The new Scorpio is here and we couldn`t help

road test
A clash of the kings
The new Scorpio is here and we couldn’t help but wonder how
it would compare to India’s favourite people mover, the Innova
Mahindra Scorpio vs Toyota Innova
T
he new Scorpio might look
like a mid life facelift but
in fact there is a lot that
has been done to the behemoth.
Along with a new face it has
become safer, more comfortable
and with a lot of features on
board and on option. So naturally we had to ask a question,
which is better a people mover the Mahindra is identical to the
outgoing model, the designers
or an SUV
have made it look even more
The question of aes- butch.
thetic appeal
The angry headlamps with
There is no doubt here that the LED brow the flared snout
the Scorpio post its makeover of a grille marked by sharp teeth
is the better looking of the two. and the intercooler hood-scoop
Even though the overall shape of all scream testosterone. Also,
there seems to be no shortage of chrome either. Be it at
the front or the rear where the
LED tail lamps are mobbed by
chrome surrounds and so is the
front grille. The new 5-spoke
brushed aluminium style alloys
complement the looks of the
car quite well.
PICTUREs: pawan dagia
Wheelbase 2680
490
785
935
755*
640-1000
575-865
470
470
810
Wheelbase 2750
1755
950-1155
870
Tyres 205/65 R15 Bridgestone B390
Spare wheel Full size
505
1995
Length 4456
*Rear knee room with standard 1m driver’s leg room.
Innova
Wheel track F/R 1510/1510
Width 1770
Shoulder room 1415
585
970
550
540
MEASUREMENTS in millimetres
720
540
880
840
740
540
850
770*
670-840
550
1070-1200
600
1000
1050
Tyres 235/65 R17 Bridgestone Dueler H-T
Spare wheel Full size
1000
Scorpio
Wheel track F/R 1520/1500
Width 1820
Shoulder room 1460
600
MEASUREMENTS in millimetres
Length 4555
*Rear knee room with standard 1m driver’s leg room.
The Scorpio offers much better space all round but the Innova has a more comfortable third row and recline-able middle row as well
38 www.autobild.in Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014
Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014 www.autobild.in 39
road test
Mahindra Scorpio vs Toyota Innova
The Innova on the other hand
looks well, like an Innova, though
the India’s favourite people
mover does get some generous chrome treatment it isn’t
as visually appealing as the
Scorpio or for that matter the
older Innova.
The inside man
Though from the exterior it might
seem that the Scorpio has only
had a bit of nip and tuck but once
you peer inside do you realize
that it has been on the operation
table longer than you think for
the interior is almost completely
redone. The steering is now
Scorpio’s plastics are
still not up to the mark
The Scorpio’ s interiors are now plusher and the dash has been pushed back which results in more space smaller than before and feels
for the passenger and less intrusions for the driver. The screen though is a tad too low
good to hold. The entire dash
itself has been pushed towards
the bonnet and the front seat
squabs have been lengthened
to improve comfort.
The entire layout of the dash
looks flush and quite funky especially at night with its cool
blue lighting. In addition you
now also get climate control, a
touchscreen infotainment sysThe mHawk engine remains bulletproof though a tad noisier, rear tem with Bluetooth, automatic
occupants get AC vents and the infotainment now comes with touch headlamps, rain sensing wipcontrols. Though the touch isn’t as intuitive
ers and a rear AC vent. On the
The Innova too has retained the same shape
over the years for it has worked quite well
amongst the Innova’s customers. But we do
feel it is up for a generation change
downside however, the Scorpio
has virtually no cup holders up
front. The door pockets are for
papers and wrappers only and
the centre console has two cubby
holes which can hold one water
bottle a piece but little else. The
plastic quality too leaves quite
a bit of room for improvement,
something that can’t be said
about the Innova.
The interior quality of the
Innova though better than the
Scorpio has a few issues of its
own. It is just too staid and plain
looking compared to the fresher
Mahindra. The steering feels a
tad too big to hold and there
is just too much silver on the
dash. The seating and driving
positions though are comfortable
and it even gets a touchscreen
Mahindra has successfully made the Scorpio
more drivable with lesser body roll and
a slightly stiffer suspension though it still
handles like a large SUV
The interior of the Innova is rather staid. Though it does now come with climate control. The steering
is on the larger side but the steering mounted controls are easy to use
The engine is on the nosier side especially at higher speeds,
storage space is aplenty all round and the new touch screen
system works well and better than the one on the Scorpio
40 www.autobild.in Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014
!
Not just
nip&tuck
The Scorpio has
improved as a car.
The changes aren’t
visible but become
apparent when
you drive it
Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014 www.autobild.in 41
road test
Mahindra Scorpio vs Toyota Innova
ENGINE
The fog lamps on
the Scorpio come on
automatically to light up
the corner
The Honda looks
much better from the
rear three quarters
Made of
Capacity (cc)
Cylinders
Installation
Valvetrain
Bore x stroke
Max Power
Max torque
Max engine speed
Specific output
P-t-w
Gearbox
Driven wheels
Fuel efficiency (ARAI)
Tested
Acceleration
0-60kmph
0-80kmph
0-100kmph
0-120kmph
Top speed
Driveability
3 30-80kmph
4 40-100kmph
5
gear 80-120kmph
Braking
80-0kmph
100-0kmph
In cabin noise
At 50kmph
At 100kmph
At 130kmph
CO2
Fuel efficiency
gear
gear
system along with Bluetooth and
The Scorpio is powered by
steering mounted controls.
Mahindra’s tried and tested
mHawk diesel engine which has
Out for a ride
been retuned and the results
These two cars drive as differ- have shown progress. There is
ently as they look.
still the prevalent engine clatter
when it turns over but it does tend
to settle down. Though still a bit
noisy it doesn’t interfere with the
driving. Mahindra has tuned the
engine for better torque delivery
at lower revs which translates
to quick getaways off the line
and also the ability to cruise at
60kmph in fifth gear.
The gearbox has also been improved over the previous model
though it still isn’t as sharp as
it should’ve been. The overall
ride however has improved dramatically. The stiffened chassis
and reworked suspension have
worked wonders (no exaggeration).
The Scorpio has lost a lot
of the body roll that plagued it
earlier. Also, it had a tendency
to wallow on seemingly smooth
roads, a problem which has been
taken care of now thanks to the
42 www.autobild.in Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014
Mahindra
Toyota
5.5s
8.4s
15.5s
21.8s
160kmph
6.3s
10.1s
16.2s
23.8s
150kmph
7.1s
12.9s
11.5s
9.6s
17.4s
17.1s
28.3m
15.2m
27.1m
42.9m
62Db(A)
67Db(A)
70Db(A)
235g/km
11.2kmpl
64Db(A)
72Db(A)
75Db(A)
241g/km
10.9kmpl
Mahindra
Toyota
Chassis
No of Seats
Suspension F/R
Ladder on frame
7
Ladder on frame
7
Turning circle dia
Fuel
Tank capacity
Boot space
Kerb weight
There’s good reason that Innova is India’s favourite people mover.
It offers plenty of space along with comfort, especially thanks to
the captain seats in the middle. Thre rear most row too can seat
two adults with relative ease and still have some space for luggage
Toyota
Al head, iron block
2,494
4
Longitudinal
4 valves/cylinder, DOHC
92.0mmx93.8mm
102bhp@3,600rpm
200Nm@1,200rpm
5,000rpm
40.8bhp/litre
60bhp/tonne
5-speed
RWD
13.5kmpl
Body
Brakes F&R
Wheels F/R
Steering
Rear bench space was always the Scorpio’s forte and hence
has been left untouched. The seats are comfortable and can
seat three easily. The rear most seats though are not front
facing. and you sit in the boot. There are no seatbelts either
Mahindra
Al head, iron block
2,179
4
Longitudinal
4 valves/cylinder, DOHC
85.0mmx96.0mm
120bhp@4,000rpm
280Nm@1,800rpm
5,000rpm
54.5bhp/litre
70.1bhp/tonne
5-speed
RWD
15.4kmpl
Double wishbone with anti roll- Double wishbone/four link with
bar/Multi link with coil spring
lateral rod
Disc/drum
Disc/Drum
17in alloys
15in alloys
Rack and pinion with electric Rack and pinion with electric
assist
assist
11.2m
11.0m
Diesel
Diesel
60 litres
55 litres
223 litres
300 litres
1,710kg
1,700kg
equipment
Mahindra
Toyota
Model
Airbags
ABS/ESP
AC/Climate control
Power windows
Sound system
Sun roof
Headlamps
Warranty
Scorpio S10
2
Yes/No
Climate control
Yes
Radio/ Aux/ USB/ Mp3
No
Projector
2 years/75,000km
Innova 2.5 Z
2
Yes/No
Climate control
Yes
Radio/Aux/USB/MP3
No
Halogen
3 years/1,00,000km
Rs 11.30 lakh
Rs 17.67 lakh
price (OTR, Delhi)
Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014 www.autobild.in 43
road test
Mahindra Scorpio vs Toyota Innova
The AUTO BILD
The Scorpio’s aggressive stance and butch
looks will appeal to the SUV enthusiast whereas
the Innova remains a functional option
Height max 1110mm
Width max 1420mm
Depth max 1400mm
The Scorpio has a massive boot but the
seats here don’t have seatbelts
Height max 765mm
Width max 1320mm
Depth max 1660mm
The Innova has decent boot space even
if the rear most row is occupied
stiffened chassis.
The steering response too has
improved by a great margin and
actually feels sharper and more
balanced not only compared to
the old car but to its contender
here as well. Sharp changes in
directions seldom upset the car
and the steering no longer feels
vague while accelerating.
However, it does tend to get
vague at higher speeds. The stiffer
suspension too works well and
we will even go on to say that
the Scorpio can even take on
corners. But don’t expect to hit
the apex and go for the chicane
for the body roll has been reduced by a few notches but it
Lust factor
, Enticing
44 www.autobild.in Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014
The steering on the
Scorpio is responsive
is stable on the highway and
can tackle corners better than
the Mahindra, it is too noisy not
only near its top end but also
whilst accelerating. The ride
quality though is good and it
is clearly a car that you pre-
This is about taste and does not affect our final rating
Category Mahindra
Design
Character
Handling
Wellness
Image
TOTAL
To die for
still exists and makes itself felt
from time to time if you’re not
careful.
The Innova on the other hand
tends to feel underpowered on
the move especially when you
put your foot down. Though it
Toyota
, Likeable
My personal choice would have
to be the Scorpio for not only it
looks aggressive and rather cool,
but the interiors are well designed
and comfortable as well. Then there
is the sheer amount of features the
car offers. The Bluetooth system
works well though the touchscreen
is a bit cumbersome but I can live
with that.
Could be better
, Boring
fer to be driven in than drive
yourself.
The niggles
Though both cars have their
pros and cons there are a few
concerns that we feel should be
addressed here. The Scorpio’s
new touchscreen infotainment
system though looks funky and
fresh, is placed lower on the
dash which makes it distracting
to operate while driving. The
touch controls too are a tad
cumbersome and not intuitive
enough.
The interior door handles feel
flimsy and the central lock lever
even more so, with addition of
being tiny and cumbersome to
use. Also, though, the car can
seat seven there is no front facing row but rather two chairs
in the boot and they don’t get
seatbelts either.
The Innova’s gearbox is a bit
vague especially between the
third and the fifth gears, the
silver treatment on the dash and
the steering looks unappealing
(putting it mildly).
Final placing
1
Mahindra Scorpio S10
294 Points
The new Scorpio offers a great
package with an exhaustive feature list and is the ideal car for
someone looking for road presence on a budget
Best Driver's Car
118/200 points
2
Most Comfortable Car
137/200 points
Toyota Innova 2.5 Z
291 Points
A car that you prefer to be
driven in is the ideal choice for
someone who travels long distances frequently, usually with
the entire clan in tow
'Best driver's car' and 'most comfortable car' placings are specific to this test only
Verdict
points system at work
Toyota
Mahindra
Max Points
SCORECARD
Clear winner, fair grading – cars are rated
over 500 points, with 100 points for each
section. Also, each section focuses on a
single aspect for easier understanding
BODY
Front space
Rear space
Feeling of space
Boot space/flexibility
Visibility
Feel of quality
Payload
Safety
Intermediate results
15
15
10
15
5
15
5
20
100
14 10
14 11
7 7
15 15
4 3
9 11
4 4
5 3
72 64
The Scorpio trumps the Toyota in
cabin space both up front and at the
rear. Though, the Innova does sport
better interior quality and is also
better built compared to the Mahindra. The surprising part however
was that the Scorpio features more
safety equipment than the Innova
like cornering lamps, xenon lamps
and tyre pressure monitoring
Drive
Acceleration
Top speed
Driveability
Engine characteristics
Gearbox
Fuel efficiency
Range
Environment
Intermediate results
15 6 6
5
2
2
10 7 5
5
3 2
10 6 6
40 20 20
5
3 3
10 5
5
100 52 49
Though both cars are almost equally
matched here, the Scorpio is more
manoeuvrable in traffic despite its
size compared to the Innova. The
engine too feels more refined and
less noisy. It also offers better low
down torque than the Japanese.
The gearbox too is marginally better than the one on the Innova. Both
cars are equally fuel efficient.
Comfort
Ride quality
Front seats/ingress
Rear seat/ingress
Driving noise
Handling
Comfort equipment
Operability
Intermediate results
30 20 22
10 7 8
10 7 8
10 7 5
15 10 10
15 8 7
10 6 7
100 65 67
Ride quality has always been the Innova’s strong point and so it remains.
The slow speed bump absorption is
significantly better on the Innova
than it is on the Mahindra. At higher
speeds however the Scorpio is able
to tacke the bumps better. Due to its
taller stance getting in and out of the
Scorpio can be taxing.
Dynamics
Steering response
Directional stability
Manoeuvrability
Braking
Grip
Turning circle
Intermediate results
Test results
15
15
20
25
10
15
100
400
11
11
13
19
6
12
72
261
10
12
12
19
6
12
71
251
There is only a point’s difference between the two cars here as both display their pros and cons. The Scorpio’s steering feels more responsive
especially during sudden direction
changes whereas the Innova offers
better directional stability especially
at high speeds. The Scorpio though
does feel more manoeuvrable
Cost
Price
Resale
Warranty
Intermediate results
Total
60
20
20
100
500
13
12
8
33
294
10
16
14
40
291
Final position
1 2
Up until now the Innova was trailing
behind the Scorpio but here is where
it almost catches up for there is little
that can beat the phenomenal resale
value and the warranty the Japanese
car maker offers. Despite the Innova
being significantly more expensive it
beats the Scorpio hands down here.
Kshitij Sharma
The new Scorpio is a huge improvement over the outgoing model and not only in tems of aesthetics. It drives much
better than before and also offers a much better ride than the previous car. It now offers a much better all round package with airbags and the 4WD option available on all variants S4 onwards. In addition it offers much plusher interiors
which are loaded to the teeth with features. Hence it is the winner of our test but it managed to win only by the skin of
its teeth as it was up against the Innova, one of the best selling people movers in the country. The Innova offers great
value for money along with a fuel efficient engine. Though it does fall short when it comes to interior space and outright
visual appeal. But is still a good option for a large family.
Vol. 7, Issue No 08, November 5, 2014 www.autobild.in 45