Mahindra Scorpio N: 12 observations of a Renault Duster owner

The new SUV from Mahindra looks humongous from the outside, almost as massive as the Ford Endeavour.

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Today morning got a call from M&M Customer Service, regarding my online 'add to cart' of Scorpio N. I inquired whether a TD vehicle is available at Mysore (India Garage) and she said yes, and I can go for a TD. She also literally emphasized that I should not miss booking the vehicle as soon as booking opens on the 30th - good to see that auto companies are concerned about sales!

So, I went today for a TD to India Garage, Hinkal around 1 PM. The showroom was empty as almost everyone was away for their ritualistic "lunch break". There was not a single vehicle apart from a lone black Z8 Scorpio N on display. The scene reminded me of the supermarket shelves in the early days of the pandemic.

Anyway, I could somehow find a sales guy, who had just finished his lunch and approached him. When I told him that I got a call from Mahindra customer service regarding the test drive of Scorpio N, the first thing he asked was, "show me the number from which you got a call". I was taken a bit aback by this question but anyway showed him the number from my phone's call list. He started searching it in his contact list and at that time I thought I should intervene, so told him that it was the centralized customer care of M&M and not from the dealer. Okay, so now, he understood and asked me, 'so you have booked online? Tell me what do you want to know? " some attention at last.

I told him that I added to the cart the Z4 4WD Diesel MT, which he said is not available for TD. In fact, no MT model is available for TD. The only one which is available for TD is the Z8 Diesel AT 2WD (but it was not available at the dealership right then) and one Z8 4WD may be available sometime next week. The reason why only Z8 is available for TD is that the company wants customers to only experience the top model (playing with aspiration).

In the absence of any TD vehicle available, I checked out the display vehicle Z8+ 2WD and here are my observations.

1. The vehicle looks humongous from the outside almost as massive as the Endeavor (although may be smaller in size in reality).
2. One has to literally climb up into the vehicle.
3. However, the interior of the vehicle is way too cramped compared to its exterior size, which the sales guy also confirmed.
4. The driver seat is so narrow that the contours were literally pressing against my rib cage. I drive a Duster and if I compare, Scorpio front seats would be economy class, while Duster's would be business class. The story is the same for the front passenger seat. By the way, I am 5'11" and of moderately stout build. In the first impression, I cannot imagine driving even an hour seating in those seats.
5. The story in the middle row is no different, it is best for 2 passengers of my size, 3 are impossible. Even with 2 passengers, there would be a fight for the mid-row hand rest.
6. The third row seemed to be a joke; more of a baby cot than a proper passenger seat. I really wonder how full-size adults could sit there in some video reviews, but when I tried to do so, it reminded me of the "murga" punishment in primary school! Such a small space that my knees almost touched my chest and the headrest was in the middle of my back. The sales guy also confirmed that the third row is only good for small children, not even grown-up children. The ingress to the third row is not much difficult, but getting out is tricky and a person little than me may fall down because of the height of the vehicle floor
7. The boot space, with all three rows, is negligible. It is only usable when the third row is rolled up (not when folded, because of the height difference between the seat and the floor). However, M&M has not provided anything to secure the rolled-up third row and it will definitely bang against luggage on bad roads. A big silly omission for a two million rupees vehicle.
8. The sunroof is located practically above the front seats and is very narrow. So, I guess only a child or a very thin person sitting in the front passenger seat would be able to use it.
9. For some unknown reason, the salesperson did not demonstrate the ICE and other functionalities and I also did not insist.
10. The view from the driver's seat is commanding, although I found some serious blind spots because of the A-pillar. The ORVMs are good but the IRVM seemed small considering the size of the vehicle.
11. There is also the problem of door closure, doors do not close properly unless literally slammed. Probably because of the air pressure inside and the comparatively light weight of the doors.
12. The sales person told me that ground clearance is about 200mm. But when I checked myself, it seemed much less. In fact, the GC is just below the lower arm of the front suspension seemed very less. Unfortunately, I was not carrying any 1-litre bottle to test that.

When inquired regarding vehicle availability, he smirked and said, the delivery may happen this year (if you're lucky). When asked about the price point and first 25K bookings, he also said that it's quite unlikely that you'd get at the launch price. But advised me to book online on the 30th anyway (this is one consistent message across the board, that I have found).

He also said that for more luxury and comfort, I should consider XUV700, because Scorpio N is a hardcore off-roader (but then why there are so many 2WD variants? Well he did not think about that!).

The great meeting ended with the sales guy taking my number with a promise that whenever the 4WD vehicle (not the Z4 variant, but Z8) would be available for TD, he will contact me.

Net take for me; after seeing all those walk-around and road test videos, I had a high expectation about Scorpion N, which was not met (if not shattered). Although I have not driven the vehicle, I have no serious doubt whether I would be comfortable sitting in those narrow seats and driving long hours. Same goes for my family because, in spite of being a 7-seater, I don't think we would be able to use it as anything other than a 5-seater, so big question on any trip with extended family. The GC is also doubtful for a 4WD, but only a TD (if and when it happens) may clarify it. Shall I book on the 30th? After the visit, not sure.

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