Good Machine but not real good Value for Money

I was looking for a MUV/SUV and test drove Scorpio Vlx, and the Innova.  I had always dreamt of owning a scorpio from the time it was launched but could not afford it at that time.  When we test drove the Innova we were pleased with the interiors and the space inside the vehicle and the overall refinement.  But like I said earlier, I always wanted to buy the Scorpio and hence headed towards the nearest Mahindra showroom.  My heart changed once I saw the new Scorpio. I just could not but appreciate the beast.

Exteriors:  The looks of the Scorpio still stings in one's mind. Its tall stance makes you feel like a king of the road.  The headlamps cluster and the tail lamp cluster look well carved out.  However the stickering in the Vlx version makes it look like a chessboard (the only difference between the looks of Crde/SLE versions and Mhawk apart from badging). The looks are however subjective to individuals and hence my personal rating on a scale of 5 would be 4 .

Interiors:  Overall you would not be happy with the interiors of this SUV.  The fit and finish is just not there.  The finish in the center and gearlever and other switches look cheap and feel cheap too.  There are storage spaces all over but still you cannot store a book etc.,   The front door map pocket cannot be used until you open the door.  The fabric on the seats is still not of great quality considering you are spending close to Rs.12 Lakhs.  I had hoped that Mahindra would give leather seats and a better finish.  The Steering mounted controls are good and tilt steering is very difficult to operate.  The rattling of the seats would annoy anyone since it is bound to be present once you have done about a few thousand kilometers. The seats are very comfortable though for long rides.  I had travelled about 600 kms in a stretch with a couple of breaks and was not feeling too tired.  Overall Rating 3.

Performance : Switch on the engine, you would immediately know the difference in refinement of the new mHawk engine and once you drive it you would forget about the fit and finish.  It is really a bomb to drive. There is no lag in power afterall it is 120 BHP engine  and the engine just screams to be unleashed.  Though the body roll is still evident but the braking has improved thanks to the ABS.  Overall the handling is much better than the old scorpio (crde included) .  The steering feels a little more connected you however still dont get the confidence to test the corners at high speeds. I had hoped that Mahindra could work on the body roll of the car. The suspension is improved and the ride is more comfortable now.  I found that the gearshit was a bit hard especially on a cold start as well as shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and it really needed some effort for changing.  The middle row had some space now (on a 7 seater) as it was placed right back, though not as comfortable as a Tata Safari. The seats are very comfortable though.  I had recently travelled more than 600 kms in a day (with a couple of short breaks) and I did not feel that tired.  The brakes have improved though would require a few.

Other : The milage or economy is claimed to be 12 Kmpl in city (though I doubt it) and there are nuemerous gizmos offered for this variant.  The tyretronics, steering mounted audio controls, cruise controls, intelligent wipers are quite good but there are no Airbags (surprising when you consider the cost you are paying).  The reversing of this large SUV is made simple with the smart parking camera which animates the scene behind the scorpio in the parking mirror and alerts you with a beep when you are close to the object.  These are good features but the Mahindra would have a lower end versions.  Driving this SUV in the city is a delight for its light steering and other traffic would make way and respect you.  The follow me home headlamps are good and Overall you would not be disappointed if you are driving. The last seats are best avoided in case of long journeys. Moreover, the fit and finish gets you sometimes when you compare with any other sedan given the rattling of the seats as well as the NVH.

Overall :  Lot of features including cruise control but sadly Air Bags is missing.  The Scorpio just got a change of heart and improved handling.  If only it had other variants it would have been a real value for money.  I had hoped that there would be EBD as well as climate control.  The Knobs are of poor finish and the cost savings / cutting is evident.  It actually makes you feel like a king though your mind would say it it a touch expensive. Given that there are a very few choices at that price range, I would still call it a best buy.  The service is a pain though which sadly needs to improve than just washing the car.  Lights are very poor and range is bad.

 Have done about 25,000 kms and the following is my update

1. Handling is much improved and with the power you have it feels like a breeze

2. Initial pickup is something which is lagging

3. Milage is only around 10 kms per liter

4. Seats and doors rattle every now and then which can be fixed with spanners. Do it yourself type

5. Lights are not at all good in case of night driving on narrow roads. 

6. Quality of the wipers when used in heavy rains is pathetic

 Well It has been a long time since I gave an update.  I would like to share my experience with me completing around 26K Kms which includes city driving as well as highway.

The SUV is vastly improved in handling over the earlier versions.  I was impressed by the improvement is the stability as well as the braking though it is still not top notch and high speeds may scare you with it bumpy ride.  The issues start after you complete say about 20K Kms and I was not exception.  The alternator failed, mileage dropped to below 10 and the worst part the service is pathetic.  The seats and other parts started to rattle again and again and I was highly disappointed with this. The Service PErsonnel hardly care about customer satisfaction and do a shoddy job. Even writing to customer care did not yeild the desired results.  

 It has been around 4 years since I have the Scorpio.  Overall the machine is quite good however, some hitches in terms of rattling noises and electrical issues continue to irritate you.  Touch wood, there has been no major spend on repairs.  Milage is still around 10 Kmpl in the city and around 12-13 on the highway. Barking and bodyroll tends to be an issue on the highways.

 

 

 

Great Power, Light Steering for City Traffic, Upright Seats,Very Bad Leg Space - very less space, Still unstable at high Speeds, Overall Fit Finish not good