Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India, sting on


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Way back in 2002, Mahindra and Mahindra launched their new SUV into the Indian market. This was a significant step forward for the tractor and UV manufacturer. Earlier they had the Mahindra Bolero and some other jeeps to keep them company however as of now, those weren’t widely accepted as urban runabouts. So the company with the aid of its ex-GM employee, Mr Pawan Goenka, designed this vehicle in house and marketed it with trepidation in the Indian market. Trepidation because the company wasn’t sure how the Indian public would react to their new venture, more so since it was targeted at the urban populace. They shouldn’t have actually bothered. Fed with a strict diet of Tata Safaris, the Indian public lapped up these cars inspite of their inherent flaws. Well, time for a new generation Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India in the year 2010. I know its too late to write about a Mahindra Scorpio M2DI review however since we at Indiandrives believe in covering each and every automobile that is in the country, I am all too keen to go ahead with the Mahindra Scorpio M2DI.

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI Looks

The Mahindra Scorpio in India was always meant to look a butch vehicle and this was the design brief from the starting to the designers. The fifth generation SUV looks much more macho than its previous generation ones. However I personally feel that the first generation vehicle represented a certain kind of ruggedness which is now missing from the latest generation one. That saying, the front grille is imposing with vertical slats and the Mahindra sabre tooth logo now adorned with chrome. The head lamps are also bigger now whereas the bumper has also grown wider. The air dams have also been enlargened and now have the fog lamps inserted in them. There is also a skid plate which is perforated and body colored. The black model that I have with me for a analysis{ even Mahindra and Mahindra were genuinely surprised when I asked them for a loan vehicle} is one intimidating beast. It has a bonnet scoop previously seen in the Mitsubishi Pajero. This one has been carried forward from the 4th generation vehicle however this time around it has functional quality as well.

The side profile also shows flared wheel arches and along with it are 16 inch 235 section rubber. The outside rear view mirrors have now been reduced in size for aerodynamic efficiency. There are three big horizontal lines running across the doors. There is a chrome step up for those clambering into the cabin. There are also roof rails finished in chrome.

The rear features Christmas tree like tail lamps and rear wiper for the huge glass area. The rear door is hinged and opens sideways. The rear bumper is also big and features the reflectors. There is a single tail pipe unit which could have done with more innovation considering the sporty nature of the vehicle. Mahindra and Mahindra have assured me that this is already been rectified in the 2011 Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India.

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI Interiors

Ahem! This is one of the improvements from the previous generation car. The interiors now look more up market. Enough to even give the Toyota Innova a tough fight. However peer closely and you would notice that the quality isn’t upto the mark. There are some inconsistent panel gaps but not so yawning as the first generation Scorpio. The four spoke steering wheel now, as is the norm, gets audio controls, link for Bluetooth and even cruise control. I am not sure why Mahindra and Mahindra persist with the rudimentary looking aircon vents. These don’t do a good job of cooling the cabin as also directing air flow. The 4 speaker audio system sounds fabulous and features USB as well as aux input. There are twin glove boxes and a huge scoop in the dash board. 4 cup holders adorn the center console and there are various switches around the gear lever. What Mahindra and Mahindra have done is kit the Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India with all the available options. There are also electrically adjustable out side rear view mirrors. There is also a multi information display which reels in everything from the distance to empty to the outside temperature. Mahindra and Mahindra calls this the Driver Assist System.

I found the gear lever to be the rattling sorts. The front seats felt comfortable the moment I plonked myself onto them. This had better cushioning than the previous generation vehicle’s seats. The seats are also dual tone colored. The earlier flowery theme is continued with a more darker part crimson color as well. The rear seats however aren’t too comfortable and the seat backs are a tad more upright. The leg room also feels a bit lacking. There are rear AC vents however like the front ones, these also have a problem throwing the air directly to the required areas. The Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India can be ordered in 7,8 and 9 seater configuration. Mahindra and Mahindra were kind to loan me with the 9 seater one and hence I could test if the third row of opposite facing seats comfortable as well. Boy, was I disappointed? Rubbing knees would be a common affair for 6 footers in the third row. Head room is just about enough however over sharp bumps, be ready to get your hair style ruffled. This car can also be ordered with individual captain chairs for the second row. All those big honchos would definitely love this feature.

Cargo capacity would be minimal if all the row of seats are in place. The third and second row of seats can be flipped forward to make way for a huge 1243 liters of space. The loading lip is low and this facilitates for the easy loading of cargo.

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI Handling and ride quality

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India has a huge task on its hand and this means sorting out the choppy ride quality as well as the nervous handling of the earlier models. The body on ladder frame is typically for off roading and is derived from Mahindra and Mahindra’s old chassis. Double wishbones and coil springs at the front characterize the suspension part whereas coil springs with a five link setup help the rear with damping duties. There are also anti roll bars at the rear and front. Since this car weighs less than the older one, the shocks have been retuned to compensate for the loss of weight. This means that the ride quality has improved a bit however it still is nowhere plush as the Tata Safari, it isn’t back breaking either. You do feel the bumps at higher speeds. Low speed ride quality as a result is good.

That saying the handling has also improved. This can be attributed to the less weight upfront. Those higher profile rubbers also help in cornering matters. The steering wheel is also well weighted however feels a tad heavy in the city or while parking. It still isn’t as direct as the one on the Toyota Innova. The heavy nose pitching is also eliminated somewhat. This is one hush hush vehicle as engine noise is suppressed easily with the use of sound deadening material under the hood and a more advanced common rail engine.

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI Engine,Performance and fuel efficiency

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India got the M2DI tag due to it second generation Bosch common rail engine. There is no petrol motor on offer still and this is a good thing since buyers in this segment want only diesel power plants. Gone is the old 2.6 liter CRDe engine which has its roots from a tractor. A new 2.2 liter cylinder mHawk engine does standard duties now. This engine is now BS4 compliant. It puts out 121 Bhp of power and about 290 Nm of torque. The smaller engine produces the same output as the 2.6 liter engine. The gearbox is the same 5 speed one which feels a bit vague however slots into gate easily. The engine also is offered with a 6 speed automatic. However I preferred the manual one rather than the automatic one since I have been riding or driving manual vehicles. I would rather save the automatic version for a test later on. The kerb weight for the manual variant is only 2200 kgs and this has only aided in improving the performance of this car.

The 0-100 kmph comes up in 15.6 seconds whereas the top speed is 156 kmph. The engine is very responsive and adding to the nature is the drive by wire throttle. The torque is available from as low as 1800 rpm and this aids the driveability in town. One of my colleagues said that he had a test ride in the Scorpio automatic and even it felt responsive enough. There was a mild let down as regards the power but then it is a worthy trade-off for the convenience of an auto box. The talking point is the micro hybrid technology which has been developed in conjuction with Bosch. This works unobtrusively and has a cut off period of 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, the moment you step on the accelerator, the vehicle springs to life. This however has a downfall in the matter that event the AC is cut off.

Braking is taken care by all wheel disc brakes along with the ABS and ESP thrown in for good measure. There is also ParkAssist system which works wonderfully. Safety is also now better with twin air bags, ample crumple zones and 3 point seat belts for the first and second row of seats.

Fuel efficiency has gone up a tad with the new Euro 4 compliant engine. The fuel efficiency I achieved in the city was 10.6 kmpl whereas on the highway it increased to 15.2 kmpl. This coupled with the 60 liters fuel tank makes for a 700 kms trip before needing a refill.

Verdict

The Mahindra Scorpio M2DI in India is now not only made for India but also exported to other countries. That it is a roaring success and almost a status symbol or landmark is quite evident.The Mahindra Scorpio in India is now more of a household name. It has got more features than the Tata Safari and even the Toyota Innova. It has a tyre pressure monitoring system, ParkAssist, Driver Information System, air bags, cruise control , rain sensing wipers, puddle lamps, follow me home headlights and ABS. It even has got a automatic transmission, so missing from this segment. Its engine configuration is designed to meet the future emission norms and is also fuel efficient and powerful at the same time. It however lacks somewhat in the interior space and ride and handling still need to be sorted out. Mahindra Scorpio M2DI price is higher with the base LX variant going for Rs.7.34 lakhs {ex-show room, Mumbai} whereas the top end Vlx with 2 wheel drive and automatic transmission goes for Rs.10.54 lakhs {ex-show room, Mumbai}. It main competitors are the Tata Safari and Toyota Innova to some extent.

Mahindra Scorpio M2DI Specifications

Engine Description: 2.2L mHawk CRDe, 4-stroke, Turbocharged, Intercooled, In-Line Engine
Engine Displacement(cc): 2179
No. of Cylinders: 4
Maximum Power: 121 bhp @ 4,200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 290 Nm @ 1800-2800 rpm
Fuel Supply System: CRDi
Bore x Stroke: 94.2 x 94.5 mm
Compression Ratio: 18.6:1
Turbo Charger: Yes
Transmission Type: 5 speed manual and 6 speed Automatic
Synchronizers: All Gears
Front Suspension: Multi-link, coil spring
Rear Suspension: Independent, coil spring, anti-roll bar
Steering Type: Hydraulic Power with variable assist
Steering Column: Collapsible
Turning Radius (wheel base): 5.7 m
Front Brake Type: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type: Solid Disc
Top Speed: 156 kmph
Acceleration (0-100 kmph): 15.5 seconds
Mileage-City (kmpl): 10.5
Mileage-Highway (kmpl): 15.2
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres): 60
Emission Norm Compliance: Bharat Stage 4
Tyre Size: 235/70 R 16
Tyre Type: Tubeless Radial
Wheel Size: 16 inches
Seating Capacity: 7,8 and 9 depending on configuration
No of Doors: 5
Cargo Volume: 462 litres