The Scorpio N is now the most popular Mahindra and there is indeed a lot of talk about it. We have driven and liked the petrol and the diesel 4x2 while only the 4x4 was remaining to be tested. We had driven the 4x4 briefly before but we decided to spend a week with it again to see if the extra money for the 4x4 Scorpio is worth it or not.
For starters, the Scorpio N 4x4 continues to be available with the diesel although with both manual as well as auto.
For starters though, this gold shade of the Scorpio N is relatively rare and we think the car looks even bigger and more premium. As said in our first-drive review, there is little doubt regarding how the Scorpio N hogs the attention and now looks premium too.
The same can be said for the interior as while it is a climb to get in, the fit and finish along with the design is light years away from the earlier Scorpio. That said for the pricing, you do expect that. The interior feels premium all right but not as text heavy as the XUV700 which is fine.
It does the basics well, the music system is pretty good and the 8-inch touch screen though small is also quite decent though we do miss a proper large screen 360-degree camera which is necessary with a car as big as this. The Scorpio N comes with all of the kit necessary for a premium SUV at this price and we mean, dual-zone climate control, sunroof, connected car tech, front/rear parking sensors etc. The dual-zone climate control chilled the large cabin effectively though again the rear camera feed could be better.
Space and comfort are ample especially in the middle row with no complaints from my passengers when on a short trip.
Let's dive into the 4x4 and the performance. The 4x4 test car that we had came with a 6-speed torque converter auto along with drive modes (Zip Zap and Zoom). The 4Xplor system is also new and comes with a low-range gearbox along with lockable diffs plus terrain modes (Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand).
Our first test was the water wading ability and that's where the 500mm ground clearance came in handy as it does stuff you would not do with a compact SUV. The tough suspension is brilliant over bad roads while the 4x4 makes things easy even for amateurs to try off-roading. It's nearly as capable as a Thar if not for the larger size and that's a compliment while handling slush and big rocks quite well.
In fact, the off-road ability is what sets the Scorpio N apart from its rivals and it is worth the money if you are slightly more adventure-inclined over the typical city usage. The 4x2 is pretty capable but the 4x4 unlocks the full appeal of the car.
On road, the light steering is a boon and a slightly bouncy ride aside, the diesel engine has excellent refinement along with low NVH levels. The 4x4 feels slightly heavier and it feels big no doubt but overall the 4wd system does not sap efficiency and nor does it weigh in on the on-road driving experience. In terms of efficiency, you should expect 10-11 but the 4x4 drinks a bit more than the 2WD version.
Overall, the Scorpio 4x4 is well worth the money in our books due to the capability which we should add, is for those who regularly go for long trips or require some off-roading.
What We Like — Looks, presence, 4x4 capability, performance
What We Do Not — Feels a bit heavy and needs a 360-degree camera
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