Mahindra Scorpio 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

Mahindra Scorpio - Variants, Price and Features

Mahindra has launched the new Scorpio in six variants which are further divided into 7,8 or 9 seaters. The trim levels available are namely S3, S5, S7, S9, S11, and S11 4WD. Like the outgoing model, it is sold with a choice of two diesel engines. The base variant is S3 which is powered by a 2.5L, 4-cylinder m2DICOR motor and it is the only variant to be sourced with this engine.

The rest of the variants get the 2.2L, 4-cylinder mHawk engine. The S7 variant gets a choice of either a 120 BHP or a 140 BHP state of tune. Mahindra has removed the 4X4 option for the lower variants and only offers it in the top of the line S11 variant now.

Which variant to choose?

The S7 variant of the Scorpio is the most value-for-money variant in the line-up. It provides all the necessary features and also gives you an option to choose between two engines. Hence, the S7 is quite a unique variant in the line up in that way as it offers the most flexibility. At a starting price of Rs. 13.39 Lakh (Ex-Delhi) offers a lot of bang for the buck compared to its rivals as well.

How does Mahindra Scorpio perform?

The Scorpio is powered by 2 engine options. The first one is a 2,523 cc, 4-cylinder m2DICR turbocharged diesel engine which comes only with the base S3 variant. It produces 75 BHP @ 3,200 RPM and 200 Nm of torque @ 1,400-2,200 RPM. The power figure depicts that this variant is meant for commercial buyers rather than private owners.

The other engine option is the 2,179 cc mHawk with a variable geometry turbocharger. It belts out 120 BHP @ 4,000 RPM and 280 Nm of torque @ 1,800-2,800 rpm. This engine offers good driveability, power as well as refinement and is reserved for S5 and S7 variant. However, the same engine is offered in a higher state of tune in the S7 & S11 variants which has been carried over from the XUV 500. This one puts out 140 BHP @ 3,750 RPM and 320 Nm of torque @ 1,500-2,800 rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The cabin is prone to disturbing vibrations once you crank up the engine but the engine settles down eventually. After the initial diesel clatter, the engine portrays its level of refinement. The engine noise does not intrude into the cabin at idle and the car cruises on highways silently. However, certain hum & vibration creeps in if you lug the engine. Within the city, the car feels easy to drive around as the turbo lag is well-controlled. The low-end torque of the engine is quite admirable.

The 6-speed gearbox on offer comes with well-defined gates but they are placed far apart. The gearbox still does not offer short throws and they are on the longer side. Overall, the engine is quite versatile and can easily handle urban as well as highway conditions.

At the time of Scorpio’s launch in the market in 2002, it was the most powerful SUV in its segment. But fast forward into 2020, it is the last on the spec sheet in terms of power. The Harrier has also got an updated BS6 engine which is more powerful than the previous one. In fact, the other 3 SUVs are quite closely specced in terms of power and torque figures.

How fast is the Mahindra Scorpio?

Even though the Scorpio is not a car meant to engage in a stop-light race, the 0-100 kmph timings are not very impressive. It is the slowest car in the comparison. But if viewed in isolation, it is not very slow and most customers will be happy with its performance.

As the engine is quite a stellar, the slow shifting gearbox is a let down in terms of outright acceleration. It is an SUV meant for sedate driving rather than chasing down your opponent on a track.

In terms of outright performance, the Jeep Compass easily outshines the others. It is not only the fastest car here but also the fun to drive the car of its segment. Other cars manage to zoom past the Scorpio due to their lighter weight. Meanwhile, even though the MG Hector is quite a heavy car, it stays ahead in the game due to its ample power and torque output.

Mahindra Scorpio Ride Quality and Handling

In terms of the ride quality, Scorpio has been notorious to provide a very wobbly ride. But Mahindra has been able to improve the ride quality quite a lot with every new iteration of the SUV. Hence, the new Scorpio is no longer as bumpy as the older cars. However, the ride quality is still far from perfect. Even at slow city speed, you can feel the suspension going about its work. Due to the height of the car the ride quality never feels flat. Smallest of undulations are capable of unsettling the car sometimes and sharp bumps are felt inside the cabin no matter what the surface. Inside the cabin, the passengers can get tossed around on uneven roads due to the side-to-side movement.

But the suspension is quite robust and does not require you to slow down on rough roads. The Scorpio's base S3 variant rides on 215/75 R15 tire and should offer a better ride and comfort. Over on the highway, the ride is better as the faster you go the cushier the ride gets. But the Scorpio remains a top-heavy SUV and you must exercise caution around corners. t enough pushing the car due to its bumpy and unsettled behaviour. The rear especially gets jumpy over broken roads. Drive safely & conservatively, as you would with most other body-on-frame SUVs. This breed of vehicles is very easy to topple in an emergency manoeuvre and it's very difficult for the average driver to regain control once the limits are exceeded. In terms of stability Monocoque SUVs like the Compass and the Harrier can run rings around the Scorpio.

The Scorpio gets a hydraulic power steering which requires more effort than usual at parking speeds. But it is not too heavy and feels light on the move within the city. Once on the highway, it weighs up nicely and doesn't feel nervous. The Scorpio's ground clearance remains unchanged at 180 mm which is rough road-friendly. Overall, the Scorpio is still not the car that can compete with its rivals in terms of handling and comfort.

Braking Performance of Mahindra Scorpio

Good braking performance is imperative to make a safe car. The Scorpio gets disc brakes at the front but drum brakes at the rear. But Mahindra has made ABS with EBD as standard with the new Scorpio. Mahindra has also updated the braking hardware as the car now gets bigger discs, bigger brake pads, bigger caliper, and a new ABS system.

The brakes do their job and the performance is just about average and nothing exceptional. But the most annoying part is the nosedive under hard braking.

When comes to the braking performance no SUV in this comparison can bee the Jeep Compass. Its lighter curb weight and disc brakes on all four wheels help the car give a superior braking performance. The Scorpio is no match for the Jeep in terms of braking performance.

Mahindra Scorpio Mileage

The new Scorpio continues to provide the same fuel economy figures as the outgoing one. It returns a mileage of 15 kmpl which is the lowest in its segment. This is due to the heavier curb weight of the car as the Scorpio is the heaviest car in this comparison.

The Scorpio gets something which the Mahindra call mild-hybrid technology which switches the engine off at a stoplight and switches it on once the clutch is pressed.

In this comparison, the best mileage is provided by the MG Hector which also provides the longest range on a full tank. It also comes with a petrol engine which provides a mild hybrid system for optimum fuel efficiency. All the SUVs in this comparison are closely matched in terms of mileage.

Mahindra Scorpio Exterior Styling and Pictures

In terms of looks, the Scorpio maintains the same silhouette with some subtle changes on the outside. At the front, it gets a revised grille, a new bumper with a redesigned air dam, a new silver skid plate, and redesigned fog lamps. Radiator grille loses the chrome strip running along its top edge and the floating slats with chrome inserts have been replaced by 7 chrome slats like in the Jeep.

From the side, it gets redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels with 5 spokes. At the rear, the Scorpio gets a redesigned tailgate and a bumper. There are extra bits of chrome that might not be to everyone’s taste. Overall the design largely remains the same and you would not mistake it for anything else on the road.

The Scorpio might not be the best looking car in this comparison but it gets a generous amount of road presence. The best looking car arguably is the Tata Harrier which looks fresh and is an attention-grabbing machine. Interestingly, even while being a 5 seater, the Harrier is wider as well as longer than the Scorpio. The Compass is the smallest car in terms of physical dimensions and hence it is often referred to as the baby Jeep.

Exterior Features:

There are plenty of features on the outside of the XUV 500, some of which have been listed below: 

• Projector Headlamps
• Outer Mirrors with Logo Projection
• Rear Wiper Washer
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Fog Lamp Bezel
• Tailgate Applique
• Scuff Plates
• Roof Rails

Mahindra Scorpio Interior and Features

Mahindra has given the new Scorpio a mild refresh in terms of its interiors as well. The new car now gets a new black artificial-leather upholstery, blue inserts on the door pads, a redesigned centre console, a new gear knob, and a sunglass holder.

The cabin is now more practically laid out with a couple of more storage spaces. Steering is now leather-wrapped which feels quite premium and the front seats also get black faux leather upholstery. The new black & beige theme of the interior helps make the cabin feel airier.

The front seats provide more than adequate shoulder room and under-thigh support. Finding a comfortable driving position is easy, especially with the driver’s seat height adjust All-around visibility is also quite acceptable and the Scorpio now comes with a rearview camera. In the 2nd row of seats, you find ample knee.

The worst place to be inside the Scorpio is the 3rd row of seats as they do not provide much knee room or under-thigh support. You sit in a knees-up position due to the high floor which makes it unbearable in long journeys. The cabin overall feels spacious but is quite utilitarian in nature.

Out of all the Jeep Compass offers the most premium cabin as it is also the most expensive car in this comparison. The MG Hector and the Tata Harrier are neck and neck as both now get panoramic sunroof as well as powered driver’s seat. In comparison to rivals, the Scorpio does not exude much of a premium feel but is the only car that offers seating for 7 to 9 people.

Interior features on offer:

• Leather Seat Upholstery
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel 
• Front Armrest with Cooled Storage
• Soft-touch material on Dashboard
• Sunglass holder
• 7-inch Infotainment Screen

The infotainment system of the Mahindra Scorpio

Mahindra has not updated the Infotainment system in any form and continues to offer the same unit. However, with the addition of the reversing camera, it now doubles up as a display for the camera. The touchscreen is responsive but can slow down at certain times.

Quality of the display is nothing to talk home about and the placement is quite low on the centre fascia. Overall, the infotainment system offers average performance and functions. The audio from the speakers is also of average quality.

Infotainment Features:

• Android Auto
• Arkamys Sound
• Voice Messaging System
• Voice Commands & SMS Read Out
• Ecosense
• Bluetooth audio, handsfree call, iPod connectivity & picture viewer, configurable wallpaper

How big is the Boot of the Mahindra Scorpio?

The Scorpio offers 460 litres of boot space which is quite generous. But the thing to remember here is that the boot is merged with the passenger space and hence this space is offered with the 3rd row of seats are folded.

The 2nd-row of seats also fold away entirely liberating enough space to shift a house.  Even with 2nd and 3rd row of seats up, you can still stuff smaller bags in the boot. Loading and unloading heavy luggage will require some effort as you have to lift the bags high due to the high floor.

 The MG Hector provides the most boot space in this comparison as it the longest car here. It provides the most spacious cabin as well. But if you tumble the 3rd row of seat then the Scorpio manages to beat even the Hector in terms of boot space.

What are the safety features in Mahindra Scorpio?

Mahindra has given the Scorpio the same level of safety aides. It gets ABS with EBD as standard but the base model does not get the dual front airbags. Even the top of the line S11 model gets only two airbags. Mahindra could have certainly done better in this department as other rivals offer up to 6 airbags on their top-spec variants.

The Scorpio also received zero star in the Global Ncap crash tests due to its weak structural rigidity.

Safety features on offer:

• ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Rollover Mitigation
• Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control
• Emergency Call
• Side Impact Beams
• Disc Brakes on all Wheels
• Reverse Parking Sensors and Camera
• Dual Front Airbags

How does the Mahindra Scorpio compare against its rivals?

Mahindra Scorpio vs Tata Harrier

Tata’s new Harrier is a breed born out of the Land Rover DNA. Hence, it is believed to be quite a safe car as well as a car capable of being quite a potent off-roader. But Tata is yet to offer a 4X4 version of the car. In comparison the Harrier better than the Scorpio in almost every way. But in terms of pricing and seating, the Scorpio takes the cake away.

Mahindra Scorpio vs MG Hector

The Hector is MG’s first offering in India and has been received quite well by the market. It offers the most gizmos in its segment and also many first in class features. It also offers the most powerful engine in this comparison which makes it quite a value for money car. But it is yet to be launched in the 7 seater variant in India and it is yet to prove its reliability in the market. But still, the Hector is an all-round product and offers more than the Scorpio in almost every way.

Mahindra Scorpio vs Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass is the most premium offering in its segment and it is also the most expensive. It offers the most well put together cabin and also get proper off-roading hardware. The Compass also feels the most robust and can take a lot of beating. However, the Compass is the smallest car in its segment in terms of physical dimensions and hence offers the least space on the inside. When compared to the Scorpio the Compass offers a more premium experience with better off-roading capabilities. The Scorpio offers a more spacious cabin with seating for more than 5 people and costs way lesser than the baby Compass.

Should you buy the Mahindra Scorpio?

Since the inception of the Scorpio, it has managed to get a strong foothold in the market with some fan following as well. But with the arrival of new rivals, it seems like the Scorpio is lacking behind on many fronts. It is neither the most technically advanced car in its segment nor is it the biggest car now. But what the Scorpio continues to be a value for money product which offers a spacious cabin with an excellent engine. Hence, if you are in the market for a 7 to 9 seater SUV, the Scorpio still offers a deal worth having a look at.