The Mahindra Scorpio N with its over-the-top positioning statement of ‘Big Daddy of SUVs’ is claimed to be competent enough to take on SUVs from a segment above. And the SUV that dominates ‘the segment above’ is the mighty Toyota Fortuner. So, to settle the matter once and for all, we lined up the diesel-automatic iterations of the two SUVs on a 402.34-metre strip of tarmac to find out which is quicker in a quarter-mile drag race.
Mahindra Scorpio N vs Toyota Fortuner engine, specs
| Scorpio N vs Fortuner specs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scorpio N | Fortuner Legender | |
| Engine | 2.2-litre, 4 cyls, turbo-diesel | 2.8-litre, 4 cyls, turbo-diesel |
| Power | 175hp | 204hp |
| Torque | 400Nm | 500Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed AT | 6-speed AT |
| Weight | 2030kg | 2075kg |
| Power to weight ratio | 86.2hp per tonne | 98.3hp per tonne |
| Torque to weight ratio | 197Nm per tonne | 240.9Nm per tonne |
The Mahindra Scorpio N is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine which produces 175hp and 400Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed torque converter (automatic), transmitting power to its rear wheels. The Toyota Fortuner we got our hands on was in its range-topping Legender guise, which gets some cosmetic enhancements but is mechanically identical to the regular Fortuner. It is powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine, producing 204hp and 500Nm of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed torque converter (automatic), which transmits power to its rear wheels.
The Toyota's larger engine and higher numbers give it a clear advantage on paper, however, the Scorpio N is 45 kilos lighter, tipping the scales at 2,030kg. But is that enough to make it a close race?
Mahindra Scorpio N vs Toyota Fortuner quarter-mile race
| Scorpio N vs Fortuner drag race | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scorpio N | Fortuner Legender | |
| Race 1 | ||
| Quarter mile time | 18.192 seconds | 17.562 seconds |
| Speed at the line | 119.42kph | 124.22kph |
| Race 2 | ||
| Quarter mile time | 18.090 seconds | 17.286 seconds |
| Speed at the line | 120.98kph | 126.07 kph |
As the lights turn green, the Scorpio N’s surprisingly cleaner launch leapfrogs it into the lead; however, this advantage was short-lived. Once the Fortuner got into its element, the 500Nm of torque made it sail past the Mahindra, and it crossed the finish line in 17.56 seconds at 124kph – 0.6 seconds quicker than the Scorpio N, with a trap speed of 119kph.
In the second race, both SUVs took off with equal gusto, and this time around, the Fortuner Legender simply walked away with the title, leaving the Mahindra trailing behind. The second race was the Scorpio N’s quickest run as it clocked 18.09 seconds with a trap speed of 121kph. But this wasn’t enough to match the Fortuner, which also clocked its best time of 17.29 seconds and a trap speed of 126kph, thus demonstrating the famous saying, ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’.
Disclaimer
We race the cars multiple times and publish the quickest elapsed time only. Elapsed time is what each car takes to cross the finish line. We don’t consider reaction time since it could skew the result due to human error. Our drag races are conducted on closed stretches of road, in controlled environments, and the cars are driven by professionals. We urge you to drive safely and responsibly, and not indulge in racing activities on public roads.
