Mahindra deliberately styled the new-generation Scorpio to resemble the old one, but it’s thoroughly up-to-date beneath that chunky metalwork.
We like:
Attractive styling
Comprehensive standard equipment for the price
Well-matched engine/transmission combination
Excellent fuel efficiency
Effortless cross-country cruising
Surprisingly agile for a ladder-frame SUV
We don’t like:
Engine start-stop function annoys
Steering wheel needs reach adjustment
Grainy images from the camera system
My first encounter with the Scorpio-N occurred almost a year before this model became available in South Africa, when I had opportunity to hurtle it around the dynamic handling track at Gerotek when Mahindra SA hosted a preview event. Those were far from the ideal driving conditions for a body-on-frame SUV, but even that brief spell behind its steering wheel convinced me that there was real talent hidden behind the assertive styling.
Fast forward about 18 months, not long after the Scorpio-N has finally arrived in SA to widespread applause. Fresh from its Adventure SUV category win (and the “public favourite” award) in the 2024 SAGMJ Car of the Year competition, one of the COTY evaluation vehicles was recently delivered at my gate. It was to transport me to visit Mahindra’s massive exhibition at NAMPO 2024, and the fact that it remained with me for ten days also afforded me the opportunity to sample this newcomer in the real world.
This test vehicle is identical to the one we reviewed late 2023, and this review is equally positive in its conclusion. While there are some minor irritations to contend with, the overall experience of living with a Scorpio-N is easy and enjoyable, and its wide spread of virtues reinforce my positive earlier impressions.
Shop for a new or used Mahindra Scorpio-N and go out on an adventure!
Appearance
Finished in dark “Deep Forest” metallic green paint and sporting a set of gunmetal-gray, diamond-cut alloy wheels, the Scorpio-N looks quite elegant from the outside. This impression is boosted by comparatively discreet creases and wheel arch flares, and includes the distinctive bulge over the rear wheels with which Mahindra endows all its SUVs.
Chrome trim strips around the side glass and in the front grille and bumper are all styled to evoke a scorpion’s sting (to tie in with its name, of course), providing a bright counterpoint to the paintwork. The details are pretty neat as well, with distinctive all-LED light signatures at both ends, even if the tail lamp clusters look very Volvo-like. Closer inspection reveal even panel gaps and smooth paintwork, and overall assembly quality appears to be of a very high standard.
Mahindra Scorpio-N interior
Inside the Scorpio-N, the ambience is, at first glance, similarly upmarket. While the black-and-tan colour choice for the interior may not be to everyone’s liking, it at least manages to avoid the usual beige-and-brown combo which often afflict Indian-sourced vehicles. Aluminium-look inserts add some discreet relief from the rather dark decor, and the cabin design is attractive and modern. Knee room benefits from the dashboard being set quite far forward, but this comes at the cost of some space in the glove compartment.
Soft touch surfaces are few and far between, but the hard plastics employed almost all over have a matte finish to avoid reflections. The steering wheel and seats are covered in imitation leather, and all arm rests are padded as well. Putting it another way: Most of the Scorpio-N’s interior looks expensive until you touch it, but it’s all screwed down tightly, and no rattles or squeaks were evident even over rough road surfaces.
The interior layout is logical and fairly intuitive, with physical controls for the climate control and audio systems. Other secondary car functions are easy enough to access through the centrally-mounted touchscreen, which is reasonably responsive and configured with some care for usability. Additional remote audio, cruise- and phone controls are located on the steering wheel spokes, from where the driver’s info display is also controlled.
Look at the Mahindra Scorpio-N brochure here for a comprehensive run-down of its specifications.
Practicality
There’s plenty of space inside the cabin, with the new model’s growth in its overall width translating into plenty of room for at least five average-sized occupants. The rearmost seats have limited space, however, but should be reasonable for children over shorter distances.
With the third row in use, luggage space is compromised, with only a shelf measuring around 200-litres behind the seats. (Mahindra doesn’t state official cargo capacity figures, so this is at best an educated guesstimate). Folding the rearmost seat away is an easy two-step operation, but, due to the bulky folded seat still located in the boot, cargo capacity isn’t generous even in 5-seater mode.
Accessibility is good, thanks to the comparatively upright front roof pillars and large door apertures. It’s also easy to reach the cargo hold via the side-opening tailgate supported by a gas strut, but drivers must be aware that it needs a fair amount of room behind the vehicle to open. Finally, the generous glass area gives an unobstructed view from the driver’s seat.
One minor issue must be noted, however, and that’s the steering wheel’s location. While the wheel is tilt-adjustable, it is mounted a tad too far forward. Tall drivers, who would need to set the seat as far back as possible to find the requisite legroom, will find the lack of reach adjustment somewhat frustrating, as the steering wheel could be just those few centimetres too far away to achieve ultimate comfort. This is a pity, because the ergonomics and seat comfort are highlights in all other respects.
Standard Mahindra Scorpio-N features
In Z8 trim, the Mahindra Scorpio-N includes all the modern comfort features you’d expect and some which might surprise you. The basics are covered by electric windows all-round, power-adjustable and folding exterior mirrors, keyless entry with pushbutton engine switch, cruise control, and an infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are also USB ports galore, with two USB-A ports in the front console (one for data connection and the other for charging), and a USB-C charge port for the middle row. The Z8L ups the ante with a Sony audio system upgrade, boasting 12 speakers and including a dual-channel subwoofer. It is pretty impressive for this price point in terms of sound quality and definition, even if the outright audio volume won’t win any contests.
Being an Indian-built vehicle, the Scorpio-N also has industrial-grade air-conditioning. The front occupants are treated to individual temperature controls, while the middle row has its own air vents and fan speed control. This is a decent mid-way between full four-zone climate control and basic air-con, and should keep most occupants happy regardless of the weather outside.
The high-end Z8L (as tested) adds front parking sensors (the others only have it at the rear) and front- and rear cameras (the normal Z8 only has a rear-view camera) to the mix, along with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and an opening glass sunroof. The camera display quality is quite poor, however, with grainy images from both ends, but the wireless charging pad (another Z8L exclusive) proved to be convenient and effective.
Drivetrain and performance
All Mahindra Scorpio-N variants are powered by a reworked version of Mahindra’s 2.2-litre mHawk four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. In this application, it produces 128.6 kW and 400 Nm, with the torque plateau stretching from 1 750 to 2 750 r/min.
These figures are quite modest at first glance, but they do not accurately reflect the surprisingly lively performance on offer at all. With an estimated 0 - 100 km/h sprint in the mid-11-second range, the Scorpio-N obviously won’t win many traffic light grands prix, but the take-off from standstill is more than spritely enough to hold its own in today’s traffic.
More importantly, in-gear acceleration while overtaking is strong and effortless, and tall gearing in the higher ratios make for fuss-free, economical and relaxed cross-country cruising. The gearbox is also well-programmed to ride that fat wave of torque, and, while a Tiptronic-style self-shifting option is provided by the gear selector, overriding the transmission’s own decisions isn’t required all that often.
In 4WD guise as tested, the Scorpio-N features a low-range transfer case and mechanical rear differential lock, while brake-based torque vectoring directs the power across the front axle. Combine this with four selectable drive modes (Normal, Snow, Mud&Ruts, and Sand), hill-descent control and hill-start assist, and there can be no doubt that the Scorpio-N will more than just hold its own when the going get difficult in off-roading scenarios.
Mahindra Scorpio-N driving experience
That rugged body-on-frame construction and live rear axle do make their presence felt at low speeds over broken roads, when some shudders penetrate the cabin, but that is a common characteristic in vehicles of this type. The steering ratio is likewise quite relaxed and doesn’t offer much in the way of feedback, but its responses are linear and the steering assistance is well-judged for easy driving.
What the bare specifications don’t convey is the level of dynamic polish on-road, however. This is a tall and heavy vehicle with a short wheelbase and fairly rudimentary suspension, but it nonetheless changes direction with surprising agility. It is also very stable in fast-ish cornering, with no nasty surprises awaiting a ham-fisted driver when the modest grip levels of the off-road-capable tyres are reached.
The sole bugbear in the driving experience is the engine start-stop function, which is too eager to cut the engine after the briefest of stops while taking too long to get the engine running again after releasing the brake pedal. Its operation is also quite unrefined, and needs a few full rotations of the starter before the engine comes to life when it is time to pull away.
Fortunately, the start-stop can easily be overridden by means of a console-mounted switch, but its always-on programming means that turning off the start-stop becomes part of the routine when starting the vehicle - one soon learns to switch off the looming irritation before even buckling the seat belt.
Fuel economy
Another nice surprise materialises when you pull up at the service station, because the Mahindra Scorpio-N proved to be exceptionally parsimonious is general use. Despite being driven without any consideration for fuel conservation and with the air-con doing its bit to alleviate summer’s last heat wave, the test vehicle returned an average consumption figure of only 8.3 litres/100 km.
Mahindra claims an official consumption figure of 6.9 litres/100 km for the Scorpio-N, and conservative drivers will easily drop into the mid-7 litre/100 km bracket. Meanwhile, a gentle freeway cruise should see that figure going down even more, with an open-road consumption as low as 7 litres/100 km on the cards without really trying to drive economically.
This is remarkable, especially considering the Scorpio-N’s blocky shape, automatic gearbox, and 4WD gubbins, which add up to a kerb weight of more than 2.1 metric tons. Good thing it is so efficient, mind you - the fuel tank only takes 57 litres, so the fuel range of 680-ish km is on par for its class.
Price
At the time of publication, this Mahindra Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 4XPLOR retailed at R 608 199. This includes a warranty for 5 years or 150 000 km, and a service plan for 5 years or 110 000 km. In the context of its competitors, this makes the Scorpio-N the most-affordable 4WD family-sized SUV in our market, with equipment levels and performance far superior to what its high-value market positioning would suggest.
Verdict
There is much to admire about the new Mahindra Scorpio-N, and little to dislike. Barring the irritation of the start-stop system, the non-reach-adjustable steering wheel, and the somewhat compromised luggage compartment, this newcomer does almost everything right.
Most importantly in our cost-conscious marketplace, it offers a strong package of ability, efficiency, and value for money in its segment. Whether it is viewed as a more spacious and much more powerful (albeit much more expensive) alternative to a 5-door Jimny, or as better-equipped and bargain-priced alternative to a low-end Fortuner, the Mahindra Scorpio-N makes a strong case for itself on paper, on tarmac, and in the bush.
Martin Pretorius
- Proudly CHANGECARS
Shop for new or used Mahindra SUVs and bakkies in this selection on CHANGECARS.
