Mahindra Scorpio N

Expectations from the new Scorpio N are sky high. Has Mahindra delivered the goods?

The fact that we have such high expectations from the brand-spanking-new Scorpio N is Mahindra’s fault. If they wouldn't have done such a good job with the XUV700 and the new Thar, we wouldn’t have been as excited about the new Scorpio as we are right now.

The name Scorpio turned twenty this year and in these last two decades it has earned a place in the hearts of millions of people. So the question is, can the Scorpio N live up to everyone’s high expectations? 

Looks

Where the old Scorpio’s styling was butch and in your face, the new one looks more rounded and mature. There is no shortage of presence however thanks to its size. It is much longer, wider and has a larger wheelbase as well. However, when it comes to height it is shorter compared with the old car. 

Up front you get the signature Mahindra grille which has chrome elements and combined with the muscular bumper, the Scorpio N looks quite purposeful. The LED projector headlamp design is attractive and the fog lamps are LED too. Interestingly the LED DRL strips’ design is inspired by the scorpion’s tail. 

In profile, you get the scorpion tail design treatment on the rear quarter glass surrounding chrome strip, and overall, the Scorpio comes across as a large vehicle. It has muscle too, thanks to the flared wheel arches and strong shoulder-line. 

The rear is the weakest in terms of design. The Volvo-inspired tail lamps look attractive, but when viewed from the rear the Scorpio N looks narrow and more like an MPV than an SUV. A bit more muscle at the rear would have helped for sure.    

Interior

The new Scorpio N looks at least two generations ahead of its predecessor. The dash design looks modern, and thanks to Mahindra using brown and black colours, it looks premium too. The touch points like the steering and armrests come draped in premium materials and the dash panel too has soft touch leatherette fabric which help the Scorpio N’s cabin feel premium. In terms of quality, it isn’t perfect though. Lower down on the centre console you will find scratchy plastics and fit and finish is not that great either as you do see quite a few panel gaps.  

Getting in and out of the new Scorpio is not the easiest, especially for the elderly because of the high seating. At least getting in the front seat is easier, thanks to Mahindra giving a grab handle on the A-pillar. In terms of seating comfort, the front seats are very comfortable with good contour and under thigh support. Just like the old car, the driver gets a commanding view of the surroundings, thanks to the high seating position, small dash length and low window-line. In the top Z8 L variant you also get a powered driver seat which makes finding an ideal driving position easier. 

In the middle-row you get either a bench or captain seat options. The captain seats though are only available in the top variant. The captain seats are very comfortable with enough under thigh support and great back support. The bench seat on the other hand is a bit flatter and not as supportive. So, for chauffeur driven people, the captain seats will be the go-to choice. Space too is in abundance as you get good knee and headroom and the reclining backrest helps you find a comfortable position. 

The third-row though is disappointing. You get fixed knee room here as the middle-row doesn’t slide forward and backwards, and as a result, for anyone above 5 foot 6, knee and legroom are cramped. Headroom though is quite decent and the seat isn’t placed too low either. 

Practicality

In terms of storage, front passengers get two cup holders, a decent sized glovebox, shallow under armrest storage and a space to keep a smartphone. Door pockets are wide but are shallow and are placed low on the door, as a result of which, to access them, you have to stretch quite a bit. 

The rear door pockets are smaller and as shallow and you get space only to keep a one-litre bottle and a wallet. In the seat back pockets you also get a thoughtful mobile holder. Apart from that, the middle-row gets two AC vents with separate blower control and a single type-C charging port. If you opt for the bench seat version then you do get two cup holders in the centre armrest but the captain seats you don’t get any. There is not much to talk about praticality in the third-row. All you get is a mobile holder and a reading light. There are no cup holders, charging ports or even aircon vents!

Features

The Scorpio N comes well-loaded with features with the Z8 variant getting goodies like single-pane sunroof, dual zone climate control, leather upholstery, push button start, connected car tech, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, front and rear camera and a wireless phone charger. If you opt for the top L variant you get a Sony 12-speaker sound system and powered driver seat.

The good thing is, right from the base variant you get a touchscreen infotainment system and in the top variant the screen size is 8 inches. Unfortunately, the infotainment system is not the best around when it comes to graphics, clarity or touch response. You will also

Safety

Even the lower variants of the Scorpio N come with a good amount of safety features and if you opt for the top two variants, you get six airbags and tyre pressure monitoring system. The top Z8 L variant also gets front parking sensors.   

Safety Features

The Scorpio N’s boot space with all rows up is almost negligible and there is space only to fit two or three backpacks. Even when you fold the third-row seats, the folded seats takes up almost half of the luggage space. So, despite the large size, the Scorpio N has a relatively small boot. 

Performance

The Scorpio-N comes with both petrol as well as diesel engine options. The base diesel spec makes 132PS of power while the higher variants get 175PS. The petrol on the other hand, comes with only one tune and makes a mighty 203PS of power. Both engines come with automatic gearbox options, but 4x4 is limited just to the diesel motor. 

Diesel Engine: Lower Spec 

Diesel Engine: Higher Spec 

As expected, both these engines are strong performers. In the city the Scorpio N’s light steering, well-judged controls and responsive motors make your life easy. The diesel motor has good punch and the gearbox too is quick to react which makes driving in any given condition easy. It does get a bit noisy when you work the motor hard, but by diesel standards, this is a refined unit. With the diesel you also get three drive modes - Zip, Zap and Zoom. All three modes are usable with an abundance of power on tap, but our prefered mode is Zap which has a good mix of response and smoothness. 

If you are looking for refinement and effortless performance then you should definitely consider the petrol version. It is deceptively quick and the motor stays refined even when you work it hard. The automatic gearbox too works brilliantly with this motor as it manages to find the right gear at the right moment. So, if you want effortless performance and refinement, go for the petrol and if efficiency is your priority then the diesel will be perfect for you. 

Ride and handling

This is a place where the Scorpio has gone from zero to hero. Where the old car used to feel loose and unsettled over bumps, the Scorpio N tackles them with a lot of confidence. Body movement is controlled and at city speeds, its ride is genuinely comfortable. Yes, you do get a bit of side to side rocking motion, but for a high-riding, ladder frame SUV, it behaves really well. 

Even the old Scorpio’s nervous high speed behaviour is replaced by planted and assured manners. The Scorpio N rides beautifully at high speeds as it almost never gets unsettled by bumps or undulations. This makes the new Scorpio a great long-distance cruiser which we would have never said about the old car. 

Even the handling has transformed completely. Yes, the new Scorpio isn’t a sporty car, but for a high SUV, it feels secure and stable even when pushed hard. Surprisingly, even body roll is well controlled and the steering weighs up well and is precise. The all wheel disc brakes too provide a good amount of bite and the brake pedal feels consistent and well calibrated. 

Verdict

Overall the new Scorpio proves to be a good all-round package. It does have a few shortcomings. Cabin practicality could be better, interior quality for a car at this price point could be more consistent, its third-row is cramped and the boot space for such a large car is disappointing.

But, other than that the Scorpio N is exceptional. Both the diesel, as well as the petrol motor are strong, the automatic gearbox is quick and responsive, for four people the cabin is extremely comfortable and the cabin looks a lot premium when compared with the older car. The one thing that surprised us the most is the ride and handling which for a high-riding, ladder frame SUV is exceptional. 

The new Scorpio N is a huge upgrade over the old car in almost every aspect and the fact that Mahindra is charging you only a small premium for this makes it good value as well.