My diamond white bird

Exterior

She is built to impress. She turns heads and keeps bikes, autos and most small cars at bay. She is as sturdy as a fortress. I've been head butted by a water tanker and a bus on two separate occasions (not my mistake on both), and there are marks on her which are almost invisible. She is as photogenic as a kingfisher calendar model. The arches and the curves all merge with each other. I had one friend from the US commenting that she looks one mean looking machine with her gladiator style bumpers. No wonder, she is the most desirable SUV.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 I am all of 6'2" and I fit quite snugly inside her. The seats provide the right back and thigh support to ensure a very comfortable long drive. Leg space is considerable and though I push the driver's seat right back, my family is quite comfortable in the middle row of seats. The built in 2din is adequate for me as I dont expect humongous bass boost in the car. The feature I use the most is the bluetooth enabled handsfree to attend conference calls on the move. The blue-vision headlamps are also quite bright and I dont have to squint to look ahead. Also, there is something that I dont think anyone else anywhere has written on; the hella horns. The blare is enough to scare truck drivers from butting in without notice. The reversing sensors are also very helpful in guiding me to park my beauty perfectly.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 She is a year old now and with 16500 kms on the odo, gives me an efficiency of 12 Kms per litre of diesel (with AC) in the city. The engine is a bit sluggish at low rpms but she more than compensates when she is in groove. The gearbox is user friendly, no rubbery engage, no long throws. You need to feel her when she is in turbo (more than 85 kmph), there is no uncertainty, just thrill.

Ride Quality & Handling

To know her is to feel her....the feedback is just excellent. Those who feel that big cars are difficult to manouver will be pleasantly surprised. The steering has the right feel, not light at high speeds nor heavy at low. The suspension is soft and a wee bit bumpy but I think I need that in Mumbai where the road conditions are disastrous. She is a pleasure to drive and especially as I've already spoken, the turbo buzz is addictive when she crosses 85 kmph. She is built to thrill.

Final Words

 For anyone looking for a SUV at 11-13 lakhs, the Scorpio VLX is a must buy. She is loaded with features and there will be no regrets. Remember the slogan....Nothing else will do.

Areas of improvement  

 Mahindra, I feel, need to be more stringent in their quality checks on parts when they dispatch their Scorpios from the factories. There are minor niggles that could leave a sour taste. If these are taken care of, I dont feel there is a better VFM SUV in the 11L - 20L price range.

 

Fuel economy, stance, road presence, driving experience,Quality checks for small niggles