Mahindra Scorpio N (2023) First Drive Review

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Mahindra Scorpio N (2023) First Drive Review

Mahindra vehicles have long been held in high regard as a tough-as-nails but rough-around-the-edges workhorse. It's a very polarising brand with those that either loves them or those that just don’t like them at all. Will the new Scorpio N be able to change that?

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Shifted perceptions

Mahindra has sought to change the South African consumers’ perception of the brand from one of a hardcore implement to a lifestyle brand. This is a tall order as consumers generally don’t associate the brand with anything premium.

Make no mistake, Mahindra has a line of products already that do well to service multiple industries in South Africa where tough and practical vehicles need to be put into service but now that range is set to get even bigger and better with the introduction of the completely, all new, from the ground up premium lifestyle SUV, the Scorpio N.

We spent a few days on the local launch of the Scorpio N, traveling up and down the West Coast in Cape Town and even venturing out into the low-lying mountains, putting the new SUV to the test.

mahindra scorpio n (2023) first drive review

Styling

The Scorpio N has a very unconventional yet conventional design that is to say it looks like a large 3-row SUV but at the same time doesn’t look like anything else on our roads. We appreciate the deviation from the cookie-cutter designs that currently dominate our roads in SA.

It’s big but not too big, with dimensions similar to that of the current crop of large SUVs currently on offer, but that is very much where it stops. It has bulky flared wheel arches, with a continuous fender flare strip that runs from front to rear. Surrounding the C pillar at the rear window glass is a chrome strip that is said to resemble the tail and stinger of a scorpion while lower down the 18“ wheels and tyres fill the arches and chunky running boards finish out the side profile.

Upfront, you will find LED headlights and foglights that are said the mimic the eyes of a scorpion and a bold grille design that throws the conventional braai grid design out the window with its 6 upright chrome bars. At the rear, a set of vertical LED taillights that look borrowed from a European design, frame the rear barn door which draws the eye down to the shallow but chunky, rear bumper.

The Scorpio isn’t going to win any beauty contests as if defies what we’ve been trained to accept as a pretty design. It is however one of those designs that grows on you the longer you spend with it, very much like the new Tank 300 coming from Haval

Interior

Stepping into the new Scorpio N is an absolute treat. Many OEMs have taken the route to ditch brown leather interiors, but Mahindra has opted to trim theirs in a wonderful coffee-coloured leather. Some of the plastics are still a little scratchy but on the whole, the contact surfaces are a plush leatherette and beautifully trimmed with no flashing issues or exposed trim ends.

In terms of tech, the Mahindra gets an 8.8” touchscreen that is on par with segment standards that features Apple Car Play and Android Auto and provision for a system that will soon be introduced to South Africa via Amazon.

The usual bevy of USB and 12v points are located just above the wireless charge pad and the climate control panel. Climate controls are multi-zone so driver and passengers can set their chosen temp.

All in all the interior is better than anything Mahindra has put out to date, beautifully comfortable and yet still practical for lifestyle enthusiasts.

Performance

The Scorpio N is powered by the now famous, mHawk 2.2 liter turbocharged aluminium diesel engine that delivers 128kW and 400Nm. Power travels through a 6-speed automatic transmission that handles shifts in the higher gears and rpm ranges beautifully but could use some refinement in the lower ranges.

We did a 500 km round trip and completed some hardcore off-road activities on less than half a tank of diesel which equates to an estimated 4.9l /100km from the 57l tank.

The Drive

The body-on-frame construction is something of a compromise with the tar driving section feeling vague and wafty at speed. This could be down to the slab-sided nature of the SUV and the infamous cape doctor pushing and pulling at our convoy but in retrospect, this affects all body on frame SUVs and it is very difficult to strike a perfect balance, the Scorpio N, however, does a bang up job on getting close to that elusive crossing point. When it comes to the rough stuff though the Scorpio shines!

Hitting a whooping dirt road at speed revealed absolutely no squeaks or rattles, no dust penetration, in fact, the only noise we had came from the occasional ping of the driver warning system.

The offroad prowess of the Scorpio is fascinating to experience. Perched on the centre console is a rotary dial for the drive modes, you get 4L, 4H, sand, rocks, snow, mud, and a very clever electrically operated auto diff lock that can make even the most novice driver feel like they can conquer a mountain.

Models and Pricing

Scorpio-N 2.2D Z4 6AT 4×2	R465 000
Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8 6AT 4×2	R510 000
Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8 6AT 4×4	R560 000
Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 6AT 4×4	R590 000

Scorpio-N sold with a 5-year / 150,000 km warranty & 5 year / 100,000 km service plan

Verdict

The introduction of the newest XUV models and Pik Up variants has proven that Mahindra can in fact produce well-rounded vehicles that are not only functional and comfortable but capable too. The debut of the new Scorpio N now shows that Mahindra can make a premium SUV that can rub shoulders with the best in the market and do it for a fraction of the price. We highly recommend taking one of these SUVs for a test drive once they arrive at dealers and see for yourself just how far Mahindra has come.

Lawrence MinnieLawrence has been involved with motorsports for almost 30 years. Whether it's two wheels or four, if it has an engine, he will try to race it. This love of motor vehicles has led him to ride, drive, film, photograph, and write about his passion. Freelance for a while but now a permanent fixture on the AutoTrader team for over 7 years, Lawrence contributes written, photographic, and video content for AutoTrader and AutoTrader Bikes.View News & Reviews