Mahindra has been in Mzansi now for 21 years. Over that period of time the Indian automotive brand has demonstrated a substantial amount of growth, proven by its frequent appearance in the top 15 best-selling car brands in the country over the past two years. Of course their products are the main drivers of this growth, and the Scorpio-N is but one important cog in that wheel.
Launched locally in early 2023, the Scorpio-N has already taken serious accolades in the market, including the Adventure SUV of the Year at the 2024 South African Car of the Year Awards sponsored by Old Mutual Insure. It also won the Motor Enthusiast Award during the same awards. That was a massive deal for the company.
“Where the Adventure SUV of the Year recognises the capabilities,” said Mahindra SA CEO Rajesh Gupta at the time, “build quality and refinement of the Scorpio-N, the Motor Enthusiast of the Year Award represents our standing in the public and their love of our products and brand. For Mahindra, it is important that we deliver on our promise of honest and real value-for-money for each customer who has bought a Mahindra over the past two decades.”
And so the car has joined our long-term fleet with high expectations. A brief look at the powertrain details revealed a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine producing 129kW of power and 400Nm of pulling torque. Good numbers on any mid-sized SUV, especially when looking at that torque figure. We will be looking out for fuel consumption behaviour, given that this is a diesel, albeit in a hefty body.
One of the main features of the Scorpio-N is the 7-seater configuration, which we look forward to putting to use over the period of a month that we will have the car for. Practicality has become an essential for Mzansi car buyers and 7 seats certainly add this dimension.
Mahindra priced our unit at R623 000, and several features were mentioned to accompany this figure. They include the 12 speaker Sony sound system, accessed through the infotainment touch screen, Android Auto, electric power windows, a sunroof, multifunction steering wheel, leather seats and a 4×4 system among others.
And so it has the hallmarks of a family SUV, but adds the off-road edge, should the urge take you on. Welcome Mahindra Scorpio-N, show us who you are.