The Mahindra Scorpio-N – a new 7-seat adventure SUV with a value-for-money price tag – has arrived in South Africa. We headed to the West Coast to sample the model.
Now sporting “N” badging, the all-new body-on-frame model ramps the Scorpio concept up to the, um, Nth degree. In other words, all of the rugged off-roader’s good traits have been enhanced further.
The Scorpio name is legendary in its domestic market (India), where more than 800 000 units have been sold since 2002, and in South Africa, more than 6 000 units have found homes. Plus, there’s a lot of buzz about this new model; when Mahindra India revealed it, it received 100 000 orders in the first 30 minutes.
Mahindra SA has an interesting strategy right now… If you want a modern, stylish and well-appointed medium SUV (with a 7-seat configuration, no less), then you can look to the XUV 700, which this author assessed during the 2022/23 holiday season. However, if you’re the adventurous type and want to go “off-grid”, traverse 4×4 trails or simply explore the bundu, then the Scorpio-N could be your port of call.
What’s New?
The Mahindra Scorpio-N looks familiar, but it’s all-new from the ground up. Again, it’s based on a body-on-frame configuration but, impressively, it was the first vehicle of its kind to score 5 stars in Global NCAP crash testing, which suggests the brand invested substantially in improving the model’s structural rigidity. There’s a double wishbone suspension up front and a Pentalink (Watt’s linkage) setup at the rear.
Mahindra claims the Scorpio-N offers best-in-class cabin space (but does not state a claimed luggage capacity), with generous equipment and feature levels across the range. Some of the highlights include the excellent Sony audio system, a sizeable infotainment touchscreen that’s Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatible, a wireless charging pad, USB ports (front and rear), and a mercifully potent climate control system that dealt ably with the searing temperatures (beyond 40°C) we experienced on the West Coast.
MORE: Mahindra Scorpio-N Price and Specifications
Customers can choose between 6 exterior colours, while the cabin trim is a rich chocolate brown/black combination, with imitation leather seats on the higher trim levels. While it may not appeal to all tastes, the colour scheme is certainly more interesting than a plain black or beige interior. There is seating for 7.
What’s on Offer?
From launch, there’s a solitary powertrain for the 4×2 and 4×4 derivatives, with 3 trim levels to choose from. The engine is an updated version of Mahindra’s mHawk 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, which produces outputs of 128.6 kW/400 Nm and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Mahindra claims a consumption figure of 6.9 L/100 km, but it’s unclear for which version (4×2 or 4×4) that is.
All derivatives have selectable drive modes, cutely named Zip, Zap and Zoom, while the 4×4 derivative we drove additionally featured off-road settings called 4EXPLOR, which incorporates self-explanatory modes such as Normal, Grass/Snow, Mud/Ruts and Sand. The Scorpio-N is primarily rear-wheel driven, but drivers of all-paw versions can switch between two-wheel drive (2H), 4 high (4H) and 4 low (4L).
What’s the Mahindra Scorpio-N like to drive?
First impressions count for a lot and while the Scorpio-N’s overall design suggests a “generic boxy 4×4”, we liked the imposing and premium stance of Mahindra’s newcomer. Those daytime-running lights at the front are eye-catching and, when clad in the right colour (we might add), the vehicle really looks the part.
When you climb inside, you’ll find the cabin looks and feels reasonably well assembled, although there are some cheap materials, like the tops of the seatbelts. For what’s essentially a 4×4 adventure vehicle, the Scorpio-N has flashes of luxury and comfort, such as a sunroof – a virtual “must-have” in our market.
Our launch route took us into the Western Cape’s West Coast region, towards the seaside town of Port Owen. There’s no shortage of power from the Scorpio-N’s tried-and-trusted 2.2-litre turbodiesel motor, with eager throttle responses and reasonably smooth gearshifts. The driver’s seat is comfortable and commanding – you get an excellent view of your surroundings, which is just as well, because the quality of the front and rear camera isn’t great. The rest of the features and trim quality are pretty good, though.
However, like most tall body-on-frame SUVs, the Mahindra Scorpio-N’s ride quality was a little on the jittery side on urban roads (especially poorly maintained ones), but it improved/settled once we hit triple-digit speeds on the open road. Overall, the new model’s on-road demeanour is markedly better than that of the outgoing Scorpio, which we would best describe as, well, agricultural. Refinement and comfort have clearly been improved; while there is still a bit of body roll, it’s nowhere near as wallowy as before.
The steering setup is surprisingly light and direct for this kind of vehicle. We’re accustomed to quick and pointy steering setups in hatchbacks and sportscars, so it took a while to get used to it in the Scorpio-N.
We also spent some time riding in the back of the vehicle, where we were impressed with the generous legroom afforded to passengers in the second row, who also get their own climate control dial and a USB-C port to charge their devices. As for the rearmost row, it’s comfortable enough to accommodate adults on short trips and perfectly suited for 2 kids; but, as to be expected, luggage space is limited, and the 3rd row doesn’t fold totally flat (as it does in the XUV 700), so that’s a drawback of the Scorpio-N…
Okay, but what about the newcomer’s off-road capabilities? Well, Mahindra was not going to let us drive on the open road only; we were sent to the Klein Tafelberg training facility! It’s not your average 4×4 trail and features some challenging climbs, descents and what feels like more sand than in Namibia. Only the toughest, dedicated 4×4 vehicles are able to traverse such terrain, and yet, the Mahindra Scorpio-N was able to complete the course, despite having only 187 mm of ground clearance and road-biased tyres.
The key factors at play were the clever automatically-locking diff and the selectable off-road modes. When its low range was engaged, the Scorpio-N performed admirably; it impressed even the 4×4 course instructors, some of whom admitted they thought they’d be recovering stricken Mahindras on the day.
How much does the Mahindra Scorpio-N cost in South Africa?
The new Scorpio-N derivatives are sold with a 5-year/100 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km warranty. It’s interesting to note that the prices below will only be valid until the end of March 2023.
| Scorpio-N 2.2D Z4 6AT 4×2 | R465 000 |
| Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8 6AT 4×2 | R510 000 |
| Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8 6AT 4×4 | R560 000 |
| Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 6AT 4×4 | R590 000 |
Summary
Following hot on the heels of its impressive XUV 700 sibling, the Mahindra Scorpio-N seems destined to resonate with local consumers. In the South African market, the high-end derivatives of legacy brands are in real danger of losing their relevance due to rapid new-car price inflation; car buyers are crying out for rugged, dependable and family-orientated vehicles that do it all, but don’t cost the earth to buy.
We recently spent a month driving the stylish, comfort-focused XUV 700, so the Scorpio-N felt a tad unrefined by comparison, but our minor gripes with it can be easily forgiven when you experience the latter’s off-road prowess and consider its keen price tag. You simply won’t be able to purchase an automatic, 4×4-capable, 7-seat SUV for under R600 000 unless you shop for a used/demo vehicle. Given its 5-year warranty and service plan, the Scorpio-N looks to be one of the bargains of 2023.
