2018 Mahindra Scorpio Facelift Review
Car Tested: 2018 Mahindra Scorpio Facelift; Road Test No. 879
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 11.53 – 18.69 lakhs
The most powerful version of the Mahindra Scorpio has surprising performance
The Mahindra Scorpio is one such Indian SUV that just doesn’t need any introduction. It was launched more than a decade back and has sold in very good numbers and has brought in a lot of success for Mahindra. The Scorpio has got minor updates over the years but it received a proper generation change only in 2014, a decade after it was first launched. Now, the automaker has given the SUV another update which is nothing but a mid-life update that consists of some changes to the cosmetics, certain additions to the equipment list and most importantly a significant bump in power and torque figures.
Motor Quest: The Mahindra Scorpio is now available in a variety of trim options which includes 2WD and 4WD options. Along with that, certain lower variants continue to come with lower power and torque figures. Mahindra also offers a pick-up version of the Scorpio and it is called the Scorpio Getaway.
Exterior changes are very minor limited to the lights, grille, bumpers & mirrors
Exteriors – Considering that this is a facelift, Mahindra has given the new Scorpio a new 7-slat grille (similar to the one on the Jeep Compass) with chrome inserts. The front bumper also sees minor tweaks, however, the projector headlights with the eye-brow like LED DRLs continue on the facelifted Scorpio and so does the muscular bonnet. The fog lamps have been redesigned and come with chrome bezels. The side profile is similar to the pre-facelifted car save for the new 17-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels and the ORVM-mounted indicators. The rear profile is much cleaner looking now with minor changes in the form of a redesigned tailgate which now gets a chrome insert above the registration plate holder. The SUV comes in a choice of four colours – Pearl White, Mist Silver, Napoli Black and Molten Red.
The cabin still has some room for improvement
Interiors – The updated Mahindra Scorpio continues with the dual-tone black and beige treatment for the dashboard. There are no vast improvements and you get the same 6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new reverse parking camera (with dynamic assist). You also get Bluetooth, AUX, USB connectivity and Navigation but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are still missing. Mahindra hasn’t done any changes to the door pockets as well and one will find it almost impossible to access the door pockets or even adjust the position of the seat when the doors are closed. The new S11 variant gets a sun-glass holder and auto-window roll up (window rolls up automatically when you lock the car). Some other features include automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, TPMS, follow me home headlamps, projector headlamps with static bending function and climate control. The AC chills the cabin nicely while the seats are comfortable, however, the third row jump seats are best suited for kids.
The higher output from the engine makes the Scorpio eager to drive
Performance – The Mahindra Scorpio continues to come powered by the same 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine but this time around, it produces 140 PS of power at 3750 RPM and 320 Nm of torque at 1500 RPM which is a very significant increase. Also, the engine is now mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and it also gets a Borg Warner turbocharger. With this, the new Scorpio feels pleasantly good to drive and low-end punch has increased drastically. Even the mid-range has an extremely good surge and hence the SUV feels much more livelier than before. During our VBOX tests, I got a 0-100 km/hr time of 12.59 seconds which is more than a second quicker than the older vehicle, while 100 km/hr comes up in 3rd gear at a notch below 4500 RPM.
Driveability on the highways has improved significantly with this new tune
With improved power and torque, the Scorpio packs a punch like never figure
NVH levels aren’t the best though and a lot of vibrations filter inside the cabin. At high speeds, you also get a lot of wind noise from the area near the A-pillar. The 6-speed transmission has good ratios and this makes the Scorpio eager in its performance but slotting into reverse gear is very difficult and takes a couple of attempts. Fuel efficiency is approximately 10-11 km/l in the city and around 13-14 km/l on the highways. Needless to say, the improved performance on the Scorpio has added a lot of life to the car and it feels so much better.
The Scorpio has always been known for its bouncy ride
Driving Dynamics – The suspension on the Mahindra Scorpio has always offered a very bouncy ride and this one is no different. Compared to the previous car, I felt a marginal improvement in the ride quality. However, Mahindra has a long way to go before they can match the comfort of the Tata Safari Storme. The stiff suspension set up on the Scorpio makes it a decent handler but there is a lot of body roll. The steering, though, offers very good feedback. Braking performance isn’t the best but it isn’t too bad either. Braking is pretty much predictable after you drive the car for a bit and even though the pedal feels spongy at times, stopping power isn’t all that bad.
Mahindra should offer dual airbags on all variants
Safety and After Sales Service – Global NCAP has crash-tested the Mahindra Scorpio (with no airbags) and the SUV scored a poor zero star rating in adult occupancy test and a mere two-star rating in the child occupancy test. However, Mahindra is offering dual airbags and ABS starting from the S5 trim. Considering that the S11 trim costs over 15 lakhs, it would have been great if Mahindra had offered side airbags, at least as an option. Mahindra’s after-sales service is good and the automaker has a widespread network across India.
The Scorpio is a better package now but few things still need attention
Verdict – Mahindra has brought in these minor improvements to the Scorpio to keep the product fresh and most of these changes are more than welcome, especially the better performance. However, the Scorpio has certain downsides like average ergonomics and the not-so-comfortable ride. Keeping that aside, it has proven its mettle over the years that it is a tough SUV offering good performance on and off the road, the Scorpio continues to remain a good choice for people who want a full-sized SUV in this price bracket because options are limited to only this and the Tata Safari Storme while the other options are compact SUVs. As for Mahindra, they might have to put in some more efforts in the near future to launch a more modern and posh version of the SUV, especially when new rivals will start popping up in the market.
Let’s play a game, spot the difference between this and the old one
What’s Cool
* The Scorpio now has very good performance
* It feels easy to drive and the transmission is very nice
* The cabin comes loaded with a lot of features, most of which are useful
What’s Not So Cool
* Mahindra needs to work on the ergonomics and practicality levels
* The bouncy ride can be a bother for people seeking comfort
Alternatives: Tata Safari Storme
Mahindra Scorpio or Tata Safari Storme, your pick?
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Further Reading –
2018 Mahindra Scorpio Video Review