Mahindra Scorpio-N Review: 2.2D Z8L 6AT 4x4

Conquering the powder-soft sand on the way to the top of Klein Tafelberg in the Western Cape is a challenge enjoyed by impassioned off-road fans and unquestionably not the usual playground for a luxury SUV – even one designed with dirt-tracking capability.

However, the all-new Mahindra Scorpio-N turned in impressive as Alan, my co-driver, and I pressed it to take on steep climbs with names such as Milkshake Hill and Die Slang aiming for – and reaching – the summit and the chance for a breather while taking in the beautiful vista spread out below.

The Scorpio-N – and yes, there is and will be a reference to a ‘scorpion’ – was formally launched in South Africa in June of last year at the same time as its reveal in India, but is now in dealer showrooms with four variants on offer and pricing starting at R465 000 for the base 4x2 model.

With only the name carried over from the previous generation, the Scorpio-N forms an integral part of a new product offensive from the company that covers the bakkies, the XUV700 and the SUV and, 

Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, says: “In June 2022, Mahindra South Africa launched its new brand Identity and logo, characterised by the ‘Twin Peaks’ logo, incorporating the ethos of creating authentic vehicles for personal exploration and adventure.

Akin to its extremely capable brand-mates, the Pik Up Dusk, Dawn, and Storm, and the modern XUV700, the Scorpio-N engineering is for adventure.

Built from the ground up, the Scorpio-N elevates existing segment benchmarks across all critical parameters: performance, capabilities, technology, sophistication, ride, and handling, NVH, interiors, appearance and safety.

The All-New Scorpio-N became the first body-on-frame SUV to secure a 5-star rating in the Global New Car Assessment Programme’s (GNCAP) new crash-test protocols, which came into effect in July 2022.

“Bigger, bolder, more powerful and laden with safety and technology, the Scorpio-N nomenclature represents the fact that it raises the game to the power of N,” adds Gupta.

The scorpion reference comes as part of the external look where the daytime running lights and front fog lights enclose resembles a scorpion tail – this is just part of a whole new look for the SUV that is both modern and elegant with a large glass area allowing excellent all-round visibility from all three rows of seats. 

A metallic Scorpio tail element is seamlessly integrated into the beltline, swinging to the top of the window, giving the Scorpio-N more of a sting.

On the drive up the West Coast from Cape Town, the car certainly garnered more than a few second glances from other motorists on the road.

With the male demographic in mind (between 35 and 45 years), the philosophy behind the design assumes a family with two or three young children. So, the car blends the elements of pure practicality as a daily commuter, school runner and weekend adventure lifestyle getaway.

Alan and I were impressed with the fit and finish of the interior, the smooth ride on the highway and the generally high level of sophistication. We, admittedly, drove the flagship of the range, the 2.2D Z8L 6AT 4x4 that offers – just for fun – 12 speakers and an Immersive 3D Sound system from Sony.

The interior finish is coffee-black leatherette upholstery, command seating position, a centre console encased in metal-finished dual rails and an integrated 20,32 cm infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

The Scorpio-N is powered by a mHawk (Diesel) engine with 128,6 kW of power and 400 Nm torque, driving through a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The engine provided more than enough grunt to tame the sand – the Scorpio-N offered both 4H and 4L gearing with a rotary selector knob to switch between ‘Normal’, ‘Snow or Mud’, ‘Sand’ and ‘Rocky’ terrain, where the gearing and responses of the SUV adjust to tackle obstacles.

With a mere touch, the electric shift-on-the-fly 4Wheel Drive System transforms the Scorpio-N from 2WD mode into a capable 4WD beast. The Scorpio-N also gets three drive modes to match the driver’s mood: Zip, Zap and Zoom. Zip for smooth riding, mainly through traffic, Zap for performance, and Zoom to ramp it up for a more engaging and exhilarating ride quality.

The quest for cleaner motoring is evident in the CO2 emission, with several sustainability technologies in metallurgy and component optimisation, such as the latest generation dip paint and low RRC tyres to lower CO2 emission and LEDs for reducing the overall energy consumption by 10%. 

The Scorpio-N features six crash bags, disc brakes on all four wheels and hydraulic brake assist and electronic brake pre-fill. 73% of the structural design hinges on high-strength steel and three structural zones to improve the crash performance. 

The standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) features an automated brake wiping system that cleans the brakes of debris every few seconds in wet conditions.

In our all-too-brief encounter, the Scorpio did very much to rise to the occasion.

Variant Pricing