Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 Diesel – A Very Pleasant Drive
The new Mahindra Scorpio Diesel offered by USF-Hicom is a little of an eye-opener to me. Frankly speaking, I was not too enthusiastic about picking up the vehicle in the first place – I have driven one before, and although it was pleasant enough, and could do the job that it was designed to do, it didn’t impress me. Then, it was a 2.0 litre petrol-engined job that had reasonable, but not outstanding power.
This time, though, the Mahindra Scorpio handed to me had a 2.2 litre turbocharged diesel that has its origins in Europe, and this engine has helped to transform the little ugly duckling into a swan. The diesel has great torque, and it runs surprisingly quietly and very smoothly. You do know it is a diesel, with its characteristic clatter, but on the move, you will note the lack of the usual harshness and roughness of typical diesels used to power SUV’s.
New with the Scorpio is a 6-speed automatic gearbox – with additional flexibility in its gearing, the Scorpio delivers smooth and seamless gear changes. In addition, it has additional get-up-and-go, which was a real pleasant surprise for not only me but my passengers as well. Insofar as driving the Scorpio is concerned, I would rate it as equal to the best of the SUV’s in this class on account of the very smooth delivery of power, the seamless gear changes, and the excellent interior quietness.
Another pleasant surprise is the excellent riding characteristics – the wishbone and torsion bar suspension in the front, which the designers admitted copying from the Mitsubishi Pajero of many years ago works well to iron out the road shocks from the front, while the coil springs and live axle at the rear work in unison to keep passengers happy throughout all journeys. Over time, the designers must have worked very hard to tune and refine the shock absorber and spring settings to arrive at what they have today – an excellent handling vehicle. For the record, there is a front stabilizer bar that seems to work very well to keep the roll to a minimum, despite the soft ride.
Off-road, the Mahindra will hold its own against others. With an electronically engaged transfer box that allows you to shift from 2H to 4H and to 4L, the Scorpio can move from tarmac onto dirt with ease. Ground clearance is good, and we should not have any big issues taking the Mahindra off-road in this country. On a recent drive to Taman Negara, the media who were allocated the Mahindra were similarly impressed with the ride and handling both on road and off road.
Inside, the Mahindra shows signs that it has probably been through many rounds of development. As a driver or passenger, occupants will find the Scorpio to be very comfortable, but there will be occasion to complain just a little – for example, if you try to reach into the door pockets for anything you may have placed there, don’t bother, because there just isn’t enough room between the seat and the door panel for you to reach into the door pockets – this is probably due to the designers trying to fit large enough seats for the driver and front passenger to be comfortable, in a cabin that is way too narrow. Elsewhere, there are some interesting convenience features, such as seats that fold and tumble for ease of entry and additional stowage for large articles, and even an arm rest for the front and middle rows. The rearmost seat back detaches for extra cargo space.
From the exterior point of view, the current Scorpio is not the best-looking SUV around – the body dimensions, which were perfect a decade ago, seems small when compared to what is available today, and the body claddings that seemed so trendy then are now garish, but then, looks are very subjective. If you can get over the looks, then you will be able to appreciate the real values of the Mahindra Scorpio. There must be people like that around, I should think, otherwise how can you explain why people buy the Kangoo, the Berlingo, and the Fiat Multipla?
At the end of the test drive, I leave the Mahindra Scorpio with mixed emotions. I like the driving part of the vehicle – it certainly beats many others that I have tested – but somehow, whatever the designers planned in terms of aesthetics eludes me. For 4WD enthusiasts who want a seven-seater SUV at a very affordable price however, the Scorpio is something to be considered.
