The Mahindra Scorpio has come a long way in its journey in the South African market. While overlooked in its early years, it soon began to take traction as newer models made their way to the country. With word of mouth about its reliability, build quality and capabilities sales took off in a positive note. You won't find many in and around the city but when you move into the farm lands, that is when you will start to spot them. With its latest version sporting the new Mahindra logo, the Scorpio N is a significant upgrade from its predecessors, positioning itself as a robust yet budget-friendly SUV option. I got to spend a few days with this latest version of the Scorpio N and here are my thoughts on this SUV offering from the Indian motor giant.
DESIGN
I tend to call a spade a spade and the previous generations Scorpio's did nothing for me in terms of design, in fact they were pretty awful with curves in all the wrong places, weird shaped lights, bulges in places that didn't need bulges, overall and eyesore to put it mildly but of recent, the designs coming out of India have a more European style to them and they look great! Its design, both exterior and interior, has been modernized significantly. The Scorpio N sports a more defined and muscular look compared to the older models, with smoother lines and a stylish appearance that doesn’t compromise on its rugged essence. The dark green colour that my test unit came in, made it look sophisticated and classy. As mentioned, the design has a European style to it but still has maintains that Indian Identity, kinda like Katrina Kaif wearing a wearing a Lengha top with Sissy Boy Jeans. Didn't expect a Bollywood fashion reference in this review, didn't you? Even the interior has undergone a vast improvement, with a more classic modern layout that is form and functional.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood, the Scorpio N features a 2.2-liter mHawk four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that delivers 128 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time four-wheel-drive system that includes a low-range transfer case and a rear mechanical locking differential, making it highly capable off-road The SUV offers drive modes like Normal, Snow, Mud & Ruts, and Sand under Mahindra's ‘4XPLOR’ terrain system, enhancing its versatility on different terrains. In terms of driving experience, the Scorpio N handles well both on and off the road. It provides a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps efficiently thanks to its double wishbone front suspension and Watt’s link rear suspension setup. The powertrain is smooth and adequate for typical driving conditions, although it might not excel in high-speed scenarios. Fuel efficiency is reasonable, with real-world consumption likely to be around 8 liters per 100 kilometers. I did take the Scoprio N with me on my annual trek to Sun City and it made easy work of traveling the dreaded R556 at night. Dodging potholes and conquering those uneven speed bumps with ease, almost as if to say "please man, I'm made for Indian roads, this is a piece of cake". So, off-road we went with it, to see how it handles the harsh African terrain and again, with the easy to use driving modes selected by the jog shuttle selector, it was simple to change the cars terrain response settings and switching from 2 wheel to 4 wheel driving.
COMFORT
The interior of the Scorpio N is a marked improvement over previous models, like I said earlier, I love the new layout design, its very functional and it features better quality materials than previous generations which look great and are robust. It even features a modern infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity, there are USB ports for charging devices and loads of storage compartments. Higher trims, like the one I was in come with additional luxuries like a Sony sound system and wireless charging. That Sony sound system surprised me, at first I wasn't sold but after tinkering with the sound settings, you could tell an Indian had a hand in this sound system because the bass, is definitely in your face. There's a lot of positives to the new designed interior however, some users might find the indicator sound particularly annoying, and the stop-start system could use a software update to function more effectively as it does feel rather abrupt and I found myself switching if off every time I got in. The second row seating is very comfortable and spacious while the third row is pretty much expected of a third row seating in an 7-seater SUV. The luggage space is decent, we logged 2 golf bags and two big suit cases which required us to drop 40% of the second row seating. The tailgate makes it easier with the swing door and not the traditional hatch style tilt up opening. It has two cameras, one in the front and one at the back, but with different angle options which gives the driver a better perspective.
VERDICT
Overall, the Mahindra Scorpio N stands out as a well-rounded SUV that combines rugged capability with modern amenities at a competitive price, making it a strong contender in its segment. One of the key selling points of the Scorpio N is its pricing, which offers a compelling alternative to more expensive ladder-frame SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner, while still providing seven-seat capacity and substantial off-road capabilities. Speaking of the Fortuner, a lot of people have asked me whether it is better than the Japanese firm favourite and whether it would give it some competition in the market. I honestly still feel the Fortuner nudges ahead of the Mahindra on quite a few fronts, doesn't justify the steep pricing but in terms of the Scorpio N being a direct competitor, I'm not entirely sold on that one yet.You're still going to get great reliability from Mahindra, these cars are solid and hardly break, even in the toughest conditions so on that front I think there isn't a need to worry and with them having an assembly plant here in Durban, parts shouldn't be that difficult to source as well. It certainly a massive improvement from the brand and it's good to see this company heading in the right direction.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Engine | 2.0L 4 Cylinder, turbo-diesel |
6-speed automatic | |
Fuel Consumption | 8L per 100km |
R644,499 |
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