When talking SUVs, the Mahindra Scorpio has always been part and parcel of the Indian marque and has, surprisingly, been around longer than either of the ladder-frame SUV stalwarts bearing the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest names.
In 2002, Mahindra decided to build a car that'd compete in the global market. Decision and action, though, proved to be polar opposites, and due to the limited technical knowledge concerning SUV-building, the Indian carmaker had to seek assistance. Mahindra outsourced all the Scorpio's major systems to suppliers while it solely focused on the design, performance specifications, and program cost of the SUV. And that's how the Scorpio came about.
Still in its first generation, the Scorpio's steady refinements since 2002 have kept it reinvigorated, and luckily, at the time of penning this down, Mahindra had announced the Scorpio-N, which will replace the current model.
I received the robust Scorpio S11 4WD just in time for a family road trip to the Kruger National Park. As a rugged-looking SUV, the Scorpio stands tall and sinister while bearing an old-school stance that, if I am honest, has become synonymous with farmers, and outdoor aficionados. For the most part, the Scorpio raked in the distance to Mpumalanga with so much simplicity.
As far as bakkie-based SUVs are concerned, the Scorpio S11 doesn't have any natural local competitors with space suited to accommodating eight passengers with relative ease. However, with the third row of seats up, the boot space is compromised, which wasn't ideal when loading road trip necessities.
On the tech front, the Scorpio isn't exactly at the cutting-edge of equipment. Understandable, I suppose. You get a 7" touchscreen infotainment system with a single USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary jack, an HD reverse camera, cruise control, and a multi-functional steering wheel. It ends there. There's no Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto-smartphone pairing, nor usable storage spaces – not a welcome surprise considering the nature of the assignment.
Positives? Yes, of course. The interior is solidly built, thanks to coarse fabrics, semi-leather upholster and front foldable armrests which added a level of comfort during the 400 km+ stint to Mpumalanga. Also, the driver's seat gives a commanding view of the road ahead and surrounds through the sizeable windshield.
The mHawk 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine has always been Mahindra's ace in the deck, in large part due to its nippy disposition and frugality. Paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, the powerplant churns out 103 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque – modest, sure, but adequate for hauling the behemoth even when laden with eight passengers.
The Scorpio's engine is also not unreasonably harsh on the senses – on either the vibration, or noise fronts – with the bonus of a linear power delivery curve that lives beyond the 3,000 r/min mark. Driving around the Kruger National Park, the 50 km/h speed limit proved problematic, though. The gearing speed on the manual gearbox isn't ideal for maintaining the speed limit, with the Scorpio occasionally stuttering to a halt thanks to a stall. An automatic transmission would've certainly been better-suited to this task.
Overall, the Scorpio's ride quality isn't its most favourable trait. The suspension barely buffers the cabin from road imperfections, further affirming my view that it's not designed for opulence but for an outdoor lifestyle. Ditto with the amount of wind noise penetrating the cabin at highway cruising speeds because of its not-so-aerodynamic shape.
Mahindra's Scorpio is billed as the SUV that blends rugged delights with a pinch of modern technology, and for the past 20 years, that's remained true.
Around the Kruger, clinging religiously to the speed limit, the Scorpio proved to be frugal at 6.1l/100 km. On the open road, the numbers wafted around the 7.9l/100 km mark, which is quite impressive for a car tipping the scales at 1,925 kg.
While a price tag of R394,999 for this particular model may be startling at a time when shoppers tend to dig deeper into their pockets for an off-road capable model, it also comes standard with a comprehensive 4-year/120,000 km mechanical warranty and a full 5-year/90,000 km service plan.
In essence, the Scorpio leaves much to be desired; an automatic transmission, additional modern attributes, and a softer suspension setup. However, its eager engine, ability to carry eight passengers with aplomb, and traditionally-styled butch pose make up for the snags.
With the new Scorpio-N earmarked for our market, we'll certainly value and appreciate the extra sting in its tail.
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