Advice needed: A refined replacement for my Mahindra Marshal

I have been looking for something to replace the superb but rough Marshal 4x4. It is wonderful for local use, but looking at something more comfortable for long travels which is more refined.

BHPian ringoism recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been searching long for something to replace the superb but rough Marshal 4x4. It is wonderful for local use, but looking at something more comfortable for long travels, something more refined (at least A/C and Power Steering for wifey) seemed prudent.

There is a discussion in the Marshal 4x4 NGCS thread taking place already.

The Scorpio 4x4 is the natural successor, but finding a good one for cheap isn't too easy. About 80-90% of those listed on OLX as 4WD are NOT, according to their RC and on the ones from 2013/earlier, the lack of locking hubs - same as with Safari - is IRRITATING!!!.

Add to that is the reality that despite being 10-15 years newer and CR, they are really not more efficient than the rattly old DI, which with current fuel prices trend is becoming potentially painful and harder to justify.

Anyway, I digress.

Another thought was to keep the old beast on the side for snow use and hauling stuff and occasional day trips off-road, and to get a diesel sedan offering twice the FE for daily use as well as long cross-country runs. I never wanted to keep two cars, but hey, if maintenance / insurance are cheap enough, then why not? Well, dummy, you can't take a sedan out onto remote faraway beaches or forest trails, or up to Sandakpu whilst out touring, that's why not. But leaving that aside momentarily.

Considering that we're between H.P. and MZ, the second car either has to have a superb service network in the hinterland or be exceedingly reliable (or both).

• Thought of Yeti but parts are scarce / frighteningly expensive, and FE well below the others in consideration (may as well absorb a 2kmpl hit and go for Scorpio / Storme):

• Drove an Etios GD (2012) with under 70k done and loved it, except for the bit of NVH up front (nothing like the Marshal, mind you!!!). That was for 3L, and I see lots of others listed between 2.7-4 lakh in the 2012-14 range.

• SX-4's seem cheaper on average, even 2L or less for a nice decade-old (Delhi rules helping here). Haven't yet driven (they are rare locally).Impressions from research are that SX4 is physically heavier/higher but a bit lower in the "grunt torque" department (so crucial in hills), also 100L less boot space, which is significant when trying to partially replace a SUV.A folding rear seat was highly preferred (as in Octavia), but not sure any of these cars in consideration have it that meet the other requirements.

• This is where the Mobilio comes in as a wild card. It has a spacious stowage with last row folded/removed, gives superb FE, and spares seem more dear than the others.

Any thoughts / experiences / real-world comparos invited / appreciated.

There is the option to sell off the Marshal, (how much do BHPians think I could actually sell it for?) and pay our dues with the singular Scorpio all-rounder (also MAYBE discoverable at sub 4L if SS-Traveler's experience is any indication).

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

From your list, I would go for the Etios or Mobilio. The Etios is very reliable, has a superb suspension and meets your cost-of-ownership requirements. Even the Mobilio is an excellent MPV with good engines, comfortable suspension and healthy space. What killed it was Honda overpricing it and the blatant cost-cutting.

Between these two, pick the one that you find a better, cleaner, lower km example of.

On the highway, both will be lightyears ahead of your Marshal.

Here's what BHPian asit.kulkarni93 had to say on the matter:

Given your hill specific usage, avoid the sx4 diesel. SX4 petrol is a good option but the diesel suffers from turbo lag and honestly doesn't help the case when driving around hills. Parts are expensive for the SX4.

Etios is a good option. Suits the requirements perfectly. The Mobilio diesel maybe good and we have one in the extended family which has done over 100k kms. The only issue we find is around quality. Lot of niggles in the Mobilio. Amaze is a much better option. If you have a trusted FNG around who can arrange spares then even the Ford Fiesta diesel is a good option.

Here's what BHPian TorqueMonster had to say on the matter:

Okay, so I would say that you are at a tie here. You could not go wrong with any of these cars.

Firstly, the Etios. Pros would be safety, it has lots of space and legroom, and most importantly fuel efficiency. This car can probably run on diesel fumes let alone diesel, and also the fact that it is reliable. Cons will be that the car is terribly slow, and the noise from the engine can be heard from miles. You don't seem like the person who desires speed, so you could not go wrong with this car. The Pros for this one outweigh the cons massively.

Now comes the SX4. Pros are that it's a Maruti with the 1.3 Multijet, the national diesel engine. Spares are present for anything and everywhere, and it's reliable too. It looks fine and is more of a premium Maruti. The only cons would be whether the 90hp is enough to pull a sedan of that size. It is decent, but not the most powerful.

Lastly, we have the Mobilio. Pros would be the fact that it's a good MPV. It is decently powerful, and I haven't heard too many problems with Honda cars with reliability. Cons will be that the interior is not that good, at least personally for me, and the car has a oddball styling, with the car looking like an elongated Brio for me. Also to be seen is whether Honda has good service coverage in the Hills. This would have been a great choice had you lived in the plains but for HP and MZ it's best to go with tried and tested.

Now personally I believe that you should look at the Ertiga too. Same pros as the SX4, but with more practicality. I personally love the car and how good it is, know multiple people who don't regret buying it. Cons once again would be regarding the power, 90hp is adequate, but 100 - 110 would have been excellent and best suited for the car. And since it is a diesel and it being an out of warranty car, you could remap it if it is not adequate.

Now an oddball suggestion from my side will be a Duster. Yes, the service would not be that good, but ultimately it is a well-sorted SUV with good ride quality. The 1.5 diesel has also been in use for many cars, so spares will also not be an issue. I know the injectors have been a problem, so that would easily be the biggest con for this.

Get the SX4 or Etios. If you are ready to give Ertiga a second chance, then that too.

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