Careful, it may Sting!

There are only a handful of cars that earn themselves the moniker of legend. Cars like the Maruti 800, Toyota Innova, and the Tata Safari all created a name for themselves in India for various different reasons. The Mahindra Scorpio is another one of those. Despite being in the market for over two decades, the Scorpio is still as popular, if not more, as the first generation. Except, the latest generation is called the Scorpio-N (not Scorpion!), and it is wildly better than its predecessors in all respects. In this review, we delve into the Scorpio-N's multifaceted evolution, exploring its exterior and interior transformations, comfort enhancements, performance dynamics, and the all-important question — should you buy one?  

Mahindra Scorpio-N Pros and Cons 

Mahindra Scorpio-N Exterior Design 

The Scorpio-N’s exterior has undergone a significant change from the last model, which was largely unchanged since the first iteration. But despite getting a complete overhaul, the Scorpio-N still looks true to its DNA, albeit with a touch of premiumness. Retaining the tall, high-riding silhouette and distinctive shape that screams ‘Scorpio’, the design now takes a subtler approach. LED headlamps, a three-dimensional grille, and scorpion-sting-themed fog lamps add a dose of sharp to the rugged. The reduction of plastic cladding and integration of character lines contribute to a cleaner and more modern look. Larger dimensions — including a 206 mm increase in length — also add to its road presence. The design, while more mature, may polarise enthusiasts seeking the boldness of its predecessors, and for those there’s still the Scorpio Classic on offer.

Mahindra Scorpio-N Interiors 

The Scorpio-N's interior has taken a significant step forward in quality, design, and functionality. The cabin receives a modern makeover with better plastics, well-finished controls, and a harmonious colour scheme. The chocolate brown colour on the upholstery and the piano black and brushed silver trim make the cabin feel more sophisticated and modern than rugged. And it is great that they chose to go down this path, as someone who wants a more tough and rugged interior can get a Thar instead, especially with the 5-door model arriving soon. The dashboard features a hooded instrument cluster with analogue dials and a 7-inch display, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment sits in a more traditional place on the dashboard, instead of floating over it. The cabin is very practical too, with many storage compartments. But the boot — with the third row up — is too small to carry anything more than a couple of backpacks. Folding down the third row seats also doesn’t help as much as you’d want, with the space available still being less than some compact SUVs.

Mahindra Scorpio-N Comfort 

While still being a body-on-frame SUV, the Scorpio-N is now much more comfortable than before, and the effort taken by Mahindra to do so is evident in many places. All the seats are generously cushioned, offering a relaxed driving experience. The cabin also exudes sophistication by offering a choice between captain seats and a bench for the middle row. Regardless of the choice, there’s ample headroom and knee room for the middle row passengers. However, the third-row space remains limited, and any journeys for adults here would not be comfortable. The driving dynamics of the Scorpio-N have been fine-tuned to deliver a smoother ride, minimising the utilitarian bounciness that plagued older iterations. It strikes a balance between the rugged appeal of its predecessor and enhanced passenger comfort, making it suitable for a variety of driving conditions.

Mahindra Scorpio-N Performance, Handling, and Off-road Ability

Powering the Scorpio-N are two engines which are the same units as the XUV700, albeit with a different state of tune. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine generates an impressive 200 bhp and 380 Nm of torque (with the auto gearbox) with excellent responsiveness — particularly in the low to mid-range — providing ample power for varied driving conditions. The 2.2-litre diesel engine on the other hand with 172 bhp and 400 Nm (with the auto gearbox), stands out for its refined performance, making it well-suited for long highway cruises. The diesel engine however is detuned in the entry level variants, offering only 130 bhp and 300 Nm. The inclusion of six-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions for both engine options enhances ease of driving. While the mStallion petrol has the best figures of the lot and also drives really well, it is important to note that this engine can have notoriously low fuel economy, making the mHawk diesel our pick of the lot. 

The Scorpio-N's handling has undergone notable refinements too, thanks to chassis and suspension enhancements. The SUV's weight reduction by around 500kg, coupled with a stiffer chassis and body structure featuring high- and ultra-high-strength steel, has contributed towards improved dynamics. The introduction of a new suspension system — comprising double wishbones up front and a five-link setup at the back with a Watt's Link mechanism — manages body roll, pitching, and squatting very well, and you could be forgiven for thinking this car is based on a monocoque chassis. The steering is also significantly better than the old car, with great responsiveness and feather light operation at crawling speeds. As you speed up, the steering weighs up well too, allowing for a confident highway cruise. The braking system, however, while undeniably strong, could benefit from a more progressive feel. The current system feels just a smudge too aggressive.  

For explorers, the Scorpio-N is also available with ‘4XPLOR’, which is what Mahindra has named its 4-wheel-drive system that is on offer on the Scorpio-N. The 4WD system includes a robust 4x4 setup including a low-range gearbox and brake-locking and mechanical-locking differentials, offering great off-road hardware for enthusiasts. The system also introduces terrain modes — accessible via a rotary dial — allowing the Scorpio-N to adapt to diverse off-road conditions. Interestingly though, the Scorpio-N has a ground clearance of 187 mm, which is lesser than that of its soft road biassed sibling, the XUV700. However that figure should still be plenty for most off-road situations. A claimed water wading ability of 500 mm also underscores its off-road credentials. 

Mahindra Scorpio-N Key specifications 

Mahindra Scorpio-N Safety Features

As the Scorpio-N has evolved to include several modern touches, it has also grown more sophisticated in terms of the safety equipment on board. Disc brakes on all corners, six airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and several other things take care of the hardware side of the equation, while ABS, ESC, hill hold and hill descent control, and a clever drowsiness detection system complete the software suite. All of these features along with the strong ladder-on-frame chassis has enabled the Scorpio-N to secure a 5-star crash test rating from Global NCAP for adult occupant protection, and a 3-star rating for child occupant protection. Unlike the XUV700 though, the Scorpio-N does not get any ADAS features. 

Mahindra Scorpio-N Technology and Infotainment

The Scorpio-N features an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that features Mahindra’s AdrenoX software. The intuitive UI incorporates shortcut tiles for key functions, making operations smooth. The system also packs onboard navigation, but that will be sparsely used since it gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected car tech is also a part of the offerings, and includes remote functions, location services, SOS capabilities, and Amazon Alexa commands. Supporting the infotainment system is a part digital part analogue instrument cluster, which displays a variety of information on a clean interface. And adding icing to the cake is an immersive 12-speaker Sony sound system.

Is the Mahindra Scorpio-N for you?

Offered in a range of variants, the Scorpio-N covers so much ground that its base variant costs just half as much as the top variant, allowing it to plug in at various price points. However, while some variants will deliver great value, the top end variants are a pricey affair, and can exceed ₹30 lakhs by the time the registration and insurance premiums come into the picture. Getting a Mahindra for that sum could need some convincing for some people, but what is undoubtedly true is that you get a great vehicle for your money.

The Scorpio-N covers such a vast range of uses that its versatility in itself will steer many buyers into Mahindra showrooms. While being able to tackle even the toughest terrains in the country, the Scorpio-N stays sophisticated, and can also tackle urban environments with grace. Yes, a more sizable third row and boot would’ve helped its case, but even as it is, the Scorpio-N is a great all-rounder.