Eicher Pro X First Drive Review — Power, Ride Quality & Camper Potential by Pro Camper India (2026)
When Pro Camper India (Dhruv) — the builder who has constructed 3 Mahindra Veero caravans and driven over 10,000 km in them — finally gets behind the wheel of the Eicher Pro X, the Indian caravan community pays attention. This isn't a YouTube reviewer doing a 10-minute walkthrough. This is a professional caravan fabricator evaluating a potential build platform with the eyes of someone who knows exactly what matters.
The vehicle being tested is a client's Eicher Pro X that will soon become a full camper van. Before cutting metal and mounting a body, a thorough evaluation of the base vehicle is essential — understanding its power, ride characteristics, turning ability, and interior limitations helps plan the build correctly from day one.
Here's the complete first drive review — the good, the bad, and what it means for caravan builders.
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Background — The Journey to Eicher Pro X
Pro Camper didn't start with Eicher. His journey through India's light commercial vehicle segment covers multiple rejections before finding the right platform:
| Vehicle Tested | Verdict |
| Tata Intra V50 | ❌ Rejected — plastic/toy feel, not robust enough |
| Ashok Leyland Bada Dost | ❌ Rejected — noisy engine, terrible gear shifting |
| Mahindra Veero | ✅ Instant favorite — torque, performance, premium feel |
| Eicher Pro X | 🔍 Under evaluation — community demanded testing |
The Mahindra Veero became his go-to platform because it offered the best combination of torque, driving comfort, and premium feel in its price range. But after building 3 Veeros and experiencing DPF issues, ECM failures, and payload limitations, the community asked: "What about the Eicher Pro X?" This review answers that question from behind the wheel.
First Start & Engine Feel
Turning the key on the Eicher Pro X reveals its character immediately. The E449 2000cc 4-cylinder engine comes alive with a clean ignition — no excessive cranking, no diesel clatter that you'd associate with older commercial vehicles. The engine note is distinctly more refined than a 3-cylinder — the balanced firing order of 4 cylinders produces less harshness and a smoother idle.
Three driving modes are available from the start:
- Normal — full 80HP/230Nm available
- ECO — reduced throttle response, better efficiency
- ECO Plus — maximum fuel savings mode (Veero only has 2 modes)
Test Drive Impressions — Power
The single most striking impression from the first drive: "Bahut zyada power hai" (There's way too much power). This isn't marketing speak — during testing, the Eicher Pro X was doing wheel spins and donuts with ease. The rear tires broke traction freely under throttle, demonstrating that the 230 Nm of torque is more than adequate for an unladen vehicle.
⚡ Power Assessment:
• 80 HP / 230 Nm in a ~1,500 kg vehicle = approximately 53 HP/ton (impressive for LCV)
• Wheels spin freely on dry tarmac — massive torque reserve
• When 1,500-2,000 kg caravan body is added, this power will be perfectly matched
• No concerns about underpowered feeling — if anything, over-powered when empty
For caravan builders, this power reserve is excellent news. A fully-built caravan will add 1,500-2,000 kg, bringing the power-to-weight ratio down to sensible levels. The vehicle won't feel sluggish even fully loaded — especially important for hill climbing and highway overtaking with a caravan body.
Ride Quality — Hard, But Expected
The ride quality during testing was HARD. Every bump, every road imperfection transmitted directly into the cabin. But here's the critical context that many reviewers miss: this is a 3.5-ton GVW vehicle being driven with zero load — just 150 kg of humans on springs designed for 2,000 kg of payload.
⚠️ Important Context on Ride Quality:
Every light commercial vehicle feels harsh when empty. The leaf spring suspension is tuned for full load, not 3 passengers. When the 1,500-2,000 kg caravan body is mounted, ride quality will improve DRAMATICALLY — the springs will be operating in their designed load range.
Pro Camper has seen this exact pattern on Veero builds — harsh when empty, comfortable when loaded. This isn't a concern for caravan builders because the vehicle will NEVER be driven empty once the build is complete.
Some rattling and noise from the empty rear deck was noted — again, completely normal for an unloaded flat-bed. These sounds disappear once a body is mounted.
Turning Radius — Excellent
The Eicher Pro X demonstrated a turning radius of less than 7 meters — matching the Mahindra Veero's excellent maneuverability. This was tested in tight spaces and the vehicle navigated with ease, making U-turns without multiple point turns.
For caravan builders, this is critical because:
- Campsite entrances are often narrow with sharp turns
- Hill station roads require frequent tight turns
- Fuel stations need easy entry/exit with a large vehicle
- Urban areas demand maneuverability despite the vehicle's size
Interior Evaluation — Cabin Assessment
This is where Pro Camper's evaluation gets brutally honest. The interior of the Eicher Pro X is, to put it diplomatically, disappointing from a comfort standpoint. Here's the detailed breakdown:
Dashboard & Controls
- Dashboard quality: Cheap plastic, 90s feel. Pro Camper compared it to "Tata Intra jaisa" — functional but without any sense of quality
- Music system: Basic single-DIN unit worth approximately ₹1,000. No maps, no touchscreen, no Bluetooth display. Functional for FM/USB but nothing more
- Mobile holder: A dedicated spot exists — interestingly, the Veero doesn't have this particular mounting point
- AC vents: Look fake and old-school. The styling feels dated compared to modern vehicles
The counter-argument: In a caravan build, you spend maybe 4-5 hours per day in the cabin (while driving) and 19-20 hours in your custom-built living space behind. Does dashboard plastic quality REALLY matter when your home is a luxury custom interior just behind the bulkhead?
Seats — The Biggest Problem
⚠️ Critical Issue for Caravan Builders:
The Eicher Pro X seats are FIXED — they do NOT recline. This is a genuine problem for pass-through caravan designs where you need to fold/recline seats to walk from the cabin into the living space. The Mahindra Veero's reclining seats are far superior for this purpose.
Solution: Swap with Veero-style reclining seats. Cost: ₹5,000-10,000. Time: few hours.
Other Interior Notes
- Seatbelt: Red color (high visibility, encourages usage). So far doesn't auto-tighten like Veero's problematic seatbelt — needs extended road testing to confirm
- Boot space behind seats: Significantly less than the Veero — fewer items can be stored in the cabin
- Power windows: NOT available — manual window cranks only. Veero has power windows standard
- Handbrake: Side-mounted — excellent for caravan use. Frees the center console area completely, making it possible to sleep across the front seats if needed
- Steering tilt: Advertised by Eicher but actual movement is barely 1 inch. Pro Camper called this a "SCAM" — worse than not having it because it creates false expectations
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Exterior Walk-Around
The exterior evaluation revealed several positive and interesting design choices:
| Feature | Assessment |
| ORVMs (Mirrors) | ✅ Bigger and better than Veero — improved visibility |
| Fog Lamps | ✅ Pre-integrated (Veero doesn't have) |
| Height | Slightly taller than Veero |
| Headlamp Design | ✅ Beautiful, modern design |
| Front Grille | ✅ No radiator upfront = fully closeable (clean look) |
| Overall Presence | Slightly more imposing than Veero |
The absence of a front radiator grille (the cooling system is mounted differently) means the front face can be completely closed — giving a cleaner, more aerodynamic appearance. This is both aesthetically pleasing and practically useful for reducing air resistance at highway speeds with the caravan body.
Key Challenges Identified
After the complete evaluation, Pro Camper identified these challenges that caravan builders should be aware of:
✅ What Works Great
- Massive power — no concern about being underpowered
- Excellent turning radius — same as Veero
- Side handbrake — frees center for sleeping
- Larger mirrors — better rear visibility
- Fog lamps built-in — no aftermarket needed
- Clean front face — aerodynamic advantage
- 3 driving modes — more flexibility than Veero
- No DPF — confirmed, zero emission system anxiety
❌ What Needs Attention
- Fixed seats — must swap for pass-through design
- No power windows — minor inconvenience
- Hard ride empty — expected, improves with load
- Dashboard quality — cheap/plasticky feel
- Steering tilt barely moves — false advertising
- Less boot space behind seats vs Veero
- Fabrication unknowns — will ECM survive body mounting?
- Music system basic — ₹1000 unit, no smart features
Fabrication Concerns — The Unknown Factor
Pro Camper's biggest ongoing concern isn't about the vehicle's driving capability — it's about how the electronics will handle the caravan fabrication process. On his 3 Veero builds, he personally spent over ₹1 lakh from his own pocket fixing ECM (Engine Control Module) and instrument cluster failures that were triggered during body mounting and electrical work.
The Eicher Pro X has different electronics architecture, different ECM, different wiring harness. Whether it will exhibit similar sensitivity to the vibrations, electrical modifications, and structural changes that caravan fabrication involves is completely unknown until the first few builds are complete.
His approach: proceed carefully with the client's build, document everything, and report findings to the community once the build is done (estimated 1-1.5 months from testing date).
The Verdict — Should You Choose the Pro X?
After the first drive, Pro Camper's assessment is clear:
🎯 First Drive Verdict:
The power and structural capability is undeniable. For a CARAVAN BUILD specifically, the Eicher Pro X is potentially better than the Veero in every parameter that determines how good your mobile home can be — body size, payload, DPF-free operation, fuel tank capacity.
Interior comfort is secondary for caravan builds because your living space is the custom body behind the cabin, not the cabin itself. The fixed seats and plasticky dashboard are solvable problems (seat swap) or irrelevant ones (dashboard quality).
Final recommendation: Wait 1-1.5 months for the full build to complete before making final purchase decisions. Let the first Pro X caravan prove that the fabrication process works without electrical issues.
For those who want to proceed now: the vehicle is fundamentally capable. The power, dimensions, payload, and DPF-free operation make it the strongest caravan base vehicle available in India at this price point. The cabin comfort concessions are real but manageable.
Contact for Builds
For Eicher Pro X or Mahindra Veero caravan build inquiries, contact Pro Camper India: procamperindia@gmail.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Eicher Pro X feel to drive?
Massive power — wheels spin freely, capable of donuts. The 80HP/230Nm 4-cylinder engine feels strong and refined. Three driving modes (Normal, ECO, ECO Plus) provide flexibility. Turning radius is excellent at under 7 meters.
Is the ride quality comfortable?
No — ride is HARD when empty. This is expected because 3.5T springs are designed for 2T payload, not 150kg of passengers. Ride quality improves dramatically once the caravan body (1,500-2,000 kg) is mounted. Same pattern seen on Veero builds.
What's wrong with the Eicher Pro X seats?
They are fixed and don't recline. This is a problem for pass-through caravan designs. The solution is swapping with reclining seats (Veero seats work as donors) — costs ₹5,000-10,000 and takes a few hours.
How is the interior quality compared to Veero?
Significantly worse. Dashboard feels cheap/plasticky (compared to "Tata Intra"), no power windows, basic music system, fake-looking AC vents. However, for caravan builds, cabin quality matters less since you live in the custom body behind.
Does the steering tilt work?
Technically yes, but movement is barely 1 inch — practically useless. Pro Camper called it a "scam" because it creates false expectations. The Veero doesn't offer tilt steering either, but at least it's honest about it.
Who is Pro Camper India?
Pro Camper India (Dhruv) is a professional caravan builder who has constructed 3 Mahindra Veero caravans and driven over 10,000 km in them. He evaluates vehicles from a builder's perspective — understanding what matters for fabrication and long-term caravan life.
Should I buy the Eicher Pro X now or wait?
Pro Camper recommends waiting 1-1.5 months until the first complete build is finished. This will confirm whether the electronics survive the fabrication process without issues (Veero ECM failures cost him ₹1L+). The vehicle is structurally capable — the unknown is electrical reliability during build.
What other vehicles did Pro Camper reject?
Tata Intra V50 (plastic/toy feel), Ashok Leyland Bada Dost (noisy engine, terrible gear shifting). Only the Mahindra Veero met his standards before the Eicher Pro X appeared as a challenger.
🏔️ Understand why No DPF is the Pro X's biggest advantage for hill camping
Why No DPF Matters for Hills →Related Articles — Eicher Pro X Caravan Series
- Eicher Pro X vs Mahindra Veero — Complete Comparison
- Eicher Pro X — Price ₹10.3L, Features & Complete Specs
- Eicher Pro X Caravan — Off-Grid Power, Interior Design & What's Possible
- Why No DPF Matters — Eicher Pro X's Biggest Advantage for Hills
- Mahindra Veero Caravan — Affordable Van Life India
- Mahindra Veero — Off-Grid Power & Water System
Written by Rajiv Sah
Founder, OnRoadCost & Josh Riders | info@onroadcost.com