The new-generation Mahindra Scorpio made its debut last year. While it was offered in a number of variants and a 4WD option, there was only a manual transmission available. Mahindra has now introduced an automatic version in the Scorpio. With automatic cars getting more and more preferred in the country, an automatic variant adds another choice for customers, within the Scorpio family.

The Scorpio Automatic comes in two versions – a 2WD and a 4WD, both being available only in the top of the line S10 trim. We drive the 2WD variant to find out what it is like.

The all-new Scorpio automatic has the same six-speed gearbox as the earlier one, however Mahindra says that they have fine-tuned the gearbox to offer seamless shift and a smoother driving experience.The engine is also the same 2.2-liter mHawk that does duty on the manual version and delivers 118bhp of power and 280Nm of torque. The rest of the features also remain identical to the Manual S10 variant and comes loaded with 17-inch alloy wheels, projector headlamps, automatic climate control, dual front airbags and a height-adjustable driver seat. Additionally follow-me-home headlamps, tyre pressure warning system, speed alert system, rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls and a touchscreen infotainment system with GPS. The front grille and AC vents get chrome garnishes, and the headlamps come with LEDs. There is also an interesting feature of a cornering lamp which lights up while negotiating a turn. This feature is very helpful when driving in unlit areas and illuminates the corners effectively.

The interior quality is improved over the previous generation car , although there are areas where a lot of improvement is still desired, like the door handles, which feel cheap.Space-wise it similar to the earlier Scorpio and has soft seats, suitable for the city but a little firmer seats would have been preferred.

Features:

• Touchscreen music system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Dual airbags
• ABS
• Reverse Parking Camera
• Navigation System

Specifications:

Engine: 2.2-liter mHawk diesel

Power: 120bhp

Torque: 280Nm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Coming to the driving part, the new Scorpio automatic surely feels a little more refined and upshifting is certainly smoother. However, the Scorpio Automatic feels good only when it is driven in a relaxed manner and not hard. Try some performance driving and it fails to impress as there is considerable lag during sudden upshifts. It feels at home when driven in an unhurried manner, however, with a responsive engine like the mHawk 2.2-liter, you do feel the urge to ask for more. The Scorpio automatic is a good cruiser too. A major benefit of the automatic gearbox, though, is the ease of driving. The manual Scorpio has a slightly heavy clutch and also considerable clutch travel. This can make city driving, especially in bumper to bumper traffic, a real chore. The automatic cuts down the fatigue levels by a big margin. Fuel efficiency achieved was 9 km/l in the city and 13 km/l on the highway.

There are two driving modes in the automatic transmission. One is the regular drive mode and the other is a sporty mode marked as ‘M’. The M mode doesn’t add any improvement in performance but only delays the upshifts almost up to the redline, however, it is no fun. There is another switch placed next to the gear lever which reads W and N. W is actually a winter mode, to be used in snow or wet conditions where the surface is slippery. When put in W mode, the gearbox by-passes the first gear and directly selects the second gear to avoid wheel-spin. The N mode is the regular mode. As mentioned earlier, the Scorpio Automatic is best driven in a relaxed way. Another thing which comes as a sore fitment is the gear selector lever which could have been better, for the current one feels flimsy and cheap, somewhat like an aftermarket fitment.

The new Scorpio has an all-new chassis and suspension system. There is a new anti-roll bar at the rear. The seats have been improved too. Due to these improvements, the ride quality is better than the previous generation Scorpio, but still is not at par with its competitors. For the passengers the Scorpio cabin isn’t the most comfortable place to travel in.

The fully loaded S10 variant 2WD has a host of features and comparable to the loaded XUV500, in terms of features. Priced at INR 15.6 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai), the 2WD offers good convenience with a robust build. For a 4WD version, you will have to shell out a couple of lakhs more at INR 17.10 lakhs. While it might offer better off-road capability, it is expected to be a little thirstier too, apart from being much more pricier. The Scorpio has proven its worth over the years and is currently the cheapest six-speed diesel automatic SUV you can buy. We recommend the 2WD version, as it offers a decent value for your money.