The Scorpio-N builds on its forbear’s rugged charm. It retains the off-road capability it’s become known for. However, now, it’s been handed a more premium feel.
The Mahindra badge has been synonymous with roughed charm. However, with the introduction of the XUV700, the firm proved it could offer a premium-feeling seven-seater family SUV at a fraction of the prices asked by premium brands. But what if you wanted to take the extended family off-roading in a value-based seven-seater brimming with standard features? (Remember, the XUV700 is only front-wheel drive.) The Scorpio-N might be the answer.
For years the Scorpio namesake has had a reputation for being a rugged off-roader. However, it wasn’t the most polished. The Scorpio-N aims to correct that, all while offering consumers with go-anywhere capability.
The body has seen a complete overhaul from the previous generation, of which Mahindra sold a whopping 800 000 units in India. But, back to the new iteration, in the country it’s manufactured, orders exceeded 100 000 within 30 minutes of its release. That’s a testament to how anticipated the Scorpio-N was.
The Scorpio-N has a bold and muscular design. The front grille is imposing, with a chrome finish that adds a touch of elegance. The headlamps are sleek and modern, with LED technology providing exceptional visibility even in low-light conditions. The front bumper also looks aggressive, with large air intakes that aid engine cooling and aerodynamics. The side profile of the Scorpio-N is equally impressive, with bold character lines giving it a dynamic look. The rear end is also well-designed, with LED taillamps that add a modern touch to the design. The 18-inch wheels add to the charm of this SUV.
The interior is just as impressive as the exterior. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for all passengers. The seats are upholstered in leather, which adds a touch of luxury. The dashboard is well-designed. Unfortunately, the front and rear cameras’ resolution is not the best quality. The instrument cluster is also modern, with a digital display that provides all the necessary information at a glance. This is basically where things took a turn for the positive for me; the cabin is a great place to be and adds to the comfortable driving experience.
The new Scorpio ships with a host of technology and entertainment features, making it a great choice for tech-savvy buyers. It has a modern infotainment system featuring screen mirroring and a Sony audio system. The sound was pretty impressive, with speakers strategically placed throughout the cabin to provide exceptional sound quality. A wireless smartphone charging pad is included in the package. The little sunroof is pretty sweet as well. Not necessarily a tech feature but something that lends a cool look to the Scorpio-N.
The Scorpio-N is endowed with Mahindra’s familiar mHawk 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine. The six-speed automatic transmission provided smooth and quick shifts. The four-pot kicks out 128 kW and 400 Nm of torque. It is on the slower side, though, hitting the 0-100 km/h mark in roughly 11 seconds. It has a claimed fuel consumption of 6.9 L/100 km. I managed to get closer to the 8.2 L/100km.
The steering felt well-tuned, with a responsive feel that provided excellent feedback to its driver. The suspension is also well-sprung, with a balance of comfort and handling, making the Scorpio-N a pleasure to drive. Unfortunately, its height gives a bit of a rattle and road noise at lower speeds; however, this became less noticeable on the open road once exceeding the 100km/h mark.
The verdict
4/5
The Mahindra Scorpio-N is a good choice for buyers looking for a value-based family SUV sporting a range of standard features and off-road capability. In addition, the new Scorpio-N comes with a five-year/100 000 km service plan and a five-year/150 000 km warranty.
