• Published On: 17 November 2017
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Mahindra has reworked the Scorpio cosmetically and has added equipment, plus, it gets a retuned motor for more power. So much better is it? Let’s find out.

Scorpio enthusiasts have always been fan of the SUV’s 2.2-litre mHawk engine. The motor is known to be smooth and quiet for an engine of its size, it also has good low-end torque which gives it impressive drivability. However, the engine felt stressed when pushed to its limit. This made highway overtaking manoeuvres a struggle. For this reason, the SUV now has a new, more powerful tune. The power figures are now on par with the XUV500, at 140hp and 320Nm.

On the Outside

The exterior of the updated Scorpio has not changed much. It features an all-new grille which takes the place of the older blade-like slatted grille. This grille now has seven slats, giving it a traditional look. The front bumper is now reworked, it features new fog lights and a new skid plate. The headlights on the SUV have also been altered and there are turn indicators on the OVRMs.

The manufacturer has cleaned up the rear of the Scorpio, the tailgate is now devoid of any plastic and now feature a red lens instead of the clear ones seen on the outgoing model. In its entirety, the facelifted Scorpio looks more up-to-date.

On the Inside

In the top-spec S11 trim, the Scorpio features new additions like the new Indigo-coloured seat covers with a neat looking blue pattern, gear lever and the steering wheel in the car also use the same material. Other than this, the insides remain familiar to the outgoing model. The driver’s seat continues to give good view of the outside thanks to its vast glasshouse. However, the overall build quality of the car is still lacking, and the door handles feel extremely weakly built.

Mahindra has equipped the new Scorpio with a dynamic parking camera. This camera works to show the SUV’s path while parking. This is really useful for people who aren’t used to reversing an SUV the size of the Scorpio. There are new storage spaces as well, including a new cellphone holder and sunglasses holder. The touchscreen infotainment system still misses out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which we expected to see this time around.

How Does it Drive?

The aforementioned mHawk motor has been retuned for more power in the new Scorpio, 20hp and 40Nm of torque to be specific. This increase in power considerably enhances the SUV’s performance. The new turbo makes the Scorpio feel a lot sharper than before. There is also a newfound surge in torque around the 1,500rpm mark. Also noticeable is the increase in acceleration in the mid-range, this should positively affect highway driving. The manufacturer has also improved the car’s braking by equipping it with a larger brake booster, which is a must to go with the increase in power. Paired to this engine is an all-new transmission, it is a manual unit with an additional gear, taking the total to six.

Mahindra claims to have made this new gearbox smoother shifting after the older unit was infamous for its rough shifts. However, the gearbox has a tough time sliding into reverse and getting it takes a few attempts to get used to. The car is noisy at first with typical diesel clatter but settles down later.

Should I Buy One?

In its newest form, the Scorpio continues to have rough edges and still misses out on an automatic gearbox. The engine however, does give the Scorpio a gain in performance and fixes the lacking top-end of the older SUV. The new six-speed gearbox will undoubtedly result to better performance in the city or at higher paces on the highway. In conclusion, the facelifted Scorpio is now a considerably better performer.