Mahindra Scorpio

Mahindra's Scorpio had completed 20 years in the Indian market this year becoming just one of the five badges in our market to hit this type of milestone. It seems apt then that Mahindra chose this milestone to launch the Scorpio N, a car that’s been a runaway success boasting of one lakh bookings in just 30 mins. 

While the Scorpio-N stole the limelight, Mahindra had also announced that then the current Scorpio would carry on alongside the new car as the Scorpio Classic. After numerous spy shots and information leaks, here is the car in the metal. What's new and what's changed? Let's find out. 

What are the terms I could use here, to sum up, the Scorpio Classic exterior design? I think iconic and familiar and that’s because Mahindra has retained all of the previous car’s exterior elements but with updated elements to bring into the new Mahindra fold. Put simply, if the Scorpio got a facelift without the N being around, this would be the car. 

Upfront on this Classic S11 trim, Mahindra has added a new front bumper, LED DRLs, fog lamps and its latest logo and grille. It’s done well to give the car a refreshed look but not so much that the familiar look is lost. On the side, the Scorpio retains its boxy silhouette that it is so well known for but now with a new design for the 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and a redesigned side cladding. The roof rails have been modified slightly while at the rear the overall design remains unchanged save for an additional Classic badge and red reflectors that stand vertically above the double barrel tail lamps.   

The Scorpio Classic will be made available in three-seating configurations- a seven-seat layout with two side-facing seats in the third row, a seven-seat layout with a captain second row and front facing the third row and finally a nine-seat model with seating for four persons in the third row. In this, the nine-seat version will be made available only with the base Classic S trim level, something that’s been popular in rural areas for carrying large loads of people or for those in power whole carry personal security around with them. 

The overall layout and placement are unchanged and what’s a new feature. The cabin is a black and beige affair with wood inserts in the centre console, black inserts in the door pads, quilted upholstery and a leather wrap for the steering wheel. The highlight of the dashboard is a new 9.0-inch infotainment system with phone mirroring, 16GB internal storage, Bluetooth and hands-free calling. Oddly enough, Mahindra has left out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, something that’s become common on vehicles across the pricing spectrum.

Most of the feature list is unchanged from the previous S11 model. You get front and rear armrests, an auto-up function for the driver’s window, a sunglasses holder, a one-touch lane indicator and what Mahindra calls an extended power window function that lets you operate the power windows for up to 25 seconds once the key has been removed from the car. 

The dimensions are unchanged from the previous car and so initial impressions indicate that you will get the same level of headroom, legroom and knee room across all three rows. This is something we would be able to you once we get a chance to drive the car. 

Powering this Scorpio Classic is Mahindra’s 2.2-litre mHAWK CRDI engine that produces 130bhp/300Nm and is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. The gearbox has shifted from a mechanical linkage to a cable mechanism which Mahindra says will make the shifts smoother and with smaller throws. Both versions are RWD with the AWD system only for the Scorpio-N.

The Mahindra Scorpio Classic will be offered in two variants Classic S and Classic S11. Mahindra has said that these were the two most popular choices among buyers when it came to this SUV and they were retained for the Classic. 

The 2021 Scorpio has priced from Rs 13.54 lakh to Rs 18.62 lakh and we expect that prices will largely go unchanged and at best a minor increase in view of it being a new model. With the Scorpio, ClassicMahindra will be looking to cover a wider price band in the D-segment. Its rivals include the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier and the MG Hector.  

Photography: Jay Shah