Mahindra Scorpio: Know the SUV
One of the most important milestones in the history of Indian automobiles is the Mahindra Scorpio. Launched in 2002 after years of in-house development, this vehicle changed the face of SUVs. It has been one of the most successful indigenous products ever and continues to be a popular SUV even today.
The Scorpio also took Mahindra to global markets and is currently into its second generation with multiple updates over the years. Sold in three seating configurations of 7, 8 and 9 seats, the Scorpio is a common sight in rural areas too, thanks to its strong built and a robust suspension. It continues to compete in the ever-growing SUV market with its prices being in the middle of various car segments like premium sub-4 metre compact SUVs, C segment sedans and new-age SUVs like the Hector, Harrier and the Seltos.
A brief history of the Mahindra Scorpio
The Scorpio made its debut in June 2002 when it was launched in two versions of Turbo 2.6 and Turbo 2.6 DX. In October 2002, a petrol engine was added.
2006 saw the introduction of a new facelift taking into considering inputs from owners. A year later, the famed 2.2-lite mHAWK engine made its way to the SUV. It was lighter, frugal and better in terms of performance.
2014 saw the launch of the second generation model that brought in changes in and out, a bump in engine performance and increased safety aids.
In 2017, the Scorpio got even more power and an updated 6 sped manual gearbox. Over the years, an optional automatic transmission has been introduced twice but taken off the market within months. A 4×4 is offered but sadly, only on the top-spec trim.
Mahindra Scorpio: Typical new car buyer profile
The Mahindra Scorpio, due to new-age rivals, is witnessing a decline in demand from bigger metro cities. That said, owners still prefer it for the old school boxy SUV design, good build quality and a suspension that can handle abuse. A proper 4×4 with low ratio transfer case also helps those looking at adventure.
In small towns and rural markets, the Scorpio has no match. Rivals have come and gone but the sheer brand appeal and tag name is enough to lure customers each month. Anyone in this market looking at a large vehicle ends up purchasing a Scorpio. The ones with the lower budget, however, go for the cheaper Bolero.
Mahindra Scorpio: Typical used car buyer profile
Who is the used car aimed at? Typical user profile. (may be different). Example: A new Honda Accord would be aimed at executives who need a no-nonsense, luxury car. A used Honda Accord would be aimed at younger buyers who want luxury for cheap, but with Japanese reliability.
A used Mahindra Scorpio for sale at Group 1 Mahindra is aimed at consumers who want a multi-tasking vehicle. In metro towns, it is a buyer who wants a large SUV, one that he can use on a daily basis, to carry large items and to move around with family on weekends.
In smaller towns or rural places, thanks to a large cabin, the Scorpio is used to ferry people and luggage alike. Demand remains high in the used car market even today which means the resale value is high. The Scorpio, especially in white or black, is looked up as a social status in smaller towns and hence youngsters, who are rising up in life and want to show off or earn ego points also end up buying a used Mahindra Scorpio for sale at the cost of a new mid-size hatchback.
Key positives of the Mahindra Scorpio
The Mahindra Scorpio continues to look muscular with an old school SUV design, something that is getting lost in the new age options in the price band. This is a very reliable product with numerous reports of the vehicle having done in excess of 200 000 kilometres.
Next is the powertrain with the higher versions of S7, S9 and S11 being offered with a powerful 140 bhp unit. The 4×4 Scorpio, thanks to a low ratio transfer case and ample ground clearance is a very capable vehicle off the road. Talking of which, the Scorpio can handle a lot of abuse in terms of bad roads without the suspension giving up easily for years. For an SUV that is very old, the feature list is impressive too. Lastly, it enjoys a very high social status in the smaller towns and rural markets and has ample street cred in metro cities.
The ideal used Mahindra Scorpio
If you are in the market for a used Mahindra Scorpio, it is best to look out for a post-September 2014 model or the second generation Scorpio. Ideally, one that is 3-4 years old and has about 40000 to 50000 km on the odometer is a fairly good option in terms of long term reliability and trouble-free nature. The automatic transmission wasn’t offered for long and hence is difficult to find.
Buying newer and older used Mahindra Scorpio SUVs
The Mahindra Scorpio has been in the market for over 17 years and you can find used examples of every age easily. An average Scorpio owner does drive over 15000 km or so each year so keep that in mind while filtering through used options.
The current model got engine updates in 2017 and isn’t an easy piece of find in the used car market. The best and recommended models are from 2014 till 2016.
Mahindra Scorpio used SUV for the enthusiast
A used Mahindra Scorpio 4WD is what you should be looking at in case you are an adventurous person and wish to explore India on wheels. The high ground clearance and availability of a low ratio set-up makes the Scorpio a capable vehicle off the road. Do note that most 4WD Scorpios will be in the top-spec trims which means ample features but a high price too.
Buying Advice
What to check before buying a used Mahindra Scorpio
The most common problem owners have associated with the Scorpio is got to do with its electrical components and electronics. These do start giving trouble within a few years of ownership. Likewise, the pre-2014 models were known to suffer from suspension issues.
The infotainment unit on the top end trims also has a tendency to hang up and needs a reboot for proper operation.
There hasn’t been any major recall of the Scorpio that Mahindra has been vocal about officially. That said, on the post-2014 models, there was a recall for re-welding of the front suspension mounts for most Scorpios.
Typical maintenance issues and problems for used Mahindra Scorpio Explained
When you go for a test drive, make sure you operate all the features of the car. Keep an eye on anything that’s not working or is throwing up issues. While fixing most electrical aids will not be costly, others could throw up a big bill.
If the car you are driving has a lot of kilometres on the odometer, either skip it or ensure there are no unwanted wallows or vertical/horizontal movements from the rear at higher speeds.
For the post-2014 Scorpios, ensure the car has gone to an authorised workshop for inspection and a possible re-weld of the front suspension mounts if the car was part of the recall.
Used Mahindra Scorpio: Service costs
Most electrical issues can be solved without burning a hole in your pocket. However, we would still recommend you to check with the nearest service centre on the exact costs involved.
A full-suspension overhaul won’t be cheap either and hence stay away from such models.
Expected real-world mileage of used Mahindra Scorpio SUV
Depending on the Scorpio you pick, fuel economy will vary. The base model comes with an m2DICR 2.5-litre unit that offers average performance but comes with a rated economy of 16 kmpl or an easy 11-12 kmpl in city usage. The 2.2 mHAWK units come with a certified economy of 15.37 kmpl and 15.01 kmpl for the 120 and 140 bhp versions. Even these can offer 10-11 kmpl easily without trying too hard. Thanks to a 6-speed manual gearbox on the 140 bhp models, the big Scorpio returns over 17 kmpl on the highways when driven around the 90 km/h mark.
Used Scorpio: Maintenance and service tips
We do understand that spares and routine maintenance of the Scorpio aren’t very affordable and this is where most owners of used examples might look at using the services of a neighbourhood garage. Do this only if the car isn’t in any standard or extended warranty any more. As for recommended outlets, we can’t see much right now, but ensure you only use genuine OEM or OES parts and lubes for good, reliable manufacturers.
Used Mahindra Scorpio: What to avoid
We say keep away from used Scorpios that have run a lot in terms of mileage. Likewise, the base S2 trim came with a lower performing m2DICR unit. While it has good low-end torque, outright performance isn’t good – hence invest into a higher trim and hence a mHAWK unit.
Post-2014 Scorpio models are a better buy than the 1st gen models.
A 3-4-year-old model that has less than 50,000km on the odometer is an ideal example of a used Mahindra Scorpio. If the pocket allows, opt for a higher trim model that has a good number of creature comforts include safety aids.
Our recommendations
From end-2017 onwards, all Mahindra Scorpio models have been offered with ABS and Airbags as standard across all trims. However, this wasn’t the case with the earlier units. The Scorpio S4+ and S6+ which came in January 2015 have ABS and Airbags only in their (O) or option trim and these are the ones to go for when you buy a used Scorpio.
