Test Driven - The new Scorpio

[netarchie]

Hi all,

Yesterday I got the opportunity to test drive the new Mahindra Scorpio.
This was the first time I had stepped into an SUV. The feeling was indeed great.
And one thing I can tell you all is.. this SUV rocks.
The new scorpio has lot of improvements over its predecessor.
I took a short test drive, abt 5 kms, could not rip it..!!
Overall, I thing it is a good VFM.
1) The power is amazing, quick acceleration.
2) The engine is quite responsive.
3) Doesn’t feel like a diesel engine at all
4) No noise whatsoever
5) Inside cabin is very quite.
6) Moreover it has very comfortable seating arrangements.
7) Nice view in the front.
8) Good responsive steering.
9) I found the Gear shift like the tata ones, had to make effort to shift gears.
10) Braking was quite ok.
11) Handling was the best. You don’t feel like you are driving a big car.
12) Looks wise, it certainly has a good masculine road presence.
13) Lot of features inside the SUV, like cup holders, delay lamp ect,ect. The dealer almost explained all the 43 changes which mahindra claims to have made in the new edition.
14) With an on road price of 8,80,000/- ex thane, the top end is a good buy.
15) The sad part is even the fully loaded model does not include alloys.
16) I don’t know abt the FE of this giant, but the dealer claimed abt 11 in the city with ac.

Overlall, would love have the SUV in my garage.

netarchie
indica DLS 2002

[Jay]

Hey Netarchie, have you driven the older version of Scorpio... i need to know the diff between the braking ( older version as compared to the latest )... the older version's brakes sucks big time... have they improved it a lot as they claim to have ???...

[SLK]

After driving a scorpio (old), I could not drive my wagonR properly for the next 5 mins!... it felt like a weightless little car.
WagonR's clutch felt like it had no spring...
Power steering felt like it was not connected to wheels
Gears went in like hot knife in butter! (No feeling)
Engine response was like... i had pricked the engine.

Lets see what happens with the new scorpio!

[gutsy]

Originally Posted by netarchie

1) The power is amazing, quick acceleration.
2) The engine is quite responsive.
3) Doesn’t feel like a diesel engine at all
4) No noise whatsoever
5) Inside cabin is very quite.
6) Moreover it has very comfortable seating arrangements.
7) Nice view in the front.
8) Good responsive steering.
9) I found the Gear shift like the tata ones, had to make effort to shift gears.
10) Braking was quite ok.
11) Handling was the best. You don’t feel like you are driving a big car.
12) Looks wise, it certainly has a good masculine road presence.
13) Lot of features inside the SUV, like cup holders, delay lamp ect,ect. The dealer almost explained all the 43 changes which mahindra claims to have made in the new edition.
14) With an on road price of 8,80,000/- ex thane, the top end is a good buy.
15) The sad part is even the fully loaded model does not include alloys.
16) I don’t know abt the FE of this giant, but the dealer claimed abt 11 in the city with ac.

Took test ride today! Perfect review and I would agree with almost all the points. Do agree, the gear is hopeless, it vibrates like hell.. giving you a feel as if you are driving truck.

Handling is good, you dont feel as if you are driving big car. Rear seat is average, the hand rest on rear seat is useless.. I feel its better that they should not provide the same..

The 5 start goes to engine.. thats really smooth and responsive...

[karthik247]

Hows the handling? Did u get a chance to pust it? Thats one major place where the Scorpio has to improve..

Post a few pix too

[amit mohan]

Hi net archie,

I just want to know wether the new one rolls as much as the older version. I test drove the old version on its initial launch. I felt that it rolled a lot.

Maybe suv's tend to roll a bit but the scorpio really lurched.............

[bhp]

Originally Posted by netarchie

14) With an on road price of 8,80,000/- ex thane, the top end is a good buy.

have they increased the prices .......bcoz the price of the top end model crde was 8.8lakhs on road mumbai

[Hells Bells]

yup, the new one rolls (and so doesnt really rock and roll...bad one ). Go above a ton and every undulation on road makes you grip the steering even harder. To put it in other words, did not inspire confidence. And even for its top end model (SLX), a whole lot of features should be there on the platter (like height adjusment...i know it has a good driving posture...but hell!!!...and alloys, as mentioned previously)
And after having test driven so many new sedans, the interiors were bit of a let down (I know sedans and SUV are not to be compared).
But engine is great. Eats up road and competition like nothing else.

Unfortunately, handling spoils the whole package. IMHO.

Cheers

[netarchie]

The new scorpio does not role, alteast not that i observed anything, and the brakes was also quite efficient.
anyways, i have not driven the old scorpio, so cant really comment on that.
overall what impressed me most was the power of the SUV.

Don't write the whole message in BOLD.- Mod Team

[suman]

Netarchie, buddy, try not to post the entire message in BOLD, it's a strain on the eye.....

Btw, the old Scorpio is a nightmare handler at high speeds I'm told and from what I understand from Veyron1's post elsewhere, the newer one doesn't appear to have exorcised the ghosts very successfully either.

Cheers!

[Boom Shiva]

I really hope they have sorted out the dodgy handling. We were looking for an SUV in that bracket, but Scorpio's bad reputation at highway speeds is what put us off.

[aZa]

I'll be taking a test drive soon too, we are planning on a out-station/off-road vehicle. Scorpio was never in contention it was more like Innova or Endevour but this new RED color and the bunch of changes has put it back in race lol

lets see i'll post a review soon

[durvasa]

I test drove Scorpio (SLX) today at Vijay Auto, Bangalore.

My reaction: Its my first review on the forum so please be lenient on feedback

1: Engine is as good as before, really the second best part of scorpio, after its looks.

2: At 9.6L OTR (Bangalore, SLX), its a lot of good looking space for the price. Innova and Tavera probably beats it in the space but then they are plain janes next to Scorpio.

3: Interiors including Sofas are much better than Safari Dicor but worse than any saloon in 5L+ price category. Beige color interiors are bright. seat fabric is so so and so is plastic. There are lots of small cubbyholes to keep coins and mobiles but few large ones.

4: For the price, I miss airbags, seat height adjustment, but I get a lot of metal.

5: Visibility is great; I (5’7") can see the front corners of the huge vehicle, something I can't do with most sedans.

6: Steering is as easy as a mid-sizedl car but when I drove on a dirt track (between airport road and Microsoft/Dell offices) at above 30Kph, at times I felt that steering wheel momentarily lost all relationship with wheels. It was scary!! I would like feedback from others if they felt the same,

7: Suspension is as good/or as bad as before. I drove the earlier Scorpio CRDE too but I frankly did not see any difference. My wife who was sitting on the middle seat complained of backache within 20 min of test-drive.

8: Roll is still there, though less than before. It dangerously lurches forward, when brakes are jammed on. The pronounced roll made it uncomfortable for me to drive Scorpio at 80+kph on the winding Inner Ring Road.

9: I found brakes to be adequate but not very trustworthy. The bite, when jammed on, is too hard and you sigh for ABS for those rainy days.

On the whole, NSC (new Scorpio CRDE) is a decent package for those who need a diesel vehicle with more space than a sedan, more style than Innova/Tavera, and priced below Rs 10L. I personally would let it go, even though I waited 3 months for its launch. Its back to Optra Royale or Elantra CRDe for me.


Thanks,
Durvasa

[suman]

Hey Durvasa, you write good reviews !

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by suman

Hey Durvasa, you write good reviews !

Durvasa, I second Suman on that. You conveyed it all very well. Good first review...

Btw guys, I am seriously wondering now. *** did M&M do with all that lotus tuned suspension and all? People still seem to have the same old complains of yore. Seemingly, the vehicle still rolls, lurches and in general gives you the creeps at anything above the city speeds.