The Scorpio created a wave in the Indian car market when it was launched. It is still selling very well, with people buying it because of its SUV image. The Scorpio was by and large a good car, but its handling wasn't very good; neither was the refinement and some other minor shortcomings. Moreover, the Scorpio is now going international, so Mahindra has to keep improving.
Most importantly, the Euro-III emission norms are now into effect. Since the Scorpio couldn't meet the new norms, the engine had to become cleaner, and since it was a diesel, the best way was to apply CRDi technology. Mahindra started the development of its CRDe Scorpio just a year back, in partnership with MICO BOSCH. And now it has been launched much to the delight of customers and auto buffs. At last, we have a world class SUV with an engine that matches standards across the world. I have written a full-fledged review regarding this popular vehicle.
Aesthetics- Rugged looks, good build, finish not so good.
One of the main reasons why the Scorpio was popular was its SUV-like butch styling. Even though it wasn't a complete off roader, it did have that image. The front styling hasn't changed much; in fact I can't find any notable change. So there are the aggressive headlamps, and the seven horizontal slot grille.
It imparts an angry aggressive character, which should go well with customers. The side also doesn't have any change. It doesn't look as smooth as, say the Safari, but looks okay. The lines are somewhat angular, and the side cladding enhances its appeal. Alloys are the same old attractive ones. The rear seems to slope too steeply. It is a bit too flat for my liking, and the tiny tail lamps don't do much to hide this.
This may be the only possible shortcoming in the styling of the Scorpio. The build is of good quality. Fit of the parts isn't all that good, and finish is just satisfactory.
Comfort- Comfortable but not very spacious
The Scorpio's interior also doesn't have any big change. The steering is grippy and is placed somewhat at the right spot. The instrument panel looks stylish with the oval dials and chrome bordering. Once you settle on the seats, you do feel comfortable, and space is okay. The dashboard has a new fiber and wood finish, which is quite nice. It is well laid out, with just one new air con feature (power blower). This is for hot conditions, and is very effective.
There are power windows all around. Quality can't be called exceptional, but it is average. Now comes the problem. The rear seats are mostly okay on comfort, but the legroom just isn't enough for an SUV of its size. Headroom is just okay, and three people can sit in decent comfort. The third row as usual is only for kids. You can fold the seats to get more luggage space. I feel the Scorpio would be better off with two spacious rows of seats rather than three cramped rows. This can at least be given as an option.
Engine and performance- Awesome CRDi unit, improved performance.
This is the best part of the new Scorpio. It is a 2600 cc common rail turbo charged diesel engine. This CRDi unit, (which Scorpio strangely calls CRDe where 'e' stands for engine) is much more refined than the old unit. The power is up only marginally, by 6 bhp, to 115 bhp. I think M&M said that this can be upped even more, but it was sufficient. Torque is up to 28.3 kgm. Don't think this is an old ancient CRDi unit. It is actually the second generation unit, which is being used world over. The pump pressure is 1600 bar, which is the norm internationally. So first, it is a CRDi, and then it is an advanced CRDi engine!
Initial acceleration is very good. Low-end torque is good, and it is more involving to drive. 60 km/h is achieved in 6 seconds, an improvement over the old Scorpio. The engine is quite refined even at higher levels on the rev range. The gearshift is not slick; it is notchy and a little uncomfortable. High-end punch was an advantage on the old Scorpio, and even on this version it is very much so. The top speed it manages is 152 km/h (8 up on the old Scorpio), which is very good taking into consideration its weight of 1.9 tones. Even though power isn't improved a lot, the driver involvement is more, though I can't find any particular reason.
Ride and Handling- Okay ride, bad handling.
The Scorpio isn't structured around a monocoque, so ride and handling won't be very impressive. The ride is good though, and it is quite comfortable. But there is a considerable amount of body roll, thus adversely affecting the handling. It is by no means a good handler, and its weight makes it even worse. Cornering at high speeds makes it roll a lot, and is sometimes scary. So I suggest that you be relaxed while driving it, instead of pushing it to the limit while cornering. On the highway too, it isn't as stable as one would like it to be.
Running costs, service backup- More or less the same economy, average servicing.
In spite of the new CRDi unit, the Scorpio's efficiency doesn't show much of a change, which isn't anything bad. In tough city conditions, it manages above 10 km/l, while on the highway; it will return at least 12-13 km/l. In mixed conditions it returns an average of 11-12 km/l. So it is okay overall. The service backup of M&M isn't all that very good. Its dealer network isn't as extensive as, say Maruti. Also, the quality of service is supposedly just okay. Spare parts will be available easily, and they won't be very costly either. But service is something you will have to check out before buying the car.
So what does this new CRDi power plant give the Scorpio? As far as the looks and comfort go, there hasn't been any major change as such. But the refinement has improved considerably. The slightly higher power and torque figures ensure marginally better performance. One disadvantage, handling hasn't been sorted out as yet. Hopefully, the other variants of the Scorpio will improve on this. Fuel economy is also the almost the same.
You may feel that the improvements are minor, but so is the price increase. It just costs some 10k extra, and for all these improvements, I don't think that is much. Besides, we Indians have to get the latest and best from the manufacturers. So I whole-heartedly recommend the Scorpio CRDe, I think we have yet another success from Mahindra.
VERDICT- Only a small improvement, but more than worth the price.
LOOKS- 9/10
BUILD QUALITY- 9/10
FIT AND FINISH- 8/10
INTERIOR- 8/10
ENGINE- 9.5/10
PERFORMANCE- 9.5/10
RIDE- 8.5/10
HANDLING- 7/10
FUEL EFFICIENCY- 9/10
VALUE FOR MONEY- 9.5/10
THE GRAND TOTAL- 87/100
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