It’s an iconic SUV for a whole bunch of reasons that include both the good and the bad. Launched in 2002, the Mahindra Scorpio, for a long time ruled the roost as there had been nothing like it and for a long time there was nothing like it.
The SUV quickly gained cult following thanks to the generous patronage of those who wanted to make a statement by arriving in them in large numbers. Apart from also gaining fame by being a part of director Rohit Shetty’s physics defying special effects, they remained in the spotlight for generous seating and being able to go anywhere (literally!)
The Mahindra Scorpio has gone through three generations of change and the 2017 model that has been launched is a facelift for the third generation that was launched in 2014. Here then, are the highs and lows of buying this recently updated SUV.
What’s good about it?
This updated Scorpio gets a revised face and grille which hasn’t changed its appearance all that much, but is more than enough for the car to be called an update. It also gets all the features that are considered standard in this part of the market.
Where the Scorpio manages to score is on presence. It’s a large car with a high roofline and in this third generation mid-life update, it is loaded with quite a bit of chrome ensuring that you will not miss it. Thanks to the side-facing third row seats, you can take eight people with you. It now gets the 2.2-litre diesel mill from the XUV500 and at present there is only the six-speed manual, but we believe that the XUVs six-speed AT will be offered soon.
What’s bad about it?
The top heavy body indicates that it’s a handful to handle and can be quite unnerving when you are speeding. What’s more, the interiors of the Scorpio are a love-hate affair- nothing in between. There is no petrol option and this shuts out the Scorpio to a lot of buyers who don’t drive much, but want something with lots of presence and guaranteed to turn eye balls.
The best variant to buy
The S7 140 2WD variant which is priced at Rs 12.99 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) and comes with all the safety features, climate control and a 2-DIN music system with all the connectivity options.
Quick facts
Price range
Rs 9.97 lakhs to Rs 16.01 lakhs
Specifications
Diesel 2.5-litre 74bhp@3200rpm and 200Nm@1400rpm
Diesel 2.2-litre 120bhp@4000rpm and 280Nm@1800rpm
Diesel 2.2-litre 140- 140bhp@3750rpms and 320Nm@1500rpm
Gearbox- five-speed manual, six-speed manual
Did you know?
The Scorpio is the first product that Mahindra had developed entirely in-house.
