Mahindra Alfa Load

Alfa Load Highlights

August 6, 2020: Despite the popularity of the compact four-wheel trucks, the three-wheeler cargo carriers continue to remain the most sought after last-mile vehicle-both in the urban and rural India. This is the segment where key OEMs are fighting it out to grab market share. The Alfa Load is Mahindra’s triumph card in the segment to take on key rivals such as Piaggio Ape and Bajaj Maximo in the cargo segment. Due to affordability, easy to navigate, and compact design makes the 3W cargo carrier among the most preferred trucks to reach the consumer door-steps. The 3W cargo segment continues to registered growth as customers find the most useful.  

Mahindra Alfa Load gets more powerful and greener with the all-new BS6 engine. The powertrain consists of a single-cylinder, water-cooled engine with 599 cc displacement. For faster delivery of cargo, the engine produces segment-leading 9.3HP of power at superior 23.5 Nm of torque, tuned to a 5-speed gearbox, and fitted with a 6-plate clutch. Alfa Load carries 520 kg of load comfortably on its overall robust cargo body, which is 5.5 X 4.6 ft with higher stability in a full load. Alfa Load has a clear edge in higher payload capacities against its rival Piaggio Ape (497 kg) and Bajaj Maximo (430 kg).

Alfa Load promises lower cost of ownership and higher load carrying capabilities-both the elements quite essential for the entrepreneur or transporter operators. Compared to its rivals, Alfa Load scored high on almost all the key characteristics such as power & torque, bigger displacement engine, electronic handle throttle, and modern display with digital odometer, among other features. The wheelbase is 2005 mm, cabin with chassis built, day cabin and deck body. The fuel tank of the 3W is 10.5L for uninterpreted day-long trips.   

Mahindra Alfa Load Mini Truck- Expert Review

Overview

Mahindra Alfa is one of the most successful mini trucks in the three-wheeler commercial vehicle segment from the stable of Mahindra, which is the top-selling brand in India. The company presently sells the three-wheeler mini truck with a CNG and diesel versions of Alfa. Being made up of sheet metal, the vehicle looks robust and looks new even after years of usage.

The mini-truck has good mileage and power. These features make this mini truck very dependable with the large cargo capacity. The noise level and engine vibrations are far less in the Alfa than compared to some of its competitors, thanks to the use of improved engine mounting technology. With an annual sales of approx 2.2 lakh units, the three-wheeler segment is a big potential in the market and will grow further on account of increasing transportation needs.

The three-wheeler is designed and developed based on the customer feedback to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride for passengers as well as the driver, without compromising on the cargo capacity. It is available in two different load-bearing body options that ensure that all the needs of small businesses are fulfilled.

Here are some of the best features of the Mahindra Alfa based on certain parameters given below.

Specs

• Engine - Single-cylinder, direct injection 436 cc diesel / 395 cc CNG
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - 995 kilograms
• Wheelbase - 2005 mm
• Power steering - No

Engine and Performance

The Mahindra Alfa is powered by a single-cylinder direct-injection 436cc diesel engine. The oil-burner churns out a maximum power of 5.52 bhp at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 18 Nm that comes at 2,000- 2,400 rpm.

On the other hand, the CNG variant is powered by a single-cylinder spark-ignition 395cc engine that generates about 21 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Both the engines are air-cooled and the power is transferred to the wheels via a constant-mesh 5-speed gear transmission system.

The mini-truck isn’t very big and heavy, Hence, the small amount of power and torque turns out to be enough to drive a fully-loaded vehicle with ease.

Vehicle Built and Load Capacity

The Mahindra Alfa mini truck comes with a monocoque chassis with cabin and two doors. It has a comfortable cabin with decent headroom and legroom. The seating for the driver is in the middle of the cabin and is easy to board and alight. The seats are very comfortable and are built for fatigue-free long journeys. The gear shift is on the handlebars, which is also the steering of the vehicle.

The gross vehicle weight of the truck is 995 kilogram and the kerb weight is about 540 kilograms. The wheelbase of the mini truck is about 2,005 mm and the turning radius is 3,500 mm.

Handling and Suspension

The Mahindra Alfa has a handlebar steering, which makes it easier to maneuver the vehicle around narrow streets and sharp turns. In the suspension department, the Alfa truck has a McPherson Strut unit at the front and rubber springs at the rear with leaf spring telescopic shock absorbers for all the variants of the vehicle. The combination of these shock absorbers provides a bump-free ride for the driver and passenger.

Braking and Safety

The Mahindra Alfa comes with hydraulic drum brakes at both front and rear axles with leading and trailing brake shoes, ensuring the safety of the passengers and helping in stopping the vehicle with utmost load in higher than usual speeds.

Features like taller side panels, clear lens headlamps, extra snorkel height, crash-tested monocoque cabin, and a strong chassis material further enhance the safety of the vehicle.

Design and Comfort

The Mahindra Alfa has a well preserved basic design that meets all the requirements of the daily needs of modern-day business, such as the latest headlamps and multicolor availability. The cabin is designed ergonomically and is quite spacious according to the occupants.

The seats are made with the best quality, non-setting foam material to provide a greater level of comfort as compared to the PU+PE materials used in other vehicles in the same category. The driver’s cabin is more comfortable and ensures an excellent cross-ventilation and effortless entry and exit.