Nov 28, 2003 11:56 AM
11715 Views
(Updated Nov 28, 2003 11:56 AM)
I bought a Scorpio 2.6DX about 3 months ago and have done around 9,000 kms on it so far. It's been serviced once. This is the new improved model released in August with chain drive, improved suspension etc.
The main reason for purchasing an SUV were that we (my wife and I) love driving and needed a vehicle with off road capability. It's looks and power (esp. the 26.0 kgm @1800 rpm torque) were other factors. A final perhaps emotional factor was that one of my best friends is part of the design team.
Positives
Presence: The Scorpio has great presence and inevitably draws the eye. This remains true even after 1 year of it's being available. For the same price range there is no other vehicle which offers such looks.
Respect on the road: After years of driving a small car where you're at the bottom of the food chain and fodder for everyone else, it is an immense relief to find vehicles both large and small making way for you. Since I still have my old Indica, I can feel the difference in road status when I drive the two vehicles.
Torque / Power: The high torque at low rpm means that bit of extra power to overtake in city conditions or on narrow roads. Most of city driving is in 2nd / 3rd gear and the Scorp is great at these gears. I clocked 0-60 kmph in around 11-12 seconds which is good. This surge stays with you all the way from low to high speeds. Feels great to be in the drivers seat.
Suspension: Suspension hard and handles potholes / bumps well with very little shock. Have not done major off road trips, but luckily in India, if you can't go off roading, off roads come to you post monsoon esp. on any road outside city limits.
Cabin noise: Due to the chain drive, cabin noise levels are much lower compared to the pre-August model. Travelling on the Pune-Mumbai expressway at 130, you only get a low soothing (even soporific) hum within. Noise levels increase during acceleration at low speeds but not enough to be an irritant. I've driven the gear drive Scorpio and the noise difference between the two models is palpable.
Seating and comfort: Front two seats very comfortable, middle tier comfortable and last few provide a bronco ride. That's ok for me personally since I usually need to seat a maximum of 4-5 people and the back is meant almost exclusively for luggage.
Interiors and cooling: Dual toned interiors and white and black instrument panel make for attractive interiors. Not 'knock your socks off' but very pleasant. The HVAC cooling is good and I find on average that in 3-4 minutes even with a very hot sun without, the interior become comfortable. The middle row cooling is also good because of the vents. However, the adjustability of the vents could be improved in the middle row since they seem aimed at your ankles.
Negatives
Handling turns: Rocks and rolls at high speed on turns. Don't recommend turning at excess of 90-100 kmph speeds unless you want an exciting 2-3 minutes after the turn.
Sticky gears: Gears are sticky and gear shifting thus a jerky event. The Scorp is the first urban market SUV launched by M&M. This is a problem more of the finishing than of design. Suspect this will improve in later models but for the moment, a significant negative.
Driving feel: Scorpio lacks driving feel. While the new model is an improvement on the old which had such lightweight steering that you could drive it with a little finger, there is still scope for improvement. M&M state that the driving feel is speed sensitive but this is not a noticeable aspect. The lightweight steering however is useful in city driving since it makes for easy manoeuverability and use narrow gaps in traffic.
The Turbo wait: Having to wait 1 minute before driving for enabling the turbo charger to take effect gets on your nerves after a while. A price you have to pay if you want the maximum the Scorp offers you.
Final verdict: Perfect for a person like me who needs a powerful vehicle to go on long drives where the roads could vary from excellent such as on Pune expressways to potholed wretches. At the same time, the high torque across the speed / gear range and power steering make it easy to drive in city conditions. Drive feel at high speeds, ease in gear shifting and turn handling are some areas for improvement.
