The Mahindra Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 4XPlor Adventure marks a significant step up from its predecessor, bringing notable improvements in safety, refinement, and features.
The old Mahindra Scorpio had a loyal following, but its lack of refinement made it feel outdated in recent years. Enter the Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 4XPlor Adventure, a model that brings the Scorpio into the modern era with a blend of rugged capability and new-age tech. It’s a substantial upgrade – yet, like all transformations, there are still a few bumps in the road.
Performance and drivetrain
The Scorpio-N’s 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine delivers 129 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque. It operates smoothly, efficiently, and quietly, making it suitable for both city driving and off-road expeditions. Mahindra’s 4XPLOR intelligent terrain management system, combined with shift-on-the-fly 4WD, means the Scorpio-N can handle various terrains with relative ease.
Fuel consumption at the end of the test came to 12,2 km per litre, which translates to approximately 8,2 litres per 100 km. That’s a reasonable figure for a 4×4 of this size.
Interior and comfort
Inside, Mahindra has included some welcome touches, including a brown-and-black interior with soft elbow rests in the doors. The ceiling is light-coloured, which gives the cabin an airy feel, but it quickly shows finger marks.
There’s plenty of space for passengers in the first two rows, but not so much in the third row. These occasional seats don’t fold down entirely flat either, making the boot less practical.
Speaking of storage, the box between the front seats is disappointingly shallow.
Infotainment and controls
The Scorpio-N comes with analogue instruments featuring a digital display that’s not especially user-friendly. At least you can have your current speed displayed in large digits, which is helpful.
The infotainment system, with its 8” (20,3 cm) screen and Sony 3D Immersive Sound System, supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Unfortunately, the low-resolution cameras and screen (with a sluggish response rate) make reversing and parking trickier than it should be.
A welcome feature is the set of hard buttons for the aircon and some infotainment functions. This is much better than relying solely on touchscreen controls, which can be fiddly while driving.
Driving experience
With its ladder-frame chassis the Scorpio-N feels robust and the ride quality is more than acceptable. While it handles most surfaces confidently, it did encounter an odd issue soon after I first collected it: the car went into limp mode for reasons unknown.
Additionally, the stop-start system is the worst I’ve encountered; it restarts the engine with an uncomfortable jerk. Although the feature helps reduce emissions, the constant jarring was so bothersome that I turned it off.
Safety
Mahindra has prioritised safety, equipping the Scorpio-N with six airbags (including side and curtain airbags), disc brakes on all wheels, and hydraulic brake assist. The Scorpio-N boasts a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP’s new crash test standards, making it the first body-on-frame SUV to do so, Mahindra says.
Price and value
At R699 999, the Mahindra Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 4XPlor Adventure is at the top of the Scorpio-N range, offering an attractive package for the price. The Scorpio-N has earned plenty of accolades, like the Adventure SUV of the Year at the 2024 Old Mutual Insure South African Car of the Year Competition.
For those looking for a capable, adventure-ready SUV with plenty of features, the Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8L 4XPlor Adventure is worth considering, though buyers might need to overlook a few quirks.
It scores 3 out of 5.
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
