Mahindra Scorpio N

Mahindra’s Scorpio N has huge shoes to fill. It is the successor to the legendary Mahindra Scorpio that has been on sale for over 20 years. The brand is so popular that the manufacturer has chosen to keep the older model on sale. 

With its latest SUV portfolio, Mahindra has been consistently delivering blockbusters in the form of the XUV700, and Thar. Naturally, expectations from the Scorpio N are sky high. It is sticking to its traditional recipe of a body-on-frame construction, powerful engines and 4x4 hardware, but is adding a touch of premiumness and modern features to the equation. 

Having driven almost every iteration of the Scorpio produced till date, I was curious to see how the Scorpio N fared. We’ve spent countless kilometres driving the Scorpio N both on-road and off-road. Here’ what we think about it. 

Where the old Scorpio’s styling was butch and in your face, the new one looks more rounded and mature. There is no shortage of presence however thanks to its size. It is much longer, wider and has a larger wheelbase as well. However, when it comes to height it is shorter compared with the older generation. 

Up front you get the signature Mahindra grille which has chrome elements and combined with the muscular bumper, the Scorpio N looks quite purposeful. The LED projector headlamp design is attractive and the fog lamps are LED too. Interestingly the LED DRL strips’ design is inspired by the scorpion’s tail. 

In profile, you get the scorpion tail design treatment on the rear quarter glass surrounding the chrome strip, and overall, the Scorpio comes across as a large vehicle. It has muscle too, thanks to the flared wheel arches and strong shoulder-line. 

On the top-spec models, Mahindra offers 18-inch alloy wheels. Lower models feature 17-inch alloy wheels or steel wheels, depending on the variant. 

The rear is the weakest in terms of design. The Volvo-inspired tail lamps look attractive, but when viewed from the rear the Scorpio N looks narrow and more like an MPV than an SUV. A bit more muscle at the rear would have helped for sure.   

As you’d expect, build quality is solid. The doors shut with a reassuring thud, panel gaps are largely consistent throughout and the paint quality is acceptable for the price too. 

Mahindra offers limited colour options on the Scorpio N, which includes Everest White, Valyrian Silver, and Deep Forest. The Red Rage colour has been discontinued. Additionally, the Scorpio N is also available in ‘Stealth Black’, a colour that’s reserved for the Carbon Edition models. Notably, there are no dual-tone colour options from the factory.

I think the Scorpio N looks good in pretty much all the colours it’s offered in. However, the black and white shades have their own charm.

Design and Quality

The new Scorpio N looks at least two generations ahead of its predecessor. The dashboard design is flat, straight and upright — very in-tune with the SUV’s rugged image. It looks properly modern, and with Mahindra using brown and black colours, it looks premium too. 

The touch points like the steering and armrests come draped in premium materials and the dash panel too has soft touch leatherette which help the Scorpio N’s cabin feel upmarket. In the Z8T and Z8L variants, Mahindra provides leatherette upholstery too which adds to the rich experience. 

In terms of quality, it isn’t perfect though. Lower down on the centre console you will find scratchy plastics and fit and finish is not that great either as you do see quite a few panel gaps. 

Front Seat

Getting in and out of the new Scorpio N is not the easiest, especially for the elderly because of the high seating. Getting in the front seat is relatively easier, thanks to Mahindra giving a grab handle on the A-pillar.

In terms of seating comfort, the front seats are very comfortable with good contour and under thigh support. Just like the old car, the driver gets a commanding view of the surroundings, thanks to the high seating position, small dash length and low window-line. 

While driver’s seat-height adjustment (manual) is available from the Z4 variant, the  top-spec Z8T and Z8L variants get a 6-way powered driver’s seat. The steering sadly only gets tilt-adjustment irrespective of the variant. That said, multiple members in our team (of varying heights) have driven the Scorpio N, and were able to find a comfortable driving position. 

Mahindra has thoughtfully provided a central armrest as well. It’s set at the right height, and is useful on those long highway drives. 

Rear Seat

Second Row 

In the middle-row you get either a bench or captain seat options. The captain seats though are only available in the top variant. These individual captain seats are very comfortable and almost identical to the front seats. There’s more than enough under thigh support and great back support too. For chauffeur driven people, this has to be the go-to choice. 

The bench seat on the other hand is a bit flatter and not as supportive. Underthigh support, although, is very similar. 

In terms of space, the Scorpio N does not disappoint. There’s ample kneeroom for a 6-footer to be seated behind an equally tall front passenger. Headroom too is abundant, for those with a large build. In the 7-seater version, seating three occupants abreast is comfortable too. 

Third Row

Getting in and out of the third row isn’t particularly easy. While there’s one-touch tumble functionality on the left hand side seat (in both the six- and seven-seater version), the space to climb into the rear seat is quite restricted. 

The third-row space itself is disappointing too. You get fixed knee room here as the middle-row doesn’t slide forward and backwards, and as a result, for anyone above 5 foot 6, knee and legroom are cramped. Headroom though is decent and the seat isn’t placed too low either. 

Also, the third row does not have dedicated AC vents, which can make longer drives uncomfortable.

Storage and Practicality

In terms of storage, front passengers get two cup holders, a decent sized glovebox, shallow under armrest storage and a space to keep a smartphone. Door pockets are wide but are shallow and are placed low on the door, as a result of which, to access them, you have to stretch quite a bit. 

The rear door pockets are smaller and as shallow and you get space only to keep a one-litre bottle and a wallet. In the seat back pockets you also get a thoughtful mobile holder. Apart from that, the middle-row gets two AC vents with separate blower control. 

If you opt for the bench seat version then you do get two cup holders in the centre armrest but the captain seats you don’t get any. There is not much to talk about practicality in the third-row. All you get is a mobile holder and a reading light. Mahindra should have at least provided cupholders here. 

Charging Options

Front row occupants get one USB type-A port to charge a device. The second USB type-A port is primarily for multimedia (music via USB or wired Android Auto/Apple CarPlay), and charges the phone relatively slowly. 

Second row occupants get a USB type-C port as standard. The top-spec Z8T and Z8L variants have a 65W type-C port here. 

There are no charging points for the third row occupants. However, there is a 12V in the boot area which is best suited for small appliances such as a car fridge.

Features

Mahindra offers quite a lot of features with the Scorpio N. Here’s a quick look at the functional features: 

The Scorpio N also gets a single pane sunroof from the Z6 variant onwards.

Mahindra recently added front seat ventilation to the feature list of the SUV. There are three blower speeds to choose from and functions as intended. Sadly only be operated via the touchscreen. 

All variants of the Scorpio N feature a touchscreen infotainment system. We’ve experienced the 8-inch touchscreen in the higher Z8T/Z8L versions. This touchscreen now feels slightly small and dated in terms of the user interface. Resolution and responsiveness could be better too. There’s wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on offer. 

The Scorpio N features a front and rear camera, the feed  from which is displayed on this screen. Camera clarity could’ve been slightly better. On a related note, Mahindra should have provided a proper 360° camera for a vehicle that’s as large as this. 

The touchscreen is paired with a high-quality, 12-speaker Sony sound system in the top two variants. Audio quality is crisp and you won’t feel the need for an upgrade.

The Scorpio N gets the following safety features as standard

• Dual Airbags

• Electronic Stability Control

• ABS with EBD

• Hill Hold Control

• Hill Descent Control

• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts

Side and curtain airbags get added from the Z8S variant onwards. Mahindra should offer six airbags as standard in all variants, considering even their smallest SUV, the XUV 3XO gets it right from the base version. 

Weirdly, even a basic feature such as a tyre pressure monitoring system is limited to the Z8, Z8T and Z8L versions. This should have been a standard feature too considering the price point. 

Mahindra has recently updated the Scorpio N with Level 2 ADAS. This is available only the top-spec Z8L version and has features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (AT only), lane departure warning, lane keep assist. 

The Mahindra Scorpio N was crash tested by the GlobalNCAP in 2022. It received a full 5-star rating for adult occupant protection with a score of 29.25 out of 34. For child occupant protection, it scored an average 3 star rating with 28.93 out of 49 points.

The Scorpio N’s boot space with all rows up is almost negligible and there is space only to fit two or three backpacks. 

Even when you fold the third-row seats, the folded seats take up almost half of the luggage space. It does not sit flat with the floor of the vehicle, leading to a weird ‘step’ in the boot space. You can store luggage on top of the folded seats, but that tends to move around quite a lot. 

The space could have been better utilised if the seats had an individual 50:50 split and folded flat onto the floor. 

The Scorpio-N comes with both petrol as well as diesel engine options. The base diesel spec makes 132PS of power while the higher variants get 175PS. The petrol on the other hand, comes with only one tune and makes a mighty 203PS of power. Both engines come with automatic gearbox options, but 4x4 is limited just to the diesel motor. 

Scorpio N Diesel Review

The 2.2-litre diesel engine is known to be slightly crude. However, Mahindra seems to have worked on the refinement. It is clattery and loud on start up, but settles into a smooth idle relatively quickly. Yes, you feel some vibrations on the steering wheel, pedals and floor board, but that’s to be expected with a vehicle such as the Scorpio N.

There are three drive modes — Zip, Zap and Zoom — which can be equated to Eco, Normal and Sport mode.

City Performance If you pick the manual version, the slightly long travel of the clutch is likely to be bothersome in stop-and-go traffic. The gears are sure-slotting and easy to use, however. Let go of the clutch, and the Scorpio N pulls cleanly. Turbo lag is noticeable, but never a bother. Once the turbo kicks in, you’re in command of a wave of torque that lets you accelerate effortlessly. This means, as long as you’re in the right gear, picking gaps in traffic is quite easy. Throttle response too feels sharp and is easy to get used to.

I’d always recommend the automatic over the manual for the sheer convenience it offers. This 6-speed gearbox might not be the quickest gearbox in the market, but it leaves very little to complain about. It picks the right gear and does not hesitate to downshift a gear or two when required. The only catch is its tendency to get confused and jerky during part-throttle inputs. Maintain a steady throttle, and the automatic experience is relaxing.

You can expect a fuel efficiency of 10-12kmpl from the diesel motor in city traffic. Mileage will be marginally lower for the automatic versions.

Tip: use ‘Zip’ mode in the city. While throttle response is dulled out, it is unlikely to make a difference in peak city traffic. The better fuel efficiency is a bonus! 

Highway Performance

On the highways, you will get the best opportunity to explore the ‘Zoom’ drive mode which unlocks the full potential of this engine. The throttle response is sharper, which makes highway drives a breeze.

The open roads are the natural home of the Scorpio N. Especially for this diesel motor. It’s ability to cruise lazily at 100-120kmph, with the engine at a steady ~2000rpm means you get on-demand acceleration, good fuel efficiency and low in-cabin sound all at the same time. Flooring the accelerator, even at triple digit speeds, gives you ample power to overtake on a whim. 

Note: Scorpio N 4x4 Drive Impressions

I had the chance to drive the Scorpio N 4x4 on a proper 4x4 off-road course alongside a Thar and a Thar Roxx. While the large size of the Scorpio N puts it at an obvious disadvantage over tricky obstacles, it genuinely surprises with its sheer capability. 

If driven with skill, the Scorpio N 4x4 can go pretty much anywhere a Thar/Thar Roxx would — and that’s saying a lot! Mahindra offers ‘4XPLOR’ terrain modes too that features snow, sand, mud & ruts, and normal, which can be used to aid off-road ability. 

Scorpio N Petrol Review

Mahindra has hit it out of the park with this 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It’s among the most powerful petrol engines available in mass market cars today. 

The engine is very refined and there’s barely a tell-tale sign that the engine is running. There are no drive modes on offer here, so you get all the power all the time. 

City Performance

Mahindra has done well to keep the clutch action light with the petrol Scorpio. Gear shifts, however, could be slightly smoother. 

For city drives, you’d find the throttle response to be just right. There’s a lot of torque available from as low as 1750rpm, which means you don’t have to rev the engine high to extract performance out of it. This also ensures that the Scorpio N does not protest when you’re in a gear higher than ideal. Power delivery is smooth and predictable, and a light but constant press of the accelerator is all you need to make overtakes. 

Here too, the automatic is the default pick for its convenience. Shifts are smooth and jerk free when driven calmly. 

A large and heavy SUV paired with a big turbo-petrol motor is the perfect recipe for low fuel efficiency. In heavy city traffic, don’t be surprised to see 7-8kmpl. 

Highway Performance

Performance on the highway is very similar to that of the diesel engine. That’s to say it’s happy doing triple digit speeds all day long. Also, like the diesel, there’s enough power to make progress even when you’r driving at 100-120kmph. 

The automatic gearbox will take a split second before downshifting if you slam the accelerator. Other than that, the AT remains a solid choice for those wanting a long distance road trip SUV.

Fuel efficiency on the highway is slightly better. You can expect 11-13kmpl if driven with a light foot. 

In the ride comfort department, Mahindra has made a drastic improvement. Where the older model used to feel loose and unsettled over bumps, the Scorpio N tackles them with a lot of confidence. Body movement is controlled and at city speeds, its ride is genuinely comfortable. Yes, you do get a bit of side to side rocking motion, but for a high-riding, ladder frame SUV, it behaves really well. 

Even the old Scorpio’s nervous high speed behaviour is replaced by planted and assured manners. The Scorpio N rides beautifully at high speeds as it almost never gets unsettled by bumps or undulations. This makes the new Scorpio a great long-distance cruiser which we would have never said about the old car. 

Even the handling has transformed completely. The steering wheel is now super light (and can be turned with a couple of fingers!) which makes parking and maneuvering in tight spaces that much easier. Even on winding roads, the Scorpio N does not disappoint. Yes, it isn’t a sporty car, but for a high SUV, it feels secure and stable even when pushed hard. Surprisingly, even body roll is well controlled. The all wheel disc brakes too provide a good amount of bite and the brake pedal feels consistent and well calibrated.

The Mahindra Scorpio N is available in seven broad variants: Z2, Z4, Z6, Z8 S, Z8, Z8T and Z8 L.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z2 Variant:

• The base-spec variant comes with safety features like dual front airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), hill start and descent control, and all-wheel disc brakes.

• Its feature package includes manual AC, fabric upholstery, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

• This variant gets 17-inch steel wheels.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z4 Variant

• Over the Z2, the Z4 variant gets wired Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and electrically adjustable ORVMs. 

• Other feature additions include height adjustable driver seat, and rear wiper with washer.

• This variant also gets 17-inch steel wheels but with wheel covers.

• The Z4 is also the entry level four-wheel-drive variant and the entry level automatic variant.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z6 Variant

• The major addition in this variant is a single-pane sunroof.

• Other changes are cosmetic like silver skid plate and silver roof rails.

• This variant is available only with the diesel engine, but does not get the option of a four-wheel-drive setup.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 S Variant

• Over the Z6, the Z8 S variant offers 6 airbags, a rear view camera, built-in Alexa, and wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.

• Key feature additions include a 7-inch semi-digital driver’s display and a wireless phone charger.

• This variant also gets a more premium cabin with leatherette upholstery and leatherette padding on steering wheel and gear lever.

• In the design department, this variant adds LED headlamps, LED DRLs, and sequential turn indicators.

• This variant of the Scorpio N 2025 sits on 17-inch alloy wheels.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Variant

• The variant adds a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in the safety kit.

• You also get push button start/stop, and dual-zone climate control.

• Other feature additions include auto folding ORVMs, and auto headlamps.

• You can get the Carbon edition with this variant.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 T Variant

• This one-below top variant gets additional features like a 12-speaker Sony sound system, a front parking camera, driver drowsiness detection, auto dimming IRVM, 6-way powered driver seat, and ventilated front seats.

• This variant gets 18-inch alloy wheels.

• It also gets a four-wheel-drive setup, with both manual and automatic transmissions.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 L Variant

• The new top-spec variant of the Mahindra Scorpio N gets all the niceties along with the addition of ADAS, which is exclusive to this variant. 

CarDekho Recommends

Pick the one-above-base Z4 variant if you’re on a budget. It covers all the basics, has an infotainment package, and gives you the option of automatic and four-wheel-drive.

Go for the Z8 if you want a more comprehensive feature package along with premium interiors. It misses out on some feel good features, but the overall package is good for the price. Stretch your budget for the Z8 T if you want all the feel good features. Consider the Z8L only if you want ADAS.

Overall the Scorpio N proves to be a good all-round package. It does have a few shortcomings:  cabin practicality could be better, interior quality could be more consistent, and a more spacious third-row would’ve been welcome too. 

But, other than that the Scorpio N is quite likable. Both the diesel, as well as the petrol motor are strong, and the automatic gearbox is responsive and convenient too. The one thing that surprised us the most is the ride and handling which for a high-riding, ladder frame SUV is appreciable. 

The Mahindra Scorpio N not only lives up to the expectations of the nameplate, but also rewrites them in many ways. For those who want road presence, off-road capability but also value premiumness and a good feature package, the Scorpio N makes for a solid choice. 

Other Cars To Consider Instead Of The Mahindra Scorpio N

Tata Safari

Reason To Consider

• More features on offer

• Better, more comfortable ride quality

Reasons to Ignore

• No petrol engine option

• No rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive option

Hyundai Alcazar

Reasons To Consider

• Better equipped at a lower price

• Better chauffeur driven experience

Reasons To Ignore

• Low on space

• Not capable off the road

Mahindra XUV700

Reasons To Consider

• More modern styling

• Better equipped

• Better space

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as capable off-road