Mahindra Thar vs Mahindra Scorpio N: Keeping Up With Grand Daddy

“I think I see why it’s good. But I don’t see myself warming up to it.” 

I keep muttering this to myself and eventually blurt it out when Tushar asks me what I think about the Mahindra Scorpio N. I’ve experienced this phenomenon for the first time. 

Tushar’s piloting a Thar, and has quietly trailed me through the thick of Mumbai traffic, on to the highway where both SUVs have smacked their lips at the non-existence of roads. It’s the champagne-coloured Scorpio N that’s drawing all the eyeballs though. I’m probably being a little careless with the ‘Big Daddy’, bullying my way through traffic jams that span at least a kilometre.  

“Okay, for the sheer sensibility of the Scorpio N — that it doubles up as a family car when it really has to — it already has a leg up on the Thar.” 

This thought keeps circling as I make my way through dinner that tastes a smidge worse than cardboard. The next morning, Tushar and I were supposed to take the two Mahindras back to where they learnt their off-road chops — Mahindra’s off-road academy in Igatpuri. 

“Holy mother… this thing is HUGE!”

First realisation as we’re about to enter the course. Our instructor is piloting an old Scorpio 4x4, and Tushar has buggered off behind him through a single open gate. The N needs the second gate to be opened for it to lumber its way through the gates and eventually catch up with the other two. 

We’re ushered towards the ‘Home Run’ first that’s meant to test approach, breakover and departure angles. The Thar breezes through, not even an eyelid batted in the process. I’m understandably a little nervous in the Scorpio N. More so because our instructor has replied to my question of the Scorpio N’s ability to cross this obstacle with a straight-faced “Let’s see.”

The Scorpio N makes its way down, brushing the front cross member first, and then the spare wheel while getting in. Not too bad. If you ever get serious about mud-plugging in your Scorpio N, a lift kit and a tail-mounted spare wheel should ease a chunk of your woes. I’m now making my way out of the obstacle that involves a sharp level change on a tight right-hand turn. 

This means the Scorpio N now has its front left wheel about four feet high in the air. It also means I’m having thoughts about hugging my mother. Tightly. The camera is rolling, so expletives are uttered silently. We’ve made it. 

“Good job Scorpio!”

I’m happily whacking away at the steering wheel of the Scorpio N as it manages to follow the Thar through another obstacle called the ZigZag hill. At this point, Tushar challenges me to do the same course against the clock, setting a time of 1 minute 48 seconds. 

“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” 

With precisely zero people rooting for the Scorpio, I queue up. I’m now silently confident of the Scorpio N’s abilities. More so, I’ve realised I can use the mammoth size to my advantage if need be, taking wider lines, avoiding the lines Tushar has gleefully dug up in his Thar. 

There’s a five second time penalty involved if we damage the vehicle or if we run off course. I make my way through the course again, and punch it through the final descent. There’s a minor ‘khhhrkkk’ sound I hear from my perch, but it doesn’t really matter. I’ve scraped the underside of the bumper a bit. More importantly, I’ve hit it AFTER I’ve crossed the finish line, so it doesn’t count and the Scorpio N wins. 1 minute 41 seconds!

“The Thar Is A Thar”

Post this, the Thar’s prowess was called upon. This involved it taking a much tougher line around the hill, entering into a pit about four to five feet deep. I could only watch from the sidelines, as I was sure I’d have the Scorpio N emulating a seesaw in no time. It simply was too large for the course, it’d get beached faster than it got sold out. Not happening. 

The Thar also went through a whole lotta water next, amply splashing salt on my wounds. While the Scorpio N could’ve technically waded through, the fabric carpet (versus plastic flooring on the Thar) held me back. Nobody likes the smell of wet carpet, especially if you have a 250km drive back home the next morning. 

Next came a series of crests and troughs that rewarded the Thar’s short wheelbase and better approach and departure angles. It crawled through like a mountain goat, while the Scorpio N and I had to be content driving parallel to it on what seemed like a paved road in comparison.

“Can’t believe we get paid for this” 

The side step of the Scorpio N is currently firmly wedged between the ground and its own body. It has made a sound that petrolheads dread. Our videographer looks as if he’s seen pineapple and strawberries on pizza — equal parts of disgust, sadness and awe. The crunch breaks my heart, but I have to get the Scorpio N out of there and around the final obstacle of the day called the Sarpanch. The incline that caught it out takes effort to walk past and really skillful driving to get past in the Thar. 

We end up using the Scorpio’s wide track again, going ‘over’ the tricky bits rather than through them. It then muscles its way up through real slippery surfaces and casually makes its way down. I’m not particularly animated behind the wheel, but everyone outside the Scorpio N tells me it was a visual feat and a half. 

Why? To see this big bus of a thing imbibe Spiderman spirit and go about tearing through the scenery feels unreal. 

In fact, the whole day seemed unreal. Here we were, out in the open, in two SUVs we knew were as different as they can be. Chalk and cheese doesn’t even begin to describe them. We knew the Scorpio N would have its hands full keeping up with the Thar. But we weren’t prepared for how close it got. 

The experience lets us off with three takeaways: 

One, the Scorpio N doesn’t really mind getting dirty. The only real limiting factor for the Scorpio N is its size. Work past that, and it rewards. Piloting it off-road really needs you to trust it a whole lot. Put faith in its ability to get you anywhere, and be rest assured that it will. Sure, serious stuff will need you to look at lift kits and better tyres at the least. But, as things stood, the Scorpio only took a backseat when the Thar had to be a Thar. 

Two, the Thar is the absolute definition of a toy. It’s like a happy puppy that loves rolling in the mud at every chance it gets; and if you use one just to commute, I hope your Thar looks back at you with puppy eyes every time you park it. I hope the ‘4x4 not engaged in...’ readout pinches you a bit. Because, it should. 

Three, the Scorpio isn’t perfect. But it manages to walk the tightrope between off-road ability and family friendliness rather well. 

I now know why the Scorpio N is good. I’ve warmed up to it. 

When nothing else does it, the Scorpio N will.