Mahindra Scorpio-N 4x4 AT: 15 finer observations on ride & handling

Scorpio N, in 4WD AT guise, appears to be a truly capable machine. If you can afford and willing to use this 30-lakh car, for what’s its truly designed purpose, i.e., take the worst of Indian roads and explore roads that need 4WD.

BHPian sober_motorhead recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A driving enthusiasts’ view of the Scorpio N Diesel 4WD AT

Keeping my notes specific to the drive.

Test track:

• About 7 km on highway roads, with moderate traffic on Bangalore Hosur rood. Max speed 70 kmph.

• About 8 km of bombed out tarmac and slushy roads, at speeds one would not normally dare explore.

• Test drive vehicle was new. Odometer showed less than 100km.

The good:

• Commendable overall refinement, on smooth or bad surfaces.

• No creaks whatsoever. Car feels it’s well put together and can handle abuse. NVH levels (upto 70kmph on decent roads; upto 40kmph on bombed out roads)

• Engine – fairly quiet, under most conditions.

• Outside ambient noise – reasonably well supressed.

• Road noise – fairly well supressed on tarmac. Will say admirably supressed on broken patches

• Adequate throttle response; minimal turbo lag.

• Easy to use drive aids – 4WL, 4WH, Surface modes, Front camera switch etc.

• Vertical movement on bad patches – excellent control (tested at moderate speeds)

• Front and side visibility. Good sized ORVM’s.

• In general, easy to drive. Will appeal to women drivers as well.

The not so good:

• Below average rear and front camera resolutions.

What you could get used to:

• Grabby brakes.

• Ergonomic idiosyncrasies / quirks. I’m 5’7’’.

• Lateral movement – well, let’s says laws of physics do apply. (Passengers tend to be less appreciative of the laws of physics)

• Lack of telescopic steering.

Worrying:

• Lack of steering weight at speed.

• Also, lack of feedback. Likely to be hard to sense when the vehicle's tires were running out grip and starting to slip.

My personal take:

• Scorpio N, in 4WD AT guise, appears to be a truly capable machine. If you can afford and willing to use this 30-lakh car, for what’s its truly designed purpose, i.e., take the worst of Indian roads and explore roads that need 4WD, think it’s a great buy.
• If you are not going to use it to its true potential – you end up with an un-needed gas guzzler. That’s passe.

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