Category: Maxxd News

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 10:00 [IST]

Tata’s
electrification
of
its
existing
car
lineup
continues
to
progress
at
breakneck
speed.
The
latest
ICE
model
to
go
down
the
full
electric
route
is
the
Mumbai
firm’s
entry-level
Tiago
hatchback.

So
what
all
has
Tata
Motors
changed
to
make
the
Tiago
go
from
a
dino
burner
to
a
Greenpeace
darling?
And
is
the
switch
to
electric
worth
burning
a
bigger
hole
in
your
pocket
for
a
compact
hatchback?
We
drove
the
all-new
Tata
Tiago
EV
in
Goa
to
find
out…

Tata
Tiago
EV
Design
&
Features
–
An
Electric
Blue
Upgrade

In
terms
of
overall
looks,
the
Tata
Tiago
EV
has
been
given
a
few
tweaks
to
help
differentiate
it
from
its
internal
combustion
siblings.
The
biggest
of
these
changes
can
be
found
in
the
teal
blue
accents
that
are
seen
on
the
Tiago
EV’s
exterior
and
interiors.

At
the
front,
the
grille
is
now
a
closed-off
section
finished
off
in
black
plastic
with
Tata
and
EV
badging
along
with
arrow-shaped
on
each
end.
The
headlights
are
connected
to
each
other
by
a
teal
blue
stip
that
runs
underneath
the
closed-off
grille.
The
DRLs
sit
lower
on
the
front
bumper
and
sport
teal
blue
highlights
as
well.

The
sides
of
the
new
TIago
EV
feature
body-coloured
door
handles
with
a
piano
black
strip
providing
a
bit
of
contrast.
The
other
new
design
feature
seen
on
Tiago
EV’s
exterior
include
the
contrast
black
roof
and
the
new
14-inch
Hyperstyle
wheels
that
look
rather
elegant
and
feature
teal
highlights.
The
rear
section
is
mostly
unchanged
except
for
the
EV
badging.

Step
inside
the
new
Tiago
EV
and
you’ll
find
more
teal
accents
on
the
surrounds
for
the
air-con
vents
along
with
a
digital
instrument
cluster.
Also
seen
is
a
new
flat-bottomed
steering
wheel
and
chrome
inner
door
handles.

The
touchscreen
infotainment
setup
is
the
same
7-inch
unit
and
features
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
connectivity.
The
infotainment
system
can
also
be
used
to
access
Tata’s
ZConnect
suite
of
45
connected
car
features
which
includes
access
to
telematics
for
the
first
time
in
the
segment.
Owners
can
also
access
the
ZConnect
suite
on
their
phones
and
on
compatible
smartwatches.

The
new
Tiago
EV
also
comes
packed
with
safety
gear
including
dual
front
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
reversing
camera,
tyre
pressure
monitoring
and
more.

Tata
Tiago
EV
Powertrain
&
Driving
Impressions
–
Electric
Zippyness

The
Tata
Tiago
EV
is
offered
with
a
choice
of
two
battery
packs.
The
smaller
19.2kWh
battery
pack
has
a
claimed
range
of
250km
and
comes
with
a
3.3kW
home
charger
as
standard.
This
version
of
the
Tiago
EV
gets
a
single
electric
motor
with
60.3bhp
and
110Nm
of
peak
torque
and
can
go
from
0-60km/h
in
a
claimed
6.2
seconds.

We
drove
the
higher-specced
Tiago
EV
with
the
larger
24kWh
battery
pack
which
is
offered
with
both
3.3kWh
and
7.2Kwh
AC
home
charging
options.
Both
versions
of
the
Tiago
EV
support
50kW
DC
fast
charging
which
can
recharge
the
battery
pack
from
10-80
per
cent
in
just
57
minutes.

This
higher-spec
Tiago
EV
is
powered
by
a
single
electric
motor
with
73.75bhp
and
114Nm
of
peak
torque.
Tata
claims
that
this
version
of
the
Tiago
EV
can
go
from
0-60
in
5.7
seconds
while
offering
a
claimed
range
of
315km.

During
our
time
with
the
Tiago
EV,
we
found
the
0-60km/h
sprint
times
to
be
quite
believable
as
the
electric
hatchback
accelerates
like
nothing
else
in
the
price
bracket.
There
are
two
driving
modes
on
offer
–
City
&
Sport
–
but
we
found
the
only
major
difference
between
them
to
be
the
sensitivity
of
the
throttle
pedal.

The
Tiago
EV
also
offers
four
levels
of
regen
ranging
from
Mode
0
to
Mode
3.
In
Mode
0,
regen
is
non-existent
while
Mode
3
allows
for
single-pedal
driving.
However,
regen
is
not
available
if
the
battery
charge
is
above
80
per
cent.
Also,
one-pedal
driving
is
not
on
offer
under
9km/h
as
the
Tiago
EV’s
creep
mode
kicks
in
allowing
for
easier
driving
in
bumper-to-bumper
and
stop-and-go
traffic.

We
found
the
steering
to
be
quite
light
and
easy
to
use
at
slow
speeds
and
in
city
traffic.
When
we
did
get
time
to
put
our
foot
down,
the
steering
also
weighed
up
nicely
which
inspired
quite
a
bit
of
confidence.

The
suspension
setup
on
the
Tiago
EV
has
been
softened
to
help
the
slightly
heavier
electric
hatch
deal
with
the
potholes
and
bumps
on
our
roads.
However,
despite
the
slightly
softer
suspension,
we
found
that
Tiago
EV
was
quite
stable
in
the
corners
thanks
to
the
negligible
body
roll.

The
braking
performance
of
the
Tiago
EV
is
quite
adequate
and
the
feel
from
the
pedal
is
rather
accurate.
While
we
didn’t
have
much
time
to
test
the
Tiago
EV’s
range
claims,
we
feel
that
with
the
larger
battery
pack
and
a
good
bit
of
heavy
regen,
the
Tiago
EV
can
easily
deliver
a
driving
range
of
around
220
to
230km.

Tata
Tiago
EV
–
Final
Impressions
About
The
EV
For
the
Masses

The
Tata
Tiago
EV
looks
to
be
the
perfect
choice
for
somebody
looking
to
head
into
the
world
of
EVs
to
test
the
electric
revolution
for
themselves.
The
new
Tiago
EV
is
zippy
and
we
would
recommend
splurging
a
bit
a
going
for
the
larger
battery
pack
version
of
the
electric
hatchback.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Updated: Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 12:09 [IST]

The
Toyota
Innova
has
been
the
mainstay
of
the
premium
MPV
market
since
it
first
arrived
in
2005
to
replace
the
outgoing
Qualis.
Over
the
years,
the
Toyota
Innova
has
undergone
quite
a
few
changes
as
it
kept
up
with
the
times
and
gave
other
carmakers
a
never-ending
migraine.

In
2016,
Toyota
updated
the
MPV
and
gave
it
the
Innova
Crysta
nameplate.
The
new
Innova
Crysta
sported
an
updated
design
that
ensure
it
remained
a
hit
and
the
comfort
levels
inside
went
up
another
notch.
Under
the
bonnet,
the
presence
of
two
diesel
engines
meant
that
it
became
a
favourite
of
the
mile
muncher
brigade
as
well.

Now,
more
than
six
years
after
the
Crysta’s
arrival
and
17
years
after
the
OG
Innova
hit
the
streets,
Toyota
has
changed
the
game
once
again
with
its
innovative
MPV.
Now
bearing
the
name
Innova
HyCross,
the
premium
family
carrier
has
gone
down
the
SUV
design
path
and
sports
an
innovative
strong
hybrid
setup
under
the
bonnet
which
promises
to
make
up
for
the
lack
of
an
oil
burner.

So
just
how
much
has
the
all-new
Toyota
Innova
HyCross
changed
the
game?
Have
the
innovations
made
it
an
even
more
attractive
proposition?
We
drove
the
Toyota
Innova
Hycross
in
Bangalore
to
find
out…

Toyota
Innova
HyCross
Exterior
Design
–
Going
Down
The
SUV
Hyway

The
Toyota
Innovas
of
the
yesteryears
all
looked
like
a
proper
MPV
should
with
curves
in
all
the
right
places.
However,
with
SUVs
becoming
the
go-to
vehicles
for
buyers
today,
the
design
masters
at
Toyota
decided
that
it
was
time
the
new
Innova
went
down
the
SUV
design
path.

At
the
front,
the
all-new
Innova
HyCross
features
an
upright
nose
section
with
a
large
hexagonal
grille
that
features
chunky
chrome
surrounds.
The
grille
is
flanked
on
either
side
by
edgy
wraparound
headlamps
with
triple
LED
lights,
LED
position
lamps
and
a
chrome
strip
running
across
the
top.
The
bonnet
also
features
some
bulges
that
add
to
the
butch
SUV
looks
of
the
new
Innova.

Lower
down
on
the
front
chunky
front
bumper
is
where
you’ll
find
triangular
cutouts
which
house
the
dual-purpose
LED
DRLs
that
also
act
as
the
turn
indicators.
Also
seen
is
a
large
air
dam
section
split
into
two
with
the
lower
portion
flanked
on
either
side
by
what
appear
to
be
fog
lamps.

The
sides
of
the
new
Innova
HyCross
sport
the
chunky
wheelarches
that
play
host
to
large
18-inch
alloy
wheels
shod
with
225/50
R18
tyres.
The
front
and
rear
flanks
are
accentuated
by
the
design
lines
of
the
new
HyCross
and
give
the
MPV
a
very
muscular
look.

The
rear
section
of
the
new
Innova
sports
sleek
wraparound
LED
taillights
that
are
connected
by
a
thick
strip
of
chrome.
Also
seen
is
an
integrated
roof
spoiler
that
plays
host
to
the
third
brake
light.
The
new
tailgate
is
a
powered
unit,
so
getting
it
open
when
you
have
the
groceries
is
a
breeze
now.

Toyota
Innova
Hycross
Interior
&
Features
–
Hy
On
The
Luxury
Quotient

The
Toyota
Innova’s
interiors
have
always
been
quite
upmarket
but
the
new
Innova
HyCross
takes
cabin
luxury
to
a
whole
new
level
of
indulgence.

At
the
front,
the
multi-layered
dashboard
features
quite
a
bit
of
soft-touch
material
and
features
quite
a
bit
of
quirky
innovations.
The
dominant
central
section
flows
down
from
the
large
10.1-inch
infotainment
display
into
the
controls
for
the
multi-zone
climate
control
system
and
the
high-mounted
gear
lever.

Another
quirk
is
the
placement
of
the
wireless
phone
charger
that
sits
in
its
own
slot
in
the
dash
just
above
the
glove
box.
On
the
other
side
of
the
dash,
behind
the
large
steering
wheel
sits
a
7-inch
driver’s
display
flanked
by
gauges
on
either
side
with
the
one
on
the
left
giving
more
details
about
the
innovative
hybrid
system.

While
the
dashboard
and
its
gadgets
are
quite
a
big
upgrade,
the
Innova
HyCross
is
in
essence
a
premium
MPV
and
its
cabin
more
than
matches
any
expectations
you
could
have.
The
top
ZX-spec
HyCross
models
sport
Dark
Chestnut
Art
leather
upholstery
that
ups
the
luxury
quotient
of
the
Innova.

The
front
seats
are
ventilated
with
the
driver’s
seat
getting
8-way
power
adjustment
and
memory
function.
However,
the
second
row
of
seats
are
the
ones
you
want
to
be
in
the
new
Innova
HyCross.

With
the
new
powered
Ottoman
function
enabled,
these
large
captain-style
seats
allow
you
to
stretch
out
in
style.
You
can
lie
back
and
see
the
world
through
the
large
panoramic
sunroof
while
enjoying
your
favourite
tunes
through
the
infotainment
setup
(with
support
for
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay)
that
comes
paired
with
a
premium
9-unit
(8
speakers
&
1
subwoofer)
audio
system
from
JBL.

The
third
row
of
seats
isn’t
one
to
scoff
at
either.
There
is
quite
a
bit
of
space
on
offer
and
these
seats
also
recline
so
long
journeys
shouldn’t
be
much
of
a
hassle
if
you
find
yourself
delegated
there.

The
new
Innova
HyCross
comes
packed
with
features
including
multiple
charging
ports
for
your
devices,
rear
sunshades,
electrochromic
IRVM,
the
aforementioned
power
tailgate
and
multi-zone
climate
control
with
automatic
controls
for
the
rear
blowers.
Also
seen
is
Toyota’s
i-Connect
connected
car
suite
which
adds
65+
features
like
remote
ignition
start/stop,
remote
door
lock/unlock,
remote
AC
control
and
more
that
can
be
controlled
through
your
phone
and
smartwatch.

The
new
HyCross
also
features
a
host
of
safety
features
like
6
airbags,
vehicle
stability
control,
hill
start
assist,
reverse
parking
camera,
front
and
rear
parking
sensors
and
a
360-degree
camera.

The
new
HyCross
also
sports
the
Toyota
Safety
Sense
suite
of
advanced
driver
aids.
These
driver
aids
include
dynamic
radar-guided
cruise
control,
lane
trace
assist,
blind
spot
monitoring,
and
pre-collision
warning
among
others.

Toyota
Innova
HyCross
Driving
Impressions
–
Hybrid
Innovation
Shining
Through

The
Toyota
Innova
HyCross
is
offered
with
a
choice
of
two
powertrains
in
India.
The
regular
2.0-litre
petrol
model
pushes
out
172bhp
and
205Nm
of
peak
torque
and
is
connected
to
a
CVT
gearbox
that
sends
power
to
the
front
wheels
(another
first
for
an
Innova).

The
other
powertrain
option
–
the
one
that
lends
the
new
Innova
its
HyCross
name
–
features
a
2.0-litre
Atkinson
cycle
engine
producing
150bhp
and
187Nm
of
peak
torque
and
an
electric
motor
that
pushes
out
111bhp
and
206Nm
of
torque.
The
powertrain
is
paired
to
an
e-CVT
gearbox
(sending
power
to
the
front
wheels)
and
Toyota
has
limited
the
peak
power
output
to
186bhp.

We
got
to
drive
the
all-new
Innova
HyCross
hybrid
and
found
the
power
delivery
from
the
petro-electrical
mashup
to
be
quite
linear.
The
HyCross
features
a
brand
new
monocoque
setup
which
has
made
it
quite
a
bit
lighter
than
its
predecessor
and
this
combined
with
the
more
than
adequate
acceleration
levels
from
the
hybrid
powertrain
allows
the
big
MPV
to
smoothly
cruise
its
way
up
to
triple
digits.

The
new
Innova
Hycross
sports
a
rather
soft
suspension
setup
that
allows
it
to
smother
out
the
effect
of
bumps
and
ruts
on
the
road
with
ease
and
makes
long
journeys
a
breeze,
something
that
is
no
doubt
aided
by
the
excellent
NVH
levels
inside
the
cabin.

However,
don’t
expect
the
new
Hycross
to
take
corners
like
a
champ
as
despite
the
new
monocoque
frame,
the
soft
suspension
setup
means
that
there
is
quite
a
bit
of
body
roll
when
you
push
this
big
behemoth
through
a
sharp
curve
on
the
road.

The
Innova
HyCross
also
features
quite
good
levels
of
regen
which
can
be
tweaked
with
the
help
of
the
paddle
shifters
and
this
combined
with
the
all-wheel
disc
brakes
means
that
the
new
Toyota
MPV
comes
to
halt
without
much
fuss.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Toyota
Innova
HyCross
–
A
Hylight
Reel
Of
Innovations

The
all-new
Toyota
Innova
HyCross
not
only
lives
up
to
the
legacy
of
the
premium
MPV
but
takes
it
to
a
whole
new
level
with
its
innovative
new
hybrid
powertrain
and
luxurious
interiors.
While
we
would
have
liked
a
bit
more
time
behind
the
wheel,
the
new
Toyota
Innova
HyCross
seems
set
to
take
forward
the
dominance
of
its
predecessors
into
a
new
Hybrid
era.

Source

It
was
back
in
2002
that
the
Mahindra
Scorpio
first
debuted.
Back
then,
it
was
the
best
SUV
Mahindra
had
ever
made
and
it
remained
that
way
for
several
years.
Despite
many
attempts
from
competitors,
no
SUV
exuded
a
charming
character
quite
as
the
Scorpio
did.

In
2006,
2009,
and
2014,
Mahindra
launched
facelifts
of
the
Scorpio.
However,
a
brand-new
Scorpio
would
arrive
only
two
decades
after
the
first
one
hit
the
roads.
Earlier
this
year,
Mahindra
launched
the
much-awaited
Scorpio-N.
Needless
to
say,
the
Scorpio-N
has
turned
out
to
be
an
immense
success,
with
Mahindra
receiving
one
lakh
bookings
within
just
30
minutes
of
booking
being
opened.

While
the ‘N’
is
all
set
to
take
the
Scorpio
brand
to
the
next
level,
the
older
Scorpio
has
turned
out
to
be
one
that
can’t
be
pushed
aside
easily.
It
still
holds
great
brand
value
and
is
still
bringing
in
a
steady
flow
of
bookings.
Hence,
Mahindra
decided
to
keep
it
in
production,
under
the ‘Scorpio
Classic’
moniker.

While
it
does
look
exactly
like
the
older
Scorpio,
Mahindra
has
made
enough
changes
to
keep
it
going
strong
for
a
few
years.
We
drove
the
SUV
a
few
hundred
kilometres
to
see
what
it
is
all
about.
So,
what
are
the
changes?
How
effective
are
these
changes?
Is
it
worth
your
money
in
2022?
How
does
it
stack
up
against
the
Scorpio-N?
Read
on
to
find
out.

Design
&
Style

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
built
on
the
principle
of
retention
and
the
one
thing
it
has
retained
very
well
is
the
design
and
styling.
It
has
got
the
same
boxy,
proportionate,
butch,
classy,
and
muscular
looks
that
the
Scorpio
has
been
carrying
around
for
years
now.

Up
front
is
the
same
familiar
fascia.
It
retains
the
clear-lens
wraparound
headlamps,
the
bonnet
with
muscular
lines,
and
the
iconic
hood
scoop.
The
hood
scoop
however,
is
no
longer
functional
and
Mahindra
has
chosen
to
retain
it
as
an
aesthetic
element.
The
grille
up
front
is
new
and
features
six
vertical
chrome
slats.
It
even
gets
the
new
Mahindra
Twin
Peaks
logo.

Not
much
has
changed
in
terms
of
the
design
on
the
front
bumper.
It
now
features
pretty
basic
LED
DRLs
placed
above
the
cornering
lamps.
The
skid
plate
at
the
bottom
is
finished
in
matte
silver.
The
wheel
arches
and
quarter
panels
further
enhance
the
muscular
design
and
styling

When
viewed
from
the
side
profile,
the
new
alloy
wheels
are
the
first
element
to
grab
your
attention.
The
dual-tone
diamond-cut
alloys
heels
certainly
look
good
and
enhance
the
styling
of
the
SUV,
however,
sometimes
it
does
feel
like
the
black
finish
on
the
wheel
make
them
look
a
little
understated.

The
cladding
is
now
body-coloured
and
the
new
Scorpio
badging
on
it
is
more
pronounced.
The
SUV
also
gets
a
new
mHawk
badge
on
the
quarter
panels.
The
silhouette
of
the
side
profile
remains
unchanged
and
that
is
a
good
thing
for
die-hard
fans
of
the
Scorpio.

Move
on
to
the
rear
and
yet
another
signature
Scorpio
element
is
now
back
in
business.
The
tall
tail
lamp
has
been
resurrected
on
the
new
Scorpio
Classic.
This
was
a
design
element
that
first
appeared
on
the
2006
facelift
of
the
Scorpio
but
was
omitted
on
the
2014
facelift.
After
a
hiatus
of
over
seven
years,
the
tall
tail
lamp
is
back.

Apart
from
the
tail
lamp,
the
other
changes
at
the
rear
include
a
new
Scorpio
Classic
badge,
a
prominently
placed
Twin
Peaks
logo
and
the
S11
badging
is
present
just
below
the
Scorpio
badge.
You
still
get
a
large
step
for
passengers
to
get
into
the
boot
and
the
large
spoiler
too
has
been
retained.

On
the
whole,
the
Scorpio
Classic
has
retained
the
design
and
styling
of
the
older
Scorpio
and
this
will
certainly
keep
bookings
coming.

Cockpit
&
Interior

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
has
always
had
a
rugged
and
practical
character
and
its
interior
screamed
of
the
same
nature.
It
never
came
with
over-the-top
luxury
or
a
lengthy
features
list.
It
did
the
job
well
and
that’s
about
it.
The
Scorpio
Classic
too
has
retained
the
same
nature.
Tugging
on
the
chunky
door
handle
and
swinging
the
heavy
door
open
reveals
the
understated
interior
of
the
SUV.

It
gets
new
beige
upholstery,
however,
the
overall
interior
layout
remains
the
same.
The
seats
are
as
flat
as
they
always
used
to
be
and
the
fabric
still
feels
a
little
too
raw
and
rough,
like
it
can
handle
abuse.
Climb
into
the
driver’s
seat
and
the
first
thing
one
would
notice
is
the
steering
wheel.

This
particular
settering
wheel
is
borrowed
from
the
erstwhile
XUV500
and
is
a
chunky
unit.
It
has
mounted
controls
that
can
control
various
functions
like
cruise
control,
music,
etc.
Behind
the
wheel
is
the
analogue-digital
instrument
cluster
with
a
blue
backlight.
It
certainly
is
a
remnant
of
the
old
Scorpio
and
looks
decent.

The
MID
is
very
small
and
yet
packs
quite
a
lot
of
information.
It
displays
the
gear
position
indicator,
odometer,
two
tripmeters,
temperature
gauge,
and
fuel
gauge.
This
MID
is
flanked
by
a
large
analogue
speedometer
to
the
right
and
a
tachometer
to
the
left.

The
dashboard
is
compact
and
narrow
and
taking
centre
stage
on
the
dash
is
a
new
9-inch
infotainment
unit.
The
touchscreen
is
Android-based
and
while
touch
performance
is
decent,
the
interface
is
more
like
an
Android
tab
and
it
does
give
users
a
feeling
that
an
Android
tab
has
been
stuffed
into
the
dashboard.
The
UI
certainly
could
do
with
some
improvement.

The
S11
variant
comes
with
six
speakers
to
reproduce
sound.
These
speakers
do
have
quite
a
bit
of
jarring
and
while
it
does
produce
bass
notes
pretty
well,
the
mids
and
highs
are
muddy
and
no
amount
of
EQ
tweaking
made
them
sound
good.

While
the
dashboard
and
cetnre
console
layout
hasn’t
changed
much,
the
addition
of
faux
wood
trim
does
add
a
touch
of
premiumness
to
the
SUV.
The
centre
console
sticks
to
the
bare
basics
too.

The
Scoprio
Classic
remains
devoid
of
any
premium
features
and
it
does
have
quite
a
few
rough
edges.
Some
would
say
the
fit
and
finish
isn’t
great,
but
this
is
just
how
the
Scorpio
has
always
been.
The
finish
definitely
could
have
been
improved.
For
example,
connectors
to
the
rear
defogger
are
exposed
and
this
is
quite
shoddy.

Comfort,
Practicality
&
Boot
Space

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
has
always
been
a
practical
SUV
and
the
same
traits
are
carried
forward
with
the
Scorpio
Classic
too.
The
seats
are
wide
and
comfortable.
The
contouring
on
the
seats
are
missing
and
it
does
feel
more
like
a
flat
bench,
especially
in
the
middle
row.
However,
there
is
no
death
of
space.

The
seats
could
do
with
a
little
more
underthigh
support.
However,
the
leg
room,
knee
room
and
head
room
are
all
excellent
and
it
is
difficult
to
find
any
fault
with
the
space
offered
by
the
SUV.
The
Mahindra
Scorpio
is
available
in
multiple
seating
configurations.

Our
review
unit
came
with
the
base
seven-seater
configuration.
This
includes
two
in
front,
a
bench
seat
for
three
in
the
middle
and
two
side-facing
jump
seats
at
the
rear.
There
is
a
nine-seater
variant
on
offer
too,
wherein
the
first
two
rows
remain
the
same
but
the
jump
seats
at
the
rear
are
slightly
wider.
Yet,
we
doubt
seating
nine
would
be
comfortable.

There
is
yet
another
variant
that
offers
seating
for
seven.
The
bench
seat
in
the
middle
is
replaced
by
captain
seats
and
the
jump
seats
in
the
rear
are
replaced
by
a
bench
seat.
However,
when
it
comes
to
practicality,
this
configuration
is
least
useful.

The
jump
seats
at
the
rear
in
the
former
configurations
can
be
folded
and
tied
up
with
a
velcro.
The
bench
in
the
middle
too
can
be
put
through
a
two-step
fold,
allowing
for
more
cargo
space.
The
side-opening
rear
door
further
improves
practicality.
Mahindra
claims
the
Scorpio
Classic
has
a
boot
space
of
460
litres,
but
it
can
in
reality
accommodate
much
more.

Engine
Performance
&
Driving
Impressions

The
first-gen
Mahindra
Scorpio
was
powered
by
a
2.6-litre
turbo-diesel
engine
that
instantly
made
it
the
most
powerful
SUV
in
its
segment.
Over
the
years,
the
Scorpio
continued
to
become
more
and
more
powerful.
The
2.2-litre
mHawk
diesel
engine
made
the
SUV
a
joy
to
drive.
In
its
last
iteration,
the
2.2
mHawk
produced
140bhp
and
320Nm.
Now
though,
Mahindra
has
updated
the
engine.

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
powered
by
the
next-gen
2.2-litre
mHawk
engine.
It
is
lighter
and
output
figures
have
dropped.
It
now
produces
130bhp
at
3,750rpm
and
300Nm
between
1,600
and
2,800rpm.
This
is
10bhp
and
20Nm
lower
compared
to
the
older
mHawk
engine
and
hence
it
is
natural
for
one
to
expect
a
decrease
in
performance.

However,
this
engine
sings
a
different
song
while
the
SUV
is
being
driven
in
real-world
conditions.
It
is
now
up
to
55
kilograms
lighter
than
the
older
engine
thanks
to
new
construction.
As
a
result,
it
still
feels
quite
lively
and
one
wouldn’t
really
notice
a
major
performance
drop
unless
acceleration
runs
are
timed.

If
you
are
timing
your
acceleration
runs,
then
the
0-100km/h
sprint
is
done
in
around
13
seconds,
which
is
just
over
a
seconds
slower
when
compared
to
the
older
Scorpio.
However,
this
is
not
so
easily
noticed
when
it
is
being
used
in
real-world
conditions.

The
SUV
is
still
very
much
capable
of
cruising
at
triple-digit
speeds
out
on
the
highway.
Transmission
duties
are
now
handled
by
a
smooth-shifting
6-speed
gearbox.
Thanks
to
the
additional
cog,
one
would
expect
a
lower
engine
speed
at
highway
speeds.
However,
the
ratios
are
too
close
to
allow
for
this
and
100km/h
is
achieved
at
2,000rpm
in
6th
gear.
A
taller
6th
gear
would
have
been
much
better.

The
gear
lever
is
now
cable
operated.
This
simply
means
the
gear
lever
does
not
wobble
and
vibrate
to
the
extent
of
making
one
think
it
will
fall
off.
Apart
from
the
new
powertrain,
Mahindra
has
also
equipped
the
Scorpio
Classic
with
a
new
suspension
system
borrowed
from
the
Scorpio-N.

Adaptive
dampers
play
a
major
role
in
improving
ride
quality.
It
absorbs
bumps
and
potholes
very
well.
Uneven
highways
are
all
taken
in
its
stride
and
the
ride
is
not
as
bumpy
as
it
used
to
be
at
higher
speeds.

However,
it
still
is
a
tall
SUV
with
a
narrow
track.
This
does
lead
to
body
roll
and
there’s
nothing
one
can
do
to
reduce
it.
The
Scorpio
still
has
lots
of
body
roll
and
there
is
plenty
of
lateral
and
sideways
movement
in
the
SUV.
Tackling
potholes
at
slow
speeds
does
lead
to
excessive
yawing
and
pitching
and
it
can
get
uncomfortable
at
times.

The
Scorpio
Classic
is
not
available
with
4WD
even
as
an
option.
However,
knowing
it
is
a
capable
platform,
we
took
it
off-road.
Getting
the
rear
wheels
up
in
the
air
was
pretty
easy
as
the
SUV
did
not
display
a
lot
of
articulation
prowess.
However,
it
also
displayed
how
capable
the
Scorpio
really
is,
even
in
RWD
format.

On
the
whole,
the
Scorpio
Classic
is
a
no-nonsense,
practical,
and
capable
SUV
that
gives
you
the
old-school
feels
while
driving
it.
It
certainly
lacks
finesse.
However,
its
target
buyers
don’t
require
finesse.

Safety
&
Key
Features

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
a
bare
basics
SUV
and
hence,
it
gets
the
bare
basics
in
terms
of
safety
and
features
too.

Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
Safety
Features:

–
Dual
Airbags
–
Panic
Brake
Indication
–
Collapsible
Steering
–
Engine
Immobiliser
–
Anti-Theft
Warning
–
Seat
Belt
Reminder
–
Speed
Alert
–
Auto
Door
Lock
–
ABS
with
EBD

Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
Key
Features:

–
9-inch
Touchscreen
Infotainment
–
Six
Speakers
–
Automatic
Climate
Control
–
2nd
Row
AC
Vents
–
Hydraulic
Bonnet
Struts
–
Steering-Mounted
Controls

Verdict

The
Mahindra
Scorpio
Classic
is
the
perfect
example
of
how
a
brand
can
retain
its
classics.
It
is
an
SUV
that
still
sees
immense
demand
despite
being
a
couple
of
decades
old
underneath.
Now,
it
has
received
a
proper
refresh
with
a
new
powertrain,
suspension,
and
a
few
comfort
features.

However,
there’s
no
hiding
behind
the
fact
that
the
Scorpio
Classic
is
still
a
rugged,
practical,
and
bare
basics
SUV
underneath.
Whether
or
not
one
should
buy
the
SUV
completely
depends
on
expectations
and
requirements.

If
one
requires
a
premium
SUV
with
lots
of
features,
great
ride
and
handling,
and
lots
of
powertrain
options,
the
Scorpio-N
is
the
one
to
pick.
However,
if
practicality
and
ruggedness
are
of
a
higher
priority
than
a
tech-filled
SUV,
the
Scorpio
Classic
still
impresses.
It
can
lug
loads
or
haul
people
across
any
terrain
you
throw
at
it
and
will
continue
to
perform
flawlessly
in
all
conditions.

Source