Blinged up Scorpio built for the bush and beyond

When one drives around in luxury cars regularly, it is very easy to become spoilt. We’ve had some extraordinary cars on test here at AutoTrader recently, including the Jaguar F-Type AWD R Coupé as well as the flashy Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S, which was well over 2 million bucks with all its added extras. So when my husband heard that I’d be getting a Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up, he had to gloat a little.
“Yep, that should bring you down back to earth”, he smiled, with satisfaction. Nope, I was not expecting much from the Scorpio bakkie, if I remember the tacky seat material in the previous Mahindra I tested, namely the Mahindra Quanto SUV, correctly. I was having doubts about issues such as fit and finish, mostly, and the quality of plastics used.

As I came driving over Sir Lowry’s Pass near Somerset West, my eyes scanned the parking lot of the Shell garage for the Mahindra Scorpio bakkie, which I was collecting. Can it be? I was expecting something very unassuming. What is this vision of toughness and robustness that I see before me? Kitted out in serious off-road kit, including an imposing, black bull bar and snorkel, the Mahindra Scorpio Pik-up looks like it’s ready for a journey into Mordor to cast a ring into the fires of Mount Doom. This variant of Scorpio bakkie, the 4 x 2 single cab Adventure variant, is smack-bang in the middle of the line-up, at R232 995. I heard an onlooker say that it reminded them of a Toyota Land Cruiser, and there is a definite resemblance. It is clear that Mahindra aims to please the cash-strapped comfort-seeking workhorse buyers out there, and there are a couple of key convenience features to be found in the Adventure variant.

Even though this Scorpio bakkie won’t be winning any style awards, the interior is not inhospitable. The seat material has a more velvet-like texture, which is an improvement over the cheap and cheerless stuff found in the Quanto SUV. Build quality is not bad at all, and an effort has been made to create a cabin that’s more in tune with modern times. Imitation Carbon Fibre trim in the centre dash adds a bit of interest, and a 2 DIN Radio with AUX input as well as USB and SD card ports are standard. There are satellite controls on the steering wheel to scan through stations and to adjust volume. The writing on the satellite controls is quite faint and I can’t help but wonder how long it will be before the letters start to disappear. Air-conditioning is standard, and so are anti-pinch electrical windows, power steering, a mechanical locking differential, a sunglass/remote holder, central locking, cruise control and a nifty compartment for your phone in the centre stack, underneath the air-conditioner controls. Safety features consist of dual airbags, side intrusion beams, a collapsible steering column and ABS braking. An immobilizer and front fog lights are standard.

I immediately noticed the fantastic all-round visibility to the outside world – the Scorpio will make the ideal game-driving vehicle, if it’s just you and the wife, of course. The front window has a panoramic feeling to it and the side windows are so big, you hardly notice the A-pillars. The cabin has a remarkably high ceiling and will suit extraordinary tall people well.

Available space has been utilized well, but there is a vast expanse between the driver and the passenger seat. When I drove home from the Houw Hoek Farm Stall, I found it difficult to reach into my bag of goodies, and my arms are anything but short. (Tip: the cupholders in the centre console can fit a sausage roll quite nicely). One would be able to fit an entire third adult into the cabin if the seats were of a unitary construction. But if you’re a voluminous Free State farmer, for example, the extra space may be exactly what you want.

The drive home from Somerset West to Hermanus was highly comfortable, and not as bouncy as I expected. I felt very connected with the road and everything around me, and the 2.2 litre turbodiesel mHawk engine is pretty punchy. The gearbox gave me no reason to complain – in fact, I found it easier to use than the Isuzu KB’s. The seats offer good support – better than the hard seats in the more humble variants of the Ford Ranger. There’s quite a bit of road and wind noise, but this is a functional vehicle and not a family SUV. It has a payload of 1250 kg and its loadbox capacity is a rather generous 2294 mm x 1520 mm x 550 mm.

If you’re in need of a bakkie under 250K, which offers decent performance, loading capacity and plenty of attitude, this particular Mahindra Scorpio Pik Up is worth looking into. But if you’re in need of something more basic for hard labour, the entry-level Scorpio single cab (74 kW / 258Nm) retails for R169 995. The 4 x 4 variants are priced at R253 995 and R 286 995.

Price	: R 232 995
Engine	: 2,2 litre, turbodiesel
Power	: 88 kW
Torque	: 270 Nm
Fuel tank	: 80 litres
Realistic fuel consumption	: About 9.3 - 11 litres per 100 km (combined)
Ground clearance	: 210 mm
Also consider	: Foton Tunland, GWM Steed
Warranty	: 3 years / 100 000 km
Service Plan	: 3 years / 60 000 km