Complete Buying Guide: Mahindra Scorpio Classic

It was the early 2000s, the legendary Tata Safari was an unrelenting craze across the nation, and Indian SUV buyers were head over heels for Safari’s elite appeal and unmatched off-roading calibre. But then came the Mahindra Scorpio in 2002 which gave India a new star of the SUV space. Pretty quickly, the Mahindra Scorpio established a dominant reign and became such an icon that even today, 23 years later, it is one of the best-selling cars and does not really have any rival. Mahindra has done a fine job updating the Scorpio over the years as the SUV is still very much true to its origins and maintains the traits that made it a legend. However, after the addition of the more premium Mahindra Scorpio N in its line-up, the original Mahindra Scorpio received the suffix ‘Classic’ to keep its name distinguishable. Today, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is bought for multiple reasons and if you are looking to own this Indian SUV, here is a complete buying guide to the Mahindra Scorpio Classic, explaining its specifications, advantages, limitations, and the best variant for you.

Mahindra Scorpio Classic Specifications

Mahindra Scorpio Classic Variants & Prices

As far as variants are concerned, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic has a rather simple lineup with only two variants on offer: S & S11. Both variants come with the same 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. While both variants are available in 7-seater layouts, the base S variant is also available in a 9-seater layout, which is a 2-3-4 layout with double side-facing jump seats for the third row. At the same time, the two 7-seater layouts include a 2-2-3 seating configuration, with captain’s seats in the second row and a bench seat in the third row (top S11 variant), and a 2-3-2 arrangement, which has a bench seat in the middle and two single jump seats in the third row (base S variant). Moreover, in the variant with the captain seats in the middle row, there is a removable bench seat in the third row. As for the colour schemes, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is available in Galaxy Grey, Red Rage, Everest White, Diamond White, and Stealth Black colours. Here is the list of Mahindra Scorpio Classic variants against their ex-showroom prices.

Best Mahindra Scorpio Classic Variant to Buy

The base S variant of the Mahindra Scorpio offers, LED tail lamps, AC vents for the second row, halogen reflector headlamps, side cladding, blacked-out grille, manual central locking, tilt adjustment for steering, all power windows (switches on the centre console), 17-inch steel wheels, body-coloured bumpers, and more. As can be seen, the S variant offers only basic features and misses the premium features like the Auto AC, touchscreen infotainment, projector headlamps, and more. The S variant can be good for those looking to heavily modify their Scorpio with aftermarket features and accessories.

Next is the top S11 variant, which adds chromed grille, halogen projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED eyebrow marker lights, fog lamps, rear camera, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-mounted controls, 1st, 2nd and 3rd-row centre padded armrests (with captain seat layout), 17-inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver seat, power mirrors, sunglass holder, auto AC, rear washer wiper, rear defogger, remote central locking, cruise control, and premium fabric upholstery. Of the two variants, the S11 is a better value-for-money variant.

Mahindra Scorpio Classic Warranty and Service Cost

The Mahindra Scorpio comes with a standard warranty of 3 years/100,000 km. This warranty period can be extended up to 5 years at some additional cost. As far as service cost is concerned, the first and second services are done free of cost and post that the service charges are around Rs 5,037 at 1 year/ 10,000 km, Rs 2,196 at 2 years/20,000 km, Rs 3,691 at 3 year/30,000 km, Rs 3,046 at 4 year/40,000 km, and Rs 2,196 at 5 year/50,000 km.

Why you should consider the Mahindra Scorpio Classic

Eminent Appeal

In India, quite a few SUVs have been as popular for their looks as the Mahindra Scorpio. Much as is the case with the Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner, the Mahindra Scorpio has an authoritarian appeal that immediately grabs attention. Because of this, the Mahindra Scorpio has long been a favourite of moviemakers and has made numerous appearances in films, wherein, in many scenes, it makes entries with fanfare. In today’s age of social media, the Mahindra Scorpio is also a social media star and has many fan pages. The credit for such a huge show value goes to an ageless design that the Indian carmaker meticulously crafted for the Mahindra Scorpio and notably, its overall design has not changed much since its launch in 2002.  As always, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic has a boxy silhouette that gives it a sturdy attitude. Upfront, there is a sharply raked windshield, upright bonnet with a traditional scoop, and striking grille consisting of chrome strips and the new twin-peaks logo. On the side, the Scorpio looks tall and masculine due to the chunky body-coloured cladding, blacked-out pillars, a wide recess on the doors, and a sharp kink in the roof. At the back, Mahindra has maintained the classic Scorpio appeal thanks to the typical long reflectors over the tail lamps, the side-opening tailgate with a big spoiler at the top of the squared-off rear profile. With such a design, Mahindra has successfully maintained the classic charm of the Mahindra Scorpio.

A True-blue Modern SUV

As far as SUVs are concerned, every automobile enthusiast agrees that SUVs today are SUVs for their face value. The word ‘SUV’ means Sport Utility Vehicle and SUVs are meant to be large, rugged, and tough, and are built on body-on-frame chassis. While most SUVs today are comfort-oriented and are built on monocoque chassis, like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, very few SUVs including the Mahindra Scorpio Classic are built on the body-on-frame chassis. Thanks to body-on-frame construction, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is as abuse-friendly as ever and can comfortably drive through significantly challenging terrains. It is indeed a true-blue SUV, which SUV fans desire. As the Mahindra Scorpio Classic maintains its rugged character, what has improved over the years is the refinement level of its diesel-powered powertrain. Its diesel engine today is impressively refined and the manual gearbox is also notably slick. The easy gear shifts help a great deal while tackling bad roads. Such a capability becomes even more appealing with a mileage of up to 16.46 km/l, which are appealing figures considering the size, weight, and seating capacity of the Mahindra Scorpio.

9-seater

Being available in a 9-seater configuration is a great deal on its own. As a matter of fact, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is one of the few 9-seater cars in India. While the 9-seater model of the Scorpio has jump seats for four passengers in the rear, and a bench seat in the middle with reduced legroom, it is a 9-seater model nonetheless and can accommodate 9 passengers. The 9-seater Mahindra Scorpio can be used for commercial purposes or for large families with a few children or average-size adults.

Resale value

Quite early in its run, the Mahindra Scorpio had become a brand on its own. It has also garnered a huge reputation for its durability and dependability. Due to these factors, the Mahindra Scorpio claims a strong resale value in the used car market and is a wise purchase even if you want to use it for a limited time and then part ways with it.

Why you should not consider the Mahindra Scorpio Classic

Lack of space

While it seems surprising to learn that the Mahindra Scorpio, such a large SUV, does not offer adequate legroom, it is the truth. Despite its large proportions, the Mahindra Scorpio lacks ample legroom in the second and third rows, which makes the rear seating slightly uncomfortable. Moreover, even though the jump seats in the rear section have a fanbase of their own, they are not as spacious and comfortable as a regular bench seat.

Uncomfortable ride

Rugged SUVs like the Mahindra Scorpio Classic are generally underpinned by the body-on-chassis. While this type of chassis is ideal for off-roading and makes the SUVs cross uneven stretches without hassle, the ride quality it delivers remains on the firmer side. This is why, in the Mahindra Scorpio Classic, the ride gets jittery over undulations and you can easily feel the potholes and bumps on the roads.  In addition to that, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is equipped with a rather stiff suspension to keep the body roll as little as possible. However, due to its tall body, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic does lean a bit on the turns.   

Missing features

The Mahindra Scorpio Classic is not built to deliver premium family-friendly drives. Therefore, it does not offer as many upmarket features as the conventional mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Creta do. Some of the in-demand features that the Mahindra Scorpio Classic misses include wireless phone charging, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, telescopic steering adjustment, sunroof, and leatherette upholstery. Even on the passenger safety front, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic is not as equipped as an SUV of its price tag should be. It lacks six airbags, an electronic stability program, a hill assist, and many other important safety features.

Summary

With over two decades of a relentless run, the Mahindra Scorpio Classic remains an ageless champion of the Indian automobile industry. Even today, the legendary Indian SUV is as high in demand as ever and if you are looking to own one, this buying guide to the Mahindra Scorpio Classic educates you about its strengths, flaws, and the best variant for your needs. About the Mahindra Scorpio, what impresses people the most is its eminent tough appeal that commands respect. It is also a capable off-roading machine despite not being available in 4X4 models. Moreover, it can accommodate as many as 9 passengers and is one of the few 9-seater cars in India. At the same time, it does not have ample legroom in its cabin and due to body-on-frame construction, its ride is not as comfortable as that of monocoque chassis-based SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and more. The other thing that makes it unsuitable as a family SUV is the absence of features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, leatherette upholstery, six airbags, an electronic stability program, and more.

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