Mahindra Scorpio Getaway 4x4 Replacement: Should I consider an Imperio?

As we speak there is a top-variant VX 2017 registered white-plate four-door listed in Gujarat at a measly 2.40L!

BHPian ringoism recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Very late, but:

This is pretty much the only Tbhp thread I could find that had much of anything to say about this vehicle, and then only at launch. It seems to be a solid platform with a tried-and-true common-rail MDI. Has anyone in Team-Bhp ended up buying or otherwise using (or even simply driving) one? Any comments / feedback re: the experience?

In some parts of India, these seem to be quite popular. I saw a lot in Ladakh last month, for example, and that would appear to be a good sign, as it is a rough and rugged place where extreme reliability under all conditions is a must.

For me personally, the attractions as a second-hand option / potential Getaway replacement include:

1. The relatively low prices sometimes being quoted secondhand: As we speak there is a top-variant VX 2017 registered white-plate four-door listed in Gujarat at a measly 2.40L! Am seeing 2018/2019 models in the 3-4L range. Granted most of these have been used commercially, but anyway tough to find any Getaway/ Isuzu of that age anywhere near these prices. Xenon you might (rarely), but then those have some spares supply issues, the small cargo area, and horrible rear seat.
2. The dashboard-switchable ECU maps for power/economy: I wonder which was used for the 13.55kmpl ARAI rating, and what people are actually managing in the real-world. One owner/operator I met out at Tso-Kar in Ladakh told me he achieved (an unbelievable) 18kmpl on long drives, giving him enough range to go from Manali to Leh and back without refilling. Which would sound extremely compelling if true.
3. The much larger and flat-floored cargo box than any of the mentioned options - while still being a sleek "fleetside" - and fairly integrated, unlike the horribly mismatched, crude, overwide, and surprisingly shallow but highly mounted one on the Yodha.
4. Fairly "butch" looks, especially compared to the Xylo-like Genio. The Imperio hood's lines/contours give it some real truck-like character; Also unlike Genio, it's horizontal enough to actually see it while driving, but not overly long. I think with some slightly wider wheels / tyres, this would be an absolutely great looking vehicle. Wife and I are not fans of the Isuzu's styling, even if we felt we could afford one.
5. Low-end torquey engine.

As for downsides: I think this has carried over the Genio's very weak (and stupid) single-wall cargo box.... such that anything thrown in capable of denting the inside automatically dents the outside as well. This kind of cost-cutting went out with cheap 1980's Japanese pickups, so if I'm right am not sure why they went this route here; It's a very bad idea, and if I were to buy one of these would have to work out my own bedliner for better protection.

Secondly, unlike export models (reportedly), 4x4 Imperio is not available in India. This is where the Yodha crewcab has the edge. We have used 4x4 a lot in the past couple years. But would it be easier to fit a more appropriately sized/shaped carry-box and A/C to a Yodha than to fit a 4x4 system to an Imperio? Not likely.

Having said that, am strongly suspecting we would be able to manage most things we do in a 4x2 with a locking differential fitted; I'm told the Imperio uses the same Dana 44 / 30-spline differential as the Thar CRDe and TUVs which had the MLD factory / accessory fitted, so that would seem a pretty viable option.

Now to be clear: We've been seriously loving driving our Getaway as "the perfect all-rounder" and in terms of overall capability, comfort, and driving dynamics and pleasure would feel happy to drive it basically forever; Versus the Imperio, can say that Getaway's rear-seat AC vents put it ahead, as do the approx 40 more bhp and ~+75N-M torque, refinement, higher top speed (which I'd never use - Imperio is quite fine at 120kmph max), double-wall cargo box, easily ride-height-adjusted torsion bar front suspension. The Scorpio "clout" is I suppose also there, though that means nothing to me personally. Anyway, it's a great car and impossible to deny that.

BUT (and this is my only reason for posting this at all) the Getaway's FE feels (psychologically, at least!) a little hard to swallow at our past couple years' usage of over 16,000km's / year - and moreover being a 2013 model it's hard to predict whether the powers-that-be are going to let us renew and keep driving it beyond 2028. So wondered whether it could make sense to sell it off at maybe 5-odd lakhs in the next year, and see if we couldn't replace it with something of lower price, higher FE, and longer registration life.

As it stands, we've spent approx Rs 45,000 extra per annum fuelling the Getaway than what an Imperio would have required at 13.55kmpl... Figure in an extra couple lakhs from the price difference put into a good FD/other investments, plus whatever could be saved by not having to renew registration (if they even allow that) for those next five years, and it becomes a worthwhile consideration. Could easily put ourselves ahead by Rs 5-6,000 / month, and that is not an insignificant amount, strictly speaking.

A 2019 model anything gets us a decade of no inspections or renewals for not much money. With discounts in view had actually been thinking lately of just getting a Jimny, but if we can have something that can carry a lot more at same running cost and small fraction of even the discounted new purchase price, I'd consider that pretty great - and preferable.

Granted would have to give up any more serious offroad aspirations. And that's a little tough to consider, though if I'm honest can say that I've seen 2wd's manage to get in and out of most of the places we have till now. Sand, snow, and that slick clayey mud of Mizoram monsoons are probably going to be off-limits though. As will be a few of the crazier straight-up-the-slope paved connector-roads common in Mizo hill-towns.

Other options are to convert to the older and more tune-able manual ("Turbo 2.6") injection system, which some claim betters FE considerably. I was about to also say look into a Xenon 4x4, as they were supposed to manage very respectable FE, perhaps especially the 2.2L. But I just don't think that rear seat is going to workable for our growing boys. The 12-year-old is already taller than his mother (who is not a very short lady herself)!

Anyway, would welcome any Imperio (or even Genio) notes here if anyone has something to offer.

Had posted this approximate message over on the only other thread that made mention of the Imperio.

Thanks,

-Eric

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