By Otsile Kadiege

Recently, we jetted off to the Mother City for the launch of the all-new Mahindra Scorpio-N. The newcomer replaces the long-standing Scorpio which continues to be sold in India as the Scorpio Classic. It boasts fresh looks, new technologies, a new diesel engine, a new platform, and a bunch of mechanical upgrades designed to improve road comfort and off-road capabilities.

Scorpio-N grade walk

The new Scorpio-N is available in three flavours. The model range kicks off with the entry-level Z4 then progresses to Z8 and tops out with the Z8L. The Z4 is solely available with a 4×2 drivetrain and the Z8 is available with both 4×2 and 4×4. The range-topping Z8L is only available with a 4×4 drivetrain. 

Bold new design

The new Mahindra Scorpio-N sports a bold, modern look yet still maintains the outgoing Scorpio’s boxy shape. Up front, the Scorpio-N has an eye-catching bicolour grille with vertical slats and the brand’s “Twin Peaks” logo nested in the centre. The grille is flanked by LED headlights with sequential turn signals. 

The lower section sports C-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) which Mahindra says are reminiscent of a Scorpion’s tail.

There’s continuous body cladding all-round the vehicle and chrome trimmings on the door frames and door handles. As standard, the Scorpio-N is shod with 17-inch wheels which upgrade to 18-inch when opting for higher-spec models. Other noteworthy features include functional roof rails, side steps, tall stacked LED taillights and a swinging tailgate. 

The new Scorpio-N will be offered in 6 body colour options, namely Deep Forest, Napoli Black, Everest White, Red Rage, Dazzling Silver and Grand Canyon. Overall, we like the new design which is a major step up compared to the retro looks of the old Scorpio. 

Premium cabin

Like the exterior, Mahindra has gone to town with making the cabin a modern and comfortable place for passengers. Our launch test vehicle was the top-of-the-range Z8L which of course has all the bells and whistles. Highlights include Rich Coffee/Black interior colour scheme, an 8-inch touch display with decent graphics and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a configurable 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, wireless charging, leatherette seats, a sunroof, dual -zone climate control and an amazing 12-speaker 3D Sony Surround Sound system. 

The interior of the newcomer looks premium however, there is fair use of plastic materials. It is comfortable for both front and second-row passengers and offers sufficient head and knee room. Its third row, which unfortunately doesn’t stow, is best reserved for children.

Performance

At the heart of the new Mahindra Scorpio-N is a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 128.6kW/400Nm and it’s paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Mahindra used the next-gen Body On Frame platform for the new Scorpio-N. The diesel-powered Scorpio-N is fitted with a shift-on-fly 4WD system. It’s also equipped with an intelligent 4XPLOR 4×4 system with Selectable Terrain Modes (Normal, Snow, Mud & Ruts, Sand) and a mechanical locking differential.

Launch driving impressions

The 2.2-litre diesel engine carried the Scorpio-N with ease. It’s fairly quiet, punchy and perfectly paired with a retuned 6-speed auto. A sophisticated suspension ensured a decent ride quality, however, it tends to get wobbly when travelling on uneven roads at highway speed. 

We also tested the new Scorpio-N’s off-road capability at Klein Tafelberg. Much of the 4×4 route was covered with thick sand which required us to make use of the Scorpio-N’s terrain select as well as 4L and 4H. Throughout the gruelling 2 hours stint on sand, the SUV handled the treacherous course with ease. 

Pricing

Mahindra has upped the ante with the new Scorpio-N. It’s a perfect SUV for consumers who want an SUV that can do daily runs and weekend getaways in the karoo without breaking the bank. Pricing is as follows:

Scorpio-N Z4 4×2 – R465,000

Scorpio-N Z8 4×2 – R510,000

Scorpio-N Z8 4×4 – R560,000

Scorpio-N Z8L 4×4 – R590,00.