It
was
back
in
2002
that
the
Mahindra
Scorpio
first
debuted.
Back
then,
it
was
the
best
SUV
Mahindra
had
ever
made
and
it
remained
that
way
for
several
years.
Despite
many
attempts
from
competitors,
no
SUV
exuded
a
charming
character
quite
as
the
Scorpio
did.
In
2006,
2009,
and
2014,
Mahindra
launched
facelifts
of
the
Scorpio.
However,
a
brand-new
Scorpio
would
arrive
only
two
decades
after
the
first
one
hit
the
roads.
Earlier
this
year,
Mahindra
launched
the
much-awaited
Scorpio-N.
Needless
to
say,
the
Scorpio-N
has
turned
out
to
be
an
immense
success,
with
Mahindra
receiving
one
lakh
bookings
within
just
30
minutes
of
booking
being
opened.
While
the ‘N’
is
all
set
to
take
the
Scorpio
brand
to
the
next
level,
the
older
Scorpio
has
turned
out
to
be
one
that
can’t
be
pushed
aside
easily.
It
still
holds
great
brand
value
and
is
still
bringing
in
a
steady
flow
of
bookings.
Hence,
Mahindra
decided
to
keep
it
in
production,
under
the ‘Scorpio
Classic’
moniker.
While
it
does
look
exactly
like
the
older
Scorpio,
Mahindra
has
made
enough
changes
to
keep
it
going
strong
for
a
few
years.
We
drove
the
SUV
a
few
hundred
kilometres
to
see
what
it
is
all
about.
So,
what
are
the
changes?
How
effective
are
these
changes?
Is
it
worth
your
money
in
2022?
How
does
it
stack
up
against
the
Scorpio-N?
Read
on
to
find
out.
Design
&
Style
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
built
on
the
principle
of
retention
and
the
one
thing
it
has
retained
very
well
is
the
design
and
styling.
It
has
got
the
same
boxy,
proportionate,
butch,
classy,
and
muscular
looks
that
the
Scorpio
has
been
carrying
around
for
years
now.
Up
front
is
the
same
familiar
fascia.
It
retains
the
clear-lens
wraparound
headlamps,
the
bonnet
with
muscular
lines,
and
the
iconic
hood
scoop.
The
hood
scoop
however,
is
no
longer
functional
and
Mahindra
has
chosen
to
retain
it
as
an
aesthetic
element.
The
grille
up
front
is
new
and
features
six
vertical
chrome
slats.
It
even
gets
the
new
Mahindra
Twin
Peaks
logo.
Not
much
has
changed
in
terms
of
the
design
on
the
front
bumper.
It
now
features
pretty
basic
LED
DRLs
placed
above
the
cornering
lamps.
The
skid
plate
at
the
bottom
is
finished
in
matte
silver.
The
wheel
arches
and
quarter
panels
further
enhance
the
muscular
design
and
styling
When
viewed
from
the
side
profile,
the
new
alloy
wheels
are
the
first
element
to
grab
your
attention.
The
dual-tone
diamond-cut
alloys
heels
certainly
look
good
and
enhance
the
styling
of
the
SUV,
however,
sometimes
it
does
feel
like
the
black
finish
on
the
wheel
make
them
look
a
little
understated.
The
cladding
is
now
body-coloured
and
the
new
Scorpio
badging
on
it
is
more
pronounced.
The
SUV
also
gets
a
new
mHawk
badge
on
the
quarter
panels.
The
silhouette
of
the
side
profile
remains
unchanged
and
that
is
a
good
thing
for
die-hard
fans
of
the
Scorpio.
Move
on
to
the
rear
and
yet
another
signature
Scorpio
element
is
now
back
in
business.
The
tall
tail
lamp
has
been
resurrected
on
the
new
Scorpio
Classic.
This
was
a
design
element
that
first
appeared
on
the
2006
facelift
of
the
Scorpio
but
was
omitted
on
the
2014
facelift.
After
a
hiatus
of
over
seven
years,
the
tall
tail
lamp
is
back.
Apart
from
the
tail
lamp,
the
other
changes
at
the
rear
include
a
new
Scorpio
Classic
badge,
a
prominently
placed
Twin
Peaks
logo
and
the
S11
badging
is
present
just
below
the
Scorpio
badge.
You
still
get
a
large
step
for
passengers
to
get
into
the
boot
and
the
large
spoiler
too
has
been
retained.
On
the
whole,
the
Scorpio
Classic
has
retained
the
design
and
styling
of
the
older
Scorpio
and
this
will
certainly
keep
bookings
coming.
Cockpit
&
Interior
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
has
always
had
a
rugged
and
practical
character
and
its
interior
screamed
of
the
same
nature.
It
never
came
with
over-the-top
luxury
or
a
lengthy
features
list.
It
did
the
job
well
and
that’s
about
it.
The
Scorpio
Classic
too
has
retained
the
same
nature.
Tugging
on
the
chunky
door
handle
and
swinging
the
heavy
door
open
reveals
the
understated
interior
of
the
SUV.
It
gets
new
beige
upholstery,
however,
the
overall
interior
layout
remains
the
same.
The
seats
are
as
flat
as
they
always
used
to
be
and
the
fabric
still
feels
a
little
too
raw
and
rough,
like
it
can
handle
abuse.
Climb
into
the
driver’s
seat
and
the
first
thing
one
would
notice
is
the
steering
wheel.
This
particular
settering
wheel
is
borrowed
from
the
erstwhile
XUV500
and
is
a
chunky
unit.
It
has
mounted
controls
that
can
control
various
functions
like
cruise
control,
music,
etc.
Behind
the
wheel
is
the
analogue-digital
instrument
cluster
with
a
blue
backlight.
It
certainly
is
a
remnant
of
the
old
Scorpio
and
looks
decent.
The
MID
is
very
small
and
yet
packs
quite
a
lot
of
information.
It
displays
the
gear
position
indicator,
odometer,
two
tripmeters,
temperature
gauge,
and
fuel
gauge.
This
MID
is
flanked
by
a
large
analogue
speedometer
to
the
right
and
a
tachometer
to
the
left.
The
dashboard
is
compact
and
narrow
and
taking
centre
stage
on
the
dash
is
a
new
9-inch
infotainment
unit.
The
touchscreen
is
Android-based
and
while
touch
performance
is
decent,
the
interface
is
more
like
an
Android
tab
and
it
does
give
users
a
feeling
that
an
Android
tab
has
been
stuffed
into
the
dashboard.
The
UI
certainly
could
do
with
some
improvement.
The
S11
variant
comes
with
six
speakers
to
reproduce
sound.
These
speakers
do
have
quite
a
bit
of
jarring
and
while
it
does
produce
bass
notes
pretty
well,
the
mids
and
highs
are
muddy
and
no
amount
of
EQ
tweaking
made
them
sound
good.
While
the
dashboard
and
cetnre
console
layout
hasn’t
changed
much,
the
addition
of
faux
wood
trim
does
add
a
touch
of
premiumness
to
the
SUV.
The
centre
console
sticks
to
the
bare
basics
too.
The
Scoprio
Classic
remains
devoid
of
any
premium
features
and
it
does
have
quite
a
few
rough
edges.
Some
would
say
the
fit
and
finish
isn’t
great,
but
this
is
just
how
the
Scorpio
has
always
been.
The
finish
definitely
could
have
been
improved.
For
example,
connectors
to
the
rear
defogger
are
exposed
and
this
is
quite
shoddy.
Comfort,
Practicality
&
Boot
Space
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
has
always
been
a
practical
SUV
and
the
same
traits
are
carried
forward
with
the
Scorpio
Classic
too.
The
seats
are
wide
and
comfortable.
The
contouring
on
the
seats
are
missing
and
it
does
feel
more
like
a
flat
bench,
especially
in
the
middle
row.
However,
there
is
no
death
of
space.
The
seats
could
do
with
a
little
more
underthigh
support.
However,
the
leg
room,
knee
room
and
head
room
are
all
excellent
and
it
is
difficult
to
find
any
fault
with
the
space
offered
by
the
SUV.
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
is
available
in
multiple
seating
configurations.
Our
review
unit
came
with
the
base
seven-seater
configuration.
This
includes
two
in
front,
a
bench
seat
for
three
in
the
middle
and
two
side-facing
jump
seats
at
the
rear.
There
is
a
nine-seater
variant
on
offer
too,
wherein
the
first
two
rows
remain
the
same
but
the
jump
seats
at
the
rear
are
slightly
wider.
Yet,
we
doubt
seating
nine
would
be
comfortable.
There
is
yet
another
variant
that
offers
seating
for
seven.
The
bench
seat
in
the
middle
is
replaced
by
captain
seats
and
the
jump
seats
in
the
rear
are
replaced
by
a
bench
seat.
However,
when
it
comes
to
practicality,
this
configuration
is
least
useful.
The
jump
seats
at
the
rear
in
the
former
configurations
can
be
folded
and
tied
up
with
a
velcro.
The
bench
in
the
middle
too
can
be
put
through
a
two-step
fold,
allowing
for
more
cargo
space.
The
side-opening
rear
door
further
improves
practicality.
Mahindra
claims
the
Scorpio
Classic
has
a
boot
space
of
460
litres,
but
it
can
in
reality
accommodate
much
more.
Engine
Performance
&
Driving
Impressions
The
first-gen
Mahindra
Scorpio
was
powered
by
a
2.6-litre
turbo-diesel
engine
that
instantly
made
it
the
most
powerful
SUV
in
its
segment.
Over
the
years,
the
Scorpio
continued
to
become
more
and
more
powerful.
The
2.2-litre
mHawk
diesel
engine
made
the
SUV
a
joy
to
drive.
In
its
last
iteration,
the
2.2
mHawk
produced
140bhp
and
320Nm.
Now
though,
Mahindra
has
updated
the
engine.
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
powered
by
the
next-gen
2.2-litre
mHawk
engine.
It
is
lighter
and
output
figures
have
dropped.
It
now
produces
130bhp
at
3,750rpm
and
300Nm
between
1,600
and
2,800rpm.
This
is
10bhp
and
20Nm
lower
compared
to
the
older
mHawk
engine
and
hence
it
is
natural
for
one
to
expect
a
decrease
in
performance.
However,
this
engine
sings
a
different
song
while
the
SUV
is
being
driven
in
real-world
conditions.
It
is
now
up
to
55
kilograms
lighter
than
the
older
engine
thanks
to
new
construction.
As
a
result,
it
still
feels
quite
lively
and
one
wouldn’t
really
notice
a
major
performance
drop
unless
acceleration
runs
are
timed.
If
you
are
timing
your
acceleration
runs,
then
the
0-100km/h
sprint
is
done
in
around
13
seconds,
which
is
just
over
a
seconds
slower
when
compared
to
the
older
Scorpio.
However,
this
is
not
so
easily
noticed
when
it
is
being
used
in
real-world
conditions.
The
SUV
is
still
very
much
capable
of
cruising
at
triple-digit
speeds
out
on
the
highway.
Transmission
duties
are
now
handled
by
a
smooth-shifting
6-speed
gearbox.
Thanks
to
the
additional
cog,
one
would
expect
a
lower
engine
speed
at
highway
speeds.
However,
the
ratios
are
too
close
to
allow
for
this
and
100km/h
is
achieved
at
2,000rpm
in
6th
gear.
A
taller
6th
gear
would
have
been
much
better.
The
gear
lever
is
now
cable
operated.
This
simply
means
the
gear
lever
does
not
wobble
and
vibrate
to
the
extent
of
making
one
think
it
will
fall
off.
Apart
from
the
new
powertrain,
Mahindra
has
also
equipped
the
Scorpio
Classic
with
a
new
suspension
system
borrowed
from
the
Scorpio-N.
Adaptive
dampers
play
a
major
role
in
improving
ride
quality.
It
absorbs
bumps
and
potholes
very
well.
Uneven
highways
are
all
taken
in
its
stride
and
the
ride
is
not
as
bumpy
as
it
used
to
be
at
higher
speeds.
However,
it
still
is
a
tall
SUV
with
a
narrow
track.
This
does
lead
to
body
roll
and
there’s
nothing
one
can
do
to
reduce
it.
The
Scorpio
still
has
lots
of
body
roll
and
there
is
plenty
of
lateral
and
sideways
movement
in
the
SUV.
Tackling
potholes
at
slow
speeds
does
lead
to
excessive
yawing
and
pitching
and
it
can
get
uncomfortable
at
times.
The
Scorpio
Classic
is
not
available
with
4WD
even
as
an
option.
However,
knowing
it
is
a
capable
platform,
we
took
it
off-road.
Getting
the
rear
wheels
up
in
the
air
was
pretty
easy
as
the
SUV
did
not
display
a
lot
of
articulation
prowess.
However,
it
also
displayed
how
capable
the
Scorpio
really
is,
even
in
RWD
format.
On
the
whole,
the
Scorpio
Classic
is
a
no-nonsense,
practical,
and
capable
SUV
that
gives
you
the
old-school
feels
while
driving
it.
It
certainly
lacks
finesse.
However,
its
target
buyers
don’t
require
finesse.
Safety
&
Key
Features
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
a
bare
basics
SUV
and
hence,
it
gets
the
bare
basics
in
terms
of
safety
and
features
too.
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
Safety
Features:
–
Dual
Airbags
–
Panic
Brake
Indication
–
Collapsible
Steering
–
Engine
Immobiliser
–
Anti-Theft
Warning
–
Seat
Belt
Reminder
–
Speed
Alert
–
Auto
Door
Lock
–
ABS
with
EBD
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
Key
Features:
–
9-inch
Touchscreen
Infotainment
–
Six
Speakers
–
Automatic
Climate
Control
–
2nd
Row
AC
Vents
–
Hydraulic
Bonnet
Struts
–
Steering-Mounted
Controls
Verdict
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
the
perfect
example
of
how
a
brand
can
retain
its
classics.
It
is
an
SUV
that
still
sees
immense
demand
despite
being
a
couple
of
decades
old
underneath.
Now,
it
has
received
a
proper
refresh
with
a
new
powertrain,
suspension,
and
a
few
comfort
features.
However,
there’s
no
hiding
behind
the
fact
that
the
Scorpio
Classic
is
still
a
rugged,
practical,
and
bare
basics
SUV
underneath.
Whether
or
not
one
should
buy
the
SUV
completely
depends
on
expectations
and
requirements.
If
one
requires
a
premium
SUV
with
lots
of
features,
great
ride
and
handling,
and
lots
of
powertrain
options,
the
Scorpio-N
is
the
one
to
pick.
However,
if
practicality
and
ruggedness
are
of
a
higher
priority
than
a
tech-filled
SUV,
the
Scorpio
Classic
still
impresses.
It
can
lug
loads
or
haul
people
across
any
terrain
you
throw
at
it
and
will
continue
to
perform
flawlessly
in
all
conditions.
