Mahindra Alfa

May 4, 2021: India’s last-mile passenger carrier segment is addressed by highly popular auto rickshaws. This segment has been growing steadily despite stiff competition from their four-wheeler sibling. There are key products in the segment among them is a promising Mahindra Alfa.

Alfa is an affordable auto-rickshaw that is priced at ₹ 2.75 lakh, ex-showroom New Delhi. This 3W is capable of taking on all-terrain requirements with superior mileage and overall better-built quality. The mileage is quite well against its key rivals, the passenger cabin is comfortable with adequate leg and shoulder space. The driver cabin is also spacious with easy to drive auto-rickshaws. 

Mahindra Alfa Variants: Mahindra Alfa is available in three variants- the DX, Camp, and Comfy-all of them are designed and developed for a comfortable people carrier in both urban and rural areas.

Mahindra Alfa Engine: The Alfa gets a four-stroke, single-cylinder water-cooled engine, which produces 9hp of power at a maximum torque of 23.5 Nm, tuned to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The fuel tank is a large 10.5L capacity for longer trips.

Mahindra Alfa Aggregates: The aggregates on Mahindra Alfa are strong and durable that complement the overall auto-rickshaw’s performance. The clutch is a multi-plate wet, fitted with parking brakes. Alfa's front suspension is coil spring, hydraulic shock absorber with an anti-dive leading link, and the rear one is rubber spring with an independent swinging arm & hydraulic shock absorber.

Mahindra Alfa Mileage: Mahindra claims the fuel mileage of 28.9 km on this passenger carrier. Alfa is an 835 kg of gross vehicle weight 3W with a maximum speed of 54 kmph and a turning radius of 1750 mm. The wheelbase is 2005 mm, and it comes with a day cabin and chassis configuration. The ground clearance is 170 mm, and the tyre size is 4.50 X10.

Mahindra Alfa Rivals: Some of the key rivals of Mahindra Alfa auto-rickshaw includes Bajaj Compact RE, Bajaj Maxima Z Bajaj Maxima X Wide, Piaggio Ape DX, Piaggio Ape City, Piaggio Ape City Plus, Atul Gem Paxx.

Overview

To claim the top leadership in the fast-growing last-mile people carrier auto-rickshaw segment, Mahindra has bought the revamped BS6 popular Alfa-three-wheeler. This cost-effective and thriving segment has some of the most loved ones auto-rickshaws on sale, and to take on the fierce rivals, the Mahindra Alfa now promises a whole of compelling propositions. Mahindra has refined the powertrain of this auto-rickshaw, complemented with highly robust aggregates, and yet offered at an affordable price tag. Auto-rickshaws are a popular mode of people carrying vehicles across Indian cities, towns and villages. This little vehicle serves as a model of business/employment/livelihood to a lot of people, thus three-wheelers are truly people carriers as well providing employment opportunities. 

In this price, sensitive vehicle segment what matters to the buyers is not just a lower upfront cost of the vehicle, but also greater mileage, lower maintenance cost and overall value for money product. Mahindra being the key players in the segment understand the customer needs and expectations, and thus, offer the Alfa some of the best operating benefits and features to attract now only more traditional buyers but the new, highly demanding customers. In effect, Alfa takes on some of the highly popular rivals in the category that includes  Piaggio Ape DX Bajaj Maxima Z TVS King 4S Atul Gem Paxx.  

The Alfa passenger is available in three variants Alfa DX, Alfa Comfy and Alfa Champ in different gross weights at attractive price points to choose from. Like its BS4 predecessor, the all-new BS6 Alfa continues to drive the key benefits of higher mileage, a comfortable passenger cabin with a wide seat, adequate head and leg-room for the passenger, easier to get in and out and effortless to drive. Not only the lower price tag, but Mahindra ensures the Alfa is cheaper to maintain with higher warranty, durability and productivity for a peaceful ownership experience. Let's find out more.

Exterior and Interior 

Alfa looks quite stylish among its peers with appealing body angels, attractive front facia and overall strong road presence. The built quality is highly robust, powerful and tough. It comes with a 4-bolt wheel mounting with a strong body with a superstructure. The attractive back dashboard and mudguard match the overall body of the vehicle. 

Taking into account the needs of the customers and what they expect from their vehicle, the Alfa is easy to navigate through traffic, narrow lanes, or even challenging terrain. Its nicely structured body with plastic skirting helps protect it from any bruises or scratches; this is vital to save money on expensive repairs. 

In terms of comfort, Alfa scores high with comfortable seats for both the driver and passenger; the vibrations are less, the passenger cabin is highly spacious with a lot of head, leg and shoulder room. Also, the driver cabin is quite refreshing with easy to driver functions. Alfa gets appealing dual-tone seats in red and black. This auto-rickshaw can start by push-button start, and the driver has an independent mobile charging point for his convenience and provision for bottle holders. 

Performance

Besides this look and feel, the Alfa gets quite enhanced performance elements to help the customer run them effortlessly and earn good revenues. These vehicles are a source of livelihood for the owner, hence spending less on maintenance and higher mileage every single liter of fuel counts for them. 

The Alfa DX, Alfa Comfy and Alfa Champ share the powertrain comprising a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled diesel engine with 436 cc displacement. The power is 7.5 hp at a peak torque of 18 Nm. It is tuned with a constant Mesh 4- speed gearbox. The clutch is a weight type. The Alfa front suspension is an anti-dive leading link with helical spring and hydraulic shock absorber; the rear is an independent swinging arm and hydraulic shock absorber with rubber spring. The brakes are dual circuit internal expanding type with hydraulic, while the parking brake is mechanical on the rear wheel.

Also, the powerful motor enables an easy engine start even in the cold season. Another key performance highlights are excellent mileage and segment-leading pickup; a snorkel exhaust ensures the engine remains well maintained for a longer duration. The DX variant's starting system is the self-ignition key type with a push-button start and on the Champ model is the self-ignition key type. 

This popular three-wheeler dimension includes the wheelbase of 2005 mm, wheel track of 1250 mm, the turning radius of 3500 mm, ground clearance of 175 m common in both variants. The width, length and height: DX model is 1480mm, 2990 mm, 1905 mm. Champ: 1452 mm, 2978 mm, 1866 mm. The GVW of DX is 800 kg and Champ is 780 kg; both the models can carry a driver plus three passengers comfortably. 

Verdict

The three-wheeler passenger carrier is one of a large segment yet highly competitive. With its superior quality, value for money and reliable Alfa models, Mahindra is offering compelling products in the segment. Despite competition from rivals, Alfa has gained a considerable market share and a loyal customer base. Mahindra Alfa is a promising auto-rickshaw to take on India's last-mile transportation needs. Alfa has all the key attributes of performance, ensures profit and is pocket-friendly to operate. 

Mahindra Alfa is the certainly has what it takes to perform in this competitive last-mile people carrier segment  Given the highly price-sensitive customers in this segment for an easy ownership experience, a 24-months warranty is standard for this auto rickshaw. So what are you waiting for? Check everything on this auto and its rival before you visit the dealership!