Mahindra Scorpio-N: 11 pros & 10 cons as compared to the Kia Seltos SUV

The high seating and ground clearance of the Scorpio-N is a blessing in our traffic and road conditions.

BHPian Mustang_Sammy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My 2 cents, with the caveat that I am writing this at midnight, and the comparison is with the previous generation Seltos that I test drove in September 2020.

Pros of the Scorpio-N:

• Safe. Built like a tank, also garners major respect on the road. High seating and GC is a blessing in our traffic and road conditions.
• Big. 2nd row can seat 3 adults, and the 3rd row is available when needed.
• Powerful engine with good pulling power and torque. Well matched to the auto transmission. Caveat being the 4WD version is tuned to run in the most aggressive mode, and won’t up shift at higher gears even in manual mode till it reaches fairly high speeds.
• 4WD option available for off roading and Mumbai commutes
• Light steering. Easy to drive and Female friendly (I know, am stereotyping, but this was said by a lady who test drove my vehicle).
• Good leg room and supportive seats for big drivers. I am 6’1” and am comfortable.
• Decent ride quality. Light years ahead of the previous gen Scorpio, and (dare I say it) better than the Seltos at least for me.
• Good (but not great) boot space.
• Higher models (Z6 onwards) pretty much have all the bells and whistles that you really Need. Front parking sensors are useful in tight spots.
• Mile muncher. Long drives are not tiring at all.
• Not bling-y like the Seltos. IMHO that vehicle has too much electronics and chrome.

Not so good aspects:

• Big size can be an issue in urban parking and on narrow roads.
• Fuel efficiency is not good even in the diesel. I get 10-12 kmpl average with 60-40 highway-city driving.
• Only 1 cup holder for the 4WD version
• Glove box although cooled is very small
• Storage compartment under driver armrest is pathetically small
• Auto start-stop is a pain and is badly implemented. Has to be manually turned off every time.
• Headlight throw, although better than my previous Maruti, is not the best.
• Niggles. Refer to multiple posts on this thread.
• AdrenoX app is SLOW, compared to the equivalent on the Seltos.
• Mahindra service can be iffy. Need to chase them and follow up closely on work. To be honest Maruti service quality also wasn’t exceptional, just that they are more responsive to complaints and issues.

My recommendation would be to go with the vehicle and variant that makes you smile when you drive it ( a proper long test drive).

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