 ft & the i3 variant 9.5ft x 5.9ft x 1.5ft and a loading platform height of 3 ft. Both the models are available in standard bodies in cabin and chassis and fixed side deck. The customer can still customize this truck for special applications such as high side deck, container, reefer body, refuse collection, etc. The tyre size of i4 is 7.00 R15 LT –12PR with tube type and i3 is 215/75 R15 LT tubeless tyre. The tyres are quite suitable for tough terrains and all weather conditions. 

Interior

What counts most to the customer is the cabin and comfortable driving experience. Most drivers are owners and spend hours and days with this truck driving and also resting in-between trips. Hence the pleasure to drive and in-cabin experience is what matters. Ashok Leyland doesn't disappoint in any of these key characteristics. The company has experience with its earlier trucks; with extensive feedback from its customer, a lot has been improved to make Bada Dost a real treat to its owners. 

Now to make it more friendly, a first-in-segment innovation is done inside the cabin. Unlike any typical mini-trucks, Bada Dost has a 1+2 seat configuration inside the cabin; this is the first that ARAI has awarded a certification. This makes it quite easy for a driver and two passengers to get in comfortably. So the driver and his family can use it as personal space. Also, the cabin is a walkthrough; this offers generous legroom and headroom for three people. What else? To make the driving comfortable, an ergonomically positioned dash-mounted gear and controls for easier access for the driver for longer trips and even in high traffic congestion. The driving is further eased by a standard power steering & factory-fitted AC for pleasant cabin and fatigue-free driving. The low turning circle radius of Bada Dost and low TCD of 11m makes the navigation easy at tight turns or even parking in smaller areas. The wide and large windscreen with panoramic means a far superior and clear visibility and better control.

Performance

Performance is by far the most important aspect to the consumer; this is a break or makes element of the trucks. Ashok Leyland knows this well and is built further from its Dost range of mini-trucks with a strong powertrain, durable aggregates, and a reliable truck to take on your business's business cargo requirements. The engine for Bada Dost is the same as it is used for the Dost family, yet it has been highly optimized for superior performance. 

Bada Dost gets a 1.5L, 3-cylinder, diesel engine with a turbocharged intercooler with a lean NOx trap, and it has 1478 cc displacement. It produces 80hp of power at a peak torque of 190 Nm. Ashok Leyland says this engine offers superior fuel efficiency, helps make more trips faster, and earns higher revenues every trip. It has got a great pickup quite suitable for stop-start heavy traffic conditions and takes on uphill climb, steep roads & terrains effortlessly. 

The same goes for the aggregates which are high quality, offer durability, and ensure you spend less on the overall maintenance for many years to come, thus a pocket-friendly truck. The Bada Dost clutch is 240 mm in a single diaphragm push type. The gearbox is cable operated fully synchronized, 5-speed, manual with cable shift with PTO provision. The steering is power-assisted in a tiltable column. The brakes are hydraulic vacuum-assisted type, the front ventilated discs and rear is drum type. The front suspension is over-slung parabolic with 3- leaves–2 stages & the rear is over-slung semi-elliptic with 3+3 leaves and 2 stage type. The fuel tank is 50L in size. The standard top speed is 80 kmph and gradeability is 23.2 %. 

The Bada Dost has got everything a last-mile powerful truck needs. Ashok Leyland has ensured that this vehicle is second to none by offering all modern and latest technology with a high-performance promise.

Safety

All the new trucks introduced get safety a priority, not just the heavy trucks, but even the light and mini-truck customers are aware of safety. The customers are willing to pay more for safety and no longer want to save costs to ensure the vehicle's safety and the driver. Ashok Leyland Bada Dost promises higher safety with overall superior built quality, a strong and rugged cabin, and highly durable aggregates. The vehicles.   

Verdict

So can you go for Bada Dost? Yes, you certainly can! If your business demands a vehicle in the 1.5T and above cargo truck, then Bada Dost is for you. A lot is going for this truck; for example, it takes the Dost mini-truck family performance pedigree by offering segment-leading features and quite a modern truck. Truck design and development for Indian road conditions and operating cycle.

Interestingly, BadaDost is capable of taking both inter-city and intra-city trips. So your business can expand when you get bigger cargo shipment deliveries. The bigger cabin with 3-seats, AC cabin, power-steering, bigger size proven engine, and higher payload with sizable cargo body are some of this truck's key performance characteristics. To retail this Bada Dost, Ashok Leyland has revamped its retail network to offer you car-like dealerships and a completely hassle-free buying experience. So what are you waiting for? Just visit the nearest Ashok Leyland dealership in your city and town to explore this modern truck, and take a test drive! 

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