There is a saying that ‘action speaks louder than words’ – this is indeed true. And we actually felt that when we were invited by Eicher-Polaris to experience their Multix personal utility vehicle at Baliyawas opposite TERI at Gurgaon – Faridabad Road. Entering the off-road adventure track there raised our expectations further from the model we were about to lay our hands on. Reaching the site in the forenoon, we were initially briefed about the products and its attributes and target customers, i.e., independent businessmen with families such as restaurateurs, carpenters, electricians, grocery and other shop owners, etc.
The Multix is a 3-in-1 vehicle, which can comfortably seat five people, carry up to multiple sacks of flour or quintals of rice, could travel on any terrain and can double up as a power generator as well (more on that later). Fortunately, the road legal vehicle can be registered both as a personal and commercial vehicle as well. Launched more than a year ago in select Tier-II and Tier-III cities (BS-III cities), the company is now gearing up to sell the vehicle in BS-IV markets, making it widely available by April next.
The Multix has a Flexituff body, a tubular frame structure and a Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) that provides structural stability and reinforced safety. It has a kerb weight of 650-750 kg and measures 3,235mm in length, 1,585mm in width and 1,856mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,005mm and 225mm of ground clearance (more than many SUVs). There are two variants currently sold in the market, i.e., MX and AX+ with the former having four proper doors and the latter having only two.
Available in four colours – red, white, silver and yellow – the test vehicle (the MX variant and BS-III version) was the silver one and appeared a showstopper on the dusty terrain There are no Eicher or Polaris badges anywhere on the vehicle and only the Multix badge was there at the rear. The design of the vehicle is good enough to attract folks who had until now no options other than pick up vehicles or plain Jane utility vehicles. From the closer look, we figured that the plastic body panels are mounted on a steel tubular frame. The dashboard gets a small lockable glove compartment, a gearknob and a 4-spoke manual steering wheel. The moment we cranked up the engine, we could easily sense it is a diesel-powered vehicle because of the familiar sound. However, the powertrain is pretty refined and will also be taking proper care of the environment. Moreover, the cabin itself is Vibe-free and NVH levels are decent enough.
The Multix is powered by a locally sourced 510cc single-cylinder Greaves diesel engine which churns out 9.8 bhp@3,000rpm and 27 Nm@1,400-2,200rpm. The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission and the claimed fuel efficiency is a whopping 28.45 kmpl. (Can give many carmakers a run for its money). With the engine mounted at the rear, the bonnet area is used to house the spare tyre.
During the test runs, we took the vehicle to the torture track comprising five obstacles like mud humps, log lumps, water slush and cheeky turns (2) and were totally overwhelmed beyond explanation. The power is delivered to the rear wheels in a linear fashion, which makes driving a very joyous experience. We could easily feel the sudden surge of torque right from the first gear. This was something the company worked actively upon as the vehicle is supposed to haul heavy goods from one point to another. Another key USP of this vehicle is the excellent ride quality, thanks to the Pro-Ride independent suspension system (McPherson struts at the front and Double wishbones at the rear). It literally soaked up all bumps and ironed out all the potholes with a breeze. At the same time, the handling was not compromised at all as the vehicle ambled around at tight corners at the speed limit of 40-50kmph. The further icing on the cake was its low turning radius of 4 metres because of the tight dimensions of the vehicle.
With the rear seats folded flat and combined with the space in the cargo bay, the total luggage capacity of the Multix is a massive 1,918 litres with the capacity of the cargo bay itself being 418 litres. That is a huge space and can literally do the job of a typical LCV in the market. Alternately, when the rear seats are not folded, there is more than enough space to accommodate five adults (which can do the job of a people mover too). Each of them get their own seat belts as well.
After driving the vehicle for nearly an hour, we were taken to another point where the demonstration vehicle was parked. Over there, the demonstrator enlightened us about the biggest USP of the vehicle which is actually unheard of in the auto industry. What we have learnt is that an optional ‘X-Port’ power-take-off-point is mounted on the transmission of the vehicle which can be connected to a generator (up to 3 kW output) and used for various functions such as lighting up homes, powering professional equipment, and DJ systems and can also directly power mechanical equipment such as water pumps.
We were also told that the vehicle has undergone over 18,00,000 km equivalent of rigorous testing for off-road reliability, safety and durability and has been tested on one of the world’s toughest testing tracks in the US as well as in India on specially-built test tracks before offering to customers.
Final verdict
At Rs. 3.49 lakh (ex-showroom Jaipur), the vehicle gives a maximum bang for its buck for any prospective customers who are looking for a crossover between a CV and a PV. It perfectly fits the bill as the adaptable 3-in-1– Family | Business | Power – vehicle which is designed to meet the requirements of independent businessmen. Also, Eicher Polaris will target the rural areas and those who would want to buy the Mutix for recreational purposes. Once the BS-IV version becomes omnipresent, it is expected to literally shake up the domestic automobile market.