Mahindra Scorpio CRDe. Review on Mahindra Scorpio CRDE

The numerous Scorpios you see on the roads today is indeed a proof of what a winner the car actually is. The sales have picked up even more with the introduction of the Common Rail Diesel engine. And today anybody who opts for the normal turbo charged version seriously needs a shrink!

FOR

The car, simply put, is a delight. I have owned one for the past 5 months and am thrilled even now when I step into it. I have clocked more than 16500 kms in 5 months, quite a bit by Indian averages. 2 trips from Mumbai to Kochi and back, and a dozen trips to Surat and Pune and the rest within Mumbai city.

The engine is probably one of the best diesel engines ever on an Indian car. Its extremely smooth for a diesel. Powerful, fast and simply delightful. Rev the engine in neutral and you can actually feel the chassis twisting. Enough to turn you on! Pick up is excellent with a marked surge in power once past 1500 rpms. Its reasonably huge to pick your way through traffic and also if you need to go over a couple of dividers once in a while. On the 26th of july, I spend 24 hrs in my car. Didnt give me any trouble. Had to drive around in metre deep water until I found higher ground. On the high way, its very easy to reach 3 digit speeds, and on empty stretches I have seen the speedo hit 160 kms very often, though I am not sure what the actual speed is. Straight line stability at high speeds is quiet good as long as you are alert ( I cant understand why people make an issue of it) Brakes are quite sufficeient for city driving conditions. Steering is light, very light, almost like the hanble bar of a bicycle.

Visibilty is excellent and the side mirros are large. Driving position and the power beneath your right foot gives you an urge to mow down errant drivers. (forgive me but I guess you get that feeling when you are in a powerful suv)

Interior quality is quite good for the money you pay. Finish is very good and the plastics actually have a nice feel to it. All switches and buttons are large and easy to operate. The instrument cluster is especially handsome and very nice to look at. Open the bonnet and its a wonderful sight. The intercooler is very nice to look at and things are packed in very neatly. Tyres are large and chunky.

AGAINST

Everything in this world has a good and a bad side to it and the crde is no exception. Try jamming the brakes to avoid a pedestrian or a dog when you are happily cruising at 100 kmph and you will know what I am talking about. If you are not familiar with this car, you can get into serious trouble. I have jumped out of my skin quite a few times. You cannot predict where the car will go. Its capable of serious speeds but with a fool behind the wheel, it can be a fatal combination. The car commands absolute attention at high speeds. Reduce speed early and you have a very fine beast, but do not expect it to stop suddenly. Alert is the word for survival here, but that is only if you want to get somewhere real quick.

Front suspension is good, rear set up is a nightmare and actually skips over bumps and this is probably the biggest culprit as far as the handling and the ride comfort goes.

The front left seat has a perpetual tendency to vibrate when not occupied and can be quite annoying when you are driving alone. The air conditioner is excellent but the blower position for the rear passengers could have been roof mounted for better effect. Leg room for any passenger or the driver is miserly. You can put kids in the last row but adults will develop cramps on a long drive.

I wouldnt say the car is a good choice for music freaks but if you can sacrifice the last row you have an auditorium to play around with.

The lesser said about the frugality the better. Mahindras claim for 13 kmpl still remains a distant dream to me. I get about 8 kmpl within mumbai city and about 10.5 kmpl when blasting down the highway with the ac on. But then I didnt buy this car for its fuel efficiency!

VERDICT

We Indians have always been starved of powerful cars. So far we have only had pseudo SUVs weighing the higher side of 1.5 tons with the power output barely enough to run a domestic generator. You always had that '' why cant this thing move?'' feeling when you are driving them, when the people the world over were revelling in SUVs churning out over 300 bhps and torque large enough to pull a BEST double decker at 3 digit speeds. A powerful, affordable SUV had always been a futile dream.

With the scorpio, I think we Indians have had our prayers, atleast given a thought. Power ratings may not be anywhere near International standards, but for an Indian car, its a giant leap ahead and am very proud to own one today!

If you want a value for money SUV then do not look else where. I test drove other suvs with similar power ratings but higher torque but nothing comes close to this engine. That engine alone is reason enough to drive a middle class car enthusiast like me crazy!!! GO for it because nothing else will do!!!!