Mahindra Scorpio-N: 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to not buy

The Mahindra Scorpio-N has finally arrived and it's grabbing headlines everywhere. We've already driven the new Scorpio-N and our first-drive review will go live on June 30. Meantime, here are the five reasons why you should buy the Scorpio-N, and two reasons to not buy.

The Mahindra Scorpio-N has finally arrived and it's grabbing headlines everywhere. We've already driven the new Scorpio-N, and our first-drive review will go live on June 30. In the meantime, here are the five reasons why you should buy the Scorpio-N, along with two reasons not to buy.

5 Reasons to Buy:

True-Blue SUV: The Mahindra Scorpio-N is the only true-blue 5-door SUV under Rs 20 lakh. It’s got a body-on-frame construction and optional 4WD, which means it has an edge over rivals like the Tata Safari (no 4WD/AWD) and its very own sibling – the XUV700 (AWD but features a monocoque body). Sure, the Mahindra Thar is another proper SUV under the budget of Rs 20 lakh, but the lack of rear doors makes it more of a lifestyle vehicle, and that’s a deterrent for a lot of prospective buyers.
Most Powerful Mahindra: Even though the new Scorpio-N has the same set of powertrains as the XUV700, its petrol engine produces more power than its elder sibling. The 2.0-litre m-stallion turbo-petrol develops 200bhp in the Scorpio-N, whereas in the XUV700, it’s slightly off the 200 mark at 197bhp. This makes the Scorpion-N the most powerful Mahindra SUV on sale today. That said, the 2.2-litre diesel engine develops higher power and torque figures in the XUV700 than in the Scorpio-N.
Feature-loaded: Just as Mahindra did it with the XUV700, it has loaded the new Scorpio-N to the gills with modern features and equipment. This means that it doesn’t feel crude or outdated like the outgoing version. For example, the top-end variants of the SUV get features like an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 12-speaker Sony sound system, connected car tech, built-in Alexa, electric sunroof, power-adjustable driver seat, six airbags, dual-zone air-conditioning, full LED projector lamps, 4Xplor terrain modes (top-end 4WD version), and a front camera. There is a six-seat configuration available as well.
Multiple Drivetrain Options: Mahindra is offering the new Scorpio-N in five variants across petrol and diesel versions. And the most impressive bit here is that there are multiple engine/gearbox options. Apart from the base Z2 variant, all the other variants get the option of both AT and 4WD options. This means you don’t necessarily have to opt for the more expensive top-end versions if you want an automatic gearbox or four-wheel-drive traction.
Punching Above its Weight: The new Scorpio-N is a much larger vehicle than its predecessor, but more importantly, it’s nearly the same size as the Toyota Fortuner. Compared to the Toyota, it’s wider (1,917mm vs 1,855 mm), taller (1,857mm vs 1,835mm), and has a longer wheelbase (2,750mm vs 2,745mm). Not to mention, it’s got a six-seat layout with middle-row captain seats, which isn’t offered with the Fortuner.

Dealbreakers

Missing Features, No Petrol AWD: While the Scorpio-N is kitted out decently, there are a couple of features that are still missing. There are no ventilated seats or auto-dimming IRVM in any of the variants. Similarly, the 8-inch touchscreen looks smaller than what’s offered in other cars in the same segment. Plus, you don’t get any of the ADAS systems that are on offer with the XUV700.

On the powertrain side, the Scorpio-N doesn’t get the option of 4WD in any of the petrol variants. We think it’s a big miss, considering the future of diesel vehicles as well as their short shelf life in Delhi/NCR (10 years).

Price & Waiting Time: The base and mid-level variants of the Scorpio are priced well, but irrespective of the features and equipment on offer in the top-end variants, they are quite pricey. At the moment, Mahindra hasn't revealed the prices of the top-end AT and 4WD variants. However, considering that the top-of-the-line Diesel MT version (Z8 L) is priced at Rs 19.49 lakh (ex-showroom), opting for the optional 4WD and AT will bump the price by Rs 2.5 – 3 lakh. Now, that's going to be quite steep! Not to mention, the launch prices are introductory (for the first 25,000 customers), and the prices will be hiked after that.

On top of this, given the high demand for the Thar and XUV700, the Scorpio-N is also expected to get a similar kind of reception, which will lead to a long waiting period for buyers.