The Scorpio is a brand which needs no introduction and while the Scorpio N has moved the name upmarket, Mahindra still has retained the current Scorpio but with some changes. The current Scorpio has been a firm favourite and retains a loyal fan-following so it made sense to continue it and also occupy the segment below the more premium Scorpio N.
The Scorpio Classic, however, gets many changes including the engine, gearbox and some interior updates which means it is not a simple facelift. While from the outside, things have not changed much at first glance, the new SUV logo from Mahindra is seen and a closer look reveals certain design changes as well. The grille is new along with an updated headlamp design plus a new bumper while this grey colour actually looks quite good in the real world with a change from the usual Scorpio colours.
Some details have been retained like the bonnet scoop but there are new 17-inch diamond cut alloys while from the rear, the classic LED tail-lamp of the Scorpio makes it instantly recognisable. The Scorpio has always been a butch-looking design and Mahinda has not messed with it here.
The interior retains the old-school charm but there are changes in form of the new logo and a bigger 9-inch touchscreen but the Scorpio look/feel is preserved. Some features are missing though and storage space could be better too while seat height adjustment continues to be difficult to access.
The second row has a huge amount of headroom and a great view while the seats in the captain-seat layout offer decent legroom too. We recommend the third row with the bench seat as it is safer than the jump seats.
While the looks or the interior do not have that much change, the driving experience is the biggest highlight of the classic. You have to start it up via the old-school way but the new 2.2l diesel settles down much more quietly now. This diesel engine is much more refined and smoother along with a nicer gearbox. The 6-speed manual is easy to use and the clutch is not heavy at all, a big change from the previous Scorpio.
The engine has 130bhp but the big factor is the 300Nm torque which makes it easy to use and it does not require many downshifts or frequent gear changes. It also cruises quite well.
The engine is also much more efficient now with start/stop available and it is much easier to drive in the city too. The slightly heavy steering remains and so does the bouncy ride but the suspension shows toughness which no other SUV can do at this price- at least with the way it tackles bad roads. It is an old-school SUV but the Scorpio Classic with its new engine gets more desirable and easy to live with while it continues to have a charm with its styling, toughness and a loyal fanbase with the brand value. With the top-end version being priced at Rs 15.4 lakh, the Scorpio Classic has its own appeal which no other SUV can match.
What we like- Looks, toughness, new engine, performance.
What we do not - No automatic, lacks some features.
ALSO READ | Aston Martin DBX 707 India Review: Most Powerful SUV In The World
Car loan Information:
Calculate Car Loan EMI