It always amazes me how much money people spend on some vehicles. For instance, an SUV that will never see a mudsplat in its lifetime is the vehicle of choice for stay-at-home mums in Jo’burg’s northern suburbs, and they use it primarily for shopping and the school run.
But not just any SUV — it has to be the biggest, baddest and, of course, the most expensive. Whether those SUVs come from manufacturers that have a well-known reputation for treating their customers like the dirt their vehicles will never tread on, is beside the point.
The point is that people don’t care how impractical SUVs are, or how badly they are going to be treated after spending anything from R300Â 000 to almost R1-million. In most cases, all they’re after is a lofty driving position — so they can look down on the minions who cannot afford SUVs — and space for sprogs and their friends.
Ask most SUV drivers if the vehicle is a 4×4 or a 4×2, and whether it has lo-range and they will most likely look at you as though you’ve just asked them for a definition of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
However, we do have the freedom of choice, and people don’t have to justify those choices to anyone. But they can be better informed about those choices, which is why I would encourage those interested in SUVs to try different products. If all you want is a vehicle that sits quite high off the ground, has seven seats and is capable of mounting pavements, you should consider the Mahindra Scorpio.
Now, I’m not endorsing the Scorpio as the best SUV option in South Africa, because it certainly does have its problems. But you’re getting a helluva lot of SUV for the price you’re paying (from R139Â 000 to R215Â 000) and for that reason, it should be looked at.
Yes, Mahindra and its customers are probably experiencing the same sort of problems that any other manufacturer entering a new market would go through in terms of spare parts shortages and other logistical issues, but as a relatively new manufacturer from a developing nation, it should be given a little time to improve.
Bearing this in mind, I forgave the plasticky feel of the interior of the Scorpio 2,6TD GLX 4×2 I was testing, and the fact that it sounded like a tractor and was so high off the ground that it left me feeling I should have a code 10 licence to drive it.
The Scorpio SUV looks a great deal like the Mercedes-Benz GeländeÂwagen and is characterised by a very boxy appearance, so it’s not like many SUVs on our roads, which seem to be dressed in the finest designer threads. The earnest Scorpio, however, is dressed in down-to-earth utilitarian camoflouage.
Inside, the trim, instrumentation et cetera is very basic and sometimes confusing. It took me three days to figure out how the CD player worked as it is one of those old-fashioned ones with the face that flips down to expose the CD tray.
It comes equipped with basics such as aircon, power steering, electric windows, ABS and so on.
However, what the Scorpio lacks in finesse it makes up for in practicality. The transmission is smooth and the really impressive aspect of the Scorpio is that it manages to properly utilise the power and torque at its disposal to give a two-ton vehicle an almost eager demeanour.
Ultimately, there’s no denying that the Scorpio has its problems, but owing to its pricing and, much like the TV ad shows, it gives those with less money to spend on cars the opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle that would otherwise be out of reach.
The facts
Model: Mahindra Scorpio 2,6TD GLX 4×2
Price: R180 000
Engine: 2,6-litre turbocharged diesel
Tech: 81kW, 255Nm
Top Speed: 150kph, 0-100kph in 20,1 seconds
Tank: 56 litres
Services: 10 000km