New Mahindra Scorpio review, test drive

Mahindra has made massive changes to its popular body-on-frame SUV, the Scorpio. But just how big a step forward is it?

Published on Sep 25, 2014 01:16:00 PM

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New Mahindra Scorpio.

Features that are sure to impress are the six-inch infotainment touchscreen borrowed from the XUV500, an in-built GPS system, temperature and pressure sensors for the tyres, and rear-parking sensors. Some versions will even get cruise control and steering-mounted controls on the smaller, sportier steering wheel, also very similar to the one in the XUV. Settle down in the driver’s seat and memories of the earlier car’s poor ergonomics come flooding back. There’s no central locking button on the dash and you have to use the lock on the door handle, which is a bit fidgety. Front passengers will miss storage for bottles; there’s one central bottle holder but that space is where you end up keeping your phone or toll change.

A bigger design flaw, however, is the placement of the narrow front seats, which are too close to the doors. Hence, there’s no way you can adjust the driver’s seat comfortably or access stuff from the door pockets without opening the door. The front seats themselves are generously cushioned and quite supportive, although shorter drivers may find an excess of thigh support.

M&M has also improved space in the middle row by slimming down the seats and moving them back a bit to carve out more space. The bench seat itself is now more comfortable too, thanks to good thigh support, a high seating position and a finely adjusted backrest angle. The seats, which extend all the way to the doors, are nice and wide, which makes travelling five up fairly comfortable. Our test car came with side-facing jump seats rather than a third row, which isn’t great for safety or comfort, but does the job for short journeys.