2026 Mahindra Scorpio review

Mahindra has made some vital changes and improved the standard equipment levels for its large diesel-powered Scorpio off-road SUV.

This cult icon is now only available as a seven-seater, while previously it had a weird six-seat layout.

The two model grades that existed before have also been done away with, and the Scorpio is now sold exclusively in Z8L+ trim, at a higher price – but with more standard equipment.

Crucially, too, the Indian-made 4WD now has a host of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which should help it appease safety-conscious customers.

Let’s go through it!

How much does the Mahindra Scorpio cost?

The Mahindra Scorpio is only available in one grade now, with the pre-existing Z8 and Z8L replaced by a single, high-spec variant called the Z8L+.

It is still affordable by diesel seven-seater standards, but there is a big price jump over the previous Scorpio grades, which were listed at $41,990 and $45,990 drive-away, respectively.

It means the Scorpio is now more expensive than the diesel-powered GWM Tank 300 (which admittedly is a five-seater only), and also pushes the Mahindra perilously close to the impressive and larger KGM Rexton seven-seater diesel SUV.

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Mahindra Scorpio like on the inside?

The visual appearance of the Scorpio’s cabin hasn’t changed at first glance. But the inclusions have, and there are some very welcome additions.

And before we go any further, I will say that in my experience the interior of this car has a bit of a smell. It could be the rubber mats, the glues used, or something else. But there’s a bit of a carcinogenic scent which is not the most wholesome, I’d argue…

Anyway!

The ventilated front seats are a huge win and, no, they’re not heated. It’s like Mahindra – being an Indian automaker – understands the similarities of our climate and theirs! The driver’s seat has six-way power adjustment, and I had no issue finding a comfy position.

The electric park brake switch tidies up the centre console space, and the auto-dimming rear-view mirror is a welcome addition for night drivers, too. 

Aside from those changes, there is still some room for improvement. The 8.0-inch media touchscreen is basic, and doesn’t have wireless Apple CarPlay. But there is USB connectivity, and Android Auto is available wirelessly.

The system itself is pretty basic and plain, and there are some missing menu options, I reckon. I couldn’t find a way to make it so the doors unlock when you shift to park, rather than just when you turn the car off. Maybe there’s a way – if so, let me know in the comments!

And the other side of the usability considerations is that you must do a lot of control work through the driver info screen, instead of the media display. It means you have to get used to the toggle and button controls on the steering wheel, and the screen itself is slow to react and load, too.

For instance, the lane-keeping system turns on each time you start the car, and if you don’t want it on, there’s no quick button, no drop-down, nor a media screen button… instead it’s a sequence of button presses and toggles before it’s set how you want it. But – as I’ll expand upon in the driving section – you mightn’t actually need to disable it.

The driver info display actually requires more learning than the infotainment screen, so it’s worth getting to know it in the showroom, if you’re considering this car. 

The storage is well considered in the cabin, with bottle holders in the doors for your pani, in addition to cupholders, a covered centre bin, and a wireless phone charger, too. Nice.

The seat trim isn’t real leather, but I’m grateful for the fact the Scorpio has something that isn’t just a black on black interior. The brown trim isn’t for everyone, but it’s at least interesting.

Some buyers may lament the fact Mahindra still offers a sunroof as standard. I’d happily do without it, if it meant a few hundred bucks back in my pocket.

Second-row space is good. The middle row of seating doesn’t slide to provide extra space, but there is enough room for a 6’0”/182cm adult to fit with a bit of knee, toe and shoulder wiggle room, and the headroom isn’t bad either.

There is great bright LED lighting too, and back-seat amenities include overhead grab handles, map pockets, directional vents and a fan controller, which really pumps the air out when you need it to.

There are ISOFIX points and three top-tethers for child seats, and the Scorpio has a middle lap-sash seatbelt – something that ANCAP would be happy to note, as it made a presumptuous statement in its crash report about the availability of such:

“A seven-seat variant with a centre seat in the second row is available in New Zealand, and is fitted with a lap-only seatbelt in the second row centre seating position. A lap-only seatbelt does not offer the same level of protection as a lap-sash (three point) seatbelt. ANCAP does not recommend that lap-only seatbelts are used for occupants of any size.”

You can fit three adults across the back, but if you’re planning to lock and load a child seat, be aware that the kerbside position is the one that offers the best third-row access with a clever flip and tumble system, provided the head restraint is stowed and the front passenger seat isn’t reclined. The other side just folds down flat onto the seat base.

The third row space is adequate. I could just fit in the very back, though I wouldn’t recommend it for six-footers as a full-time option. Kids aged between eight and 12 should fit back there easily enough.

There are central lights, grab handles and a little bit of storage, but you won’t find child-seat anchor points, and there is no rear air ventilation system – though the rear of the Scorpio does stay cooler than some other SUVs, thanks to the strong passenger aeration system in the middle row.

With people in the very back row, or just with the seatbacks up, there’s only enough room for a couple of backpacks or maybe a small carry-on luggage bag.

With the rear row stowed – which it doesn’t do very elegantly – it allows an apparent 756 litres of cargo capacity. 

The back-row stow-down process isn’t as clever as in a Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X or even a Toyota Fortuner, because it still takes up a lot of space. But if you want to run it as a five-seater full-time, it might be a handy thing to remove because that will liberate a lot more space.

The side-swinging tailgate doesn’t have an opening glass section, which is a shame. But it’s lighter than some rivals because the spare wheel (a steel full-sizer) is stowed under the floor of the vehicle, rather than on the back door.

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The Scorpio carries over its 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is one of the selling points of this vehicle. It mightn’t have the most power and torque compared to the more popular ute-based SUVs, but it is refined, urgent and meets higher emissions standards than some others it competes against. And yes, that means it needs AdBlue.

Over my week of testing, which didn’t include hardcore off-roading but did include all the usual sorts of driving you might actually spend time doing, I saw a displayed return of 8.7L/100km. This vehicle only had 500km on its odometer upon collection, so that may improve as the engine is run in more.

Also be aware there is a 16-litre AdBlue tank, which will likely require refilling every 10,000km or so, which aligns with the service requirements outlined below.

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Mahindra Scorpio drive?

What has impressed me about the Scorpio, every time I’ve got back into one, is the fact that I know it’s a hardcore off-roader, but it drives pretty damned agreeably when it comes to dealing with the terrors and tribulations of tarmac testing.

In the past, I did an off-road comparison against the Tank 300 – check it out here. 

It’s not a weapon in the bends. Nor the most exciting, punchy or smile-inducing thing to throw around.

But if you’re confined to the burbs rather than the bush, it offers an agreeable, commute-friendly drive experience that will be better than you’re probably expecting for the drudgery of daily duties.

The diesel engine is a bit noisy when cold, but what impresses me most about it is the fact it’s not shaky or vibey, meaning you don’t feel like you’re driving a truck. Some others in this segment could learn a lesson or two here.

The outputs of the engine tell you it’s not the oomphiest thing, but it does have a good amount of in-gear urge, with ample torque for urban moves and high-speed driving too.

The six-speed auto generally does a great job of allowing the engine to do the work, rather than relying on constantly changing gears to maintain momentum. The shifts are mostly smooth too, but I did get a few clunky ones when I lifted off the throttle then got back on the gas.

It’s also easier to drive than you’d think, given its ladder-frame underpinnings, and the suspension is well sorted for urban driving and on the freeway, too. It’s only fouled by the occasional sharp edge or repetitive bumps, but otherwise it’s entirely acceptable.

The steering is agreeable as well: light at lower speeds, heftier as you go faster. It’s not super-feelsome, but it is predictable and easy.

Safety tech includes a reversing camera system and a forward view camera too, and you can even make it take photos of your location for future reference, if you wish. The cameras are welcome, but the resolution is poor by modern standards – thankfully, there are front and rear parking sensors to help out, too.

While the safety has been greatly improved in terms of what’s on offer, thankfully it’s not that frustrating to live with. You can disable the speed sign recognition system – which will potentially distract you with displayed signage on the driver info screen – and it will stay off.

The lane keeping system comes back on each time you restart the car, but it is well mannered in most situations. You will occasionally find it pushing you back into your lane or beeping to warn you that you’re departing your lane, but it’s mostly fine.

And that’s a reflection of the drive experience more generally – mostly fine. In fact, it’s better than that. It’s pretty bloody good.

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Standard equipment for the sole variant Z8L+ includes plenty of new stuff, as denoted in brackets below.

2026 Mahindra Scorpio Z8L+ equipment highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels in 255/60 R18 tyres
• Full-size steel spare
• Electric park brake with auto hold (NEW)
• Normal, Snow, Mud & Ruts, Sand drive modes
• LED headlights
• Projector fog lights
• Automatic high-beam (NEW)
• Sunroof
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• 7-seat configuration
• Leatherette upholstery
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless phone charger
• 12-speaker Sony sound system
• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter
• 6-way power driver’s seat (NEW)
• Ventilated front seats (NEW)
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror (NEW)

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Mahindra Scorpio safe?

It’s unclear if Mahindra will have the upgraded Scorpio re-tested, following its zero-star result from safety authority ANCAP in 2023.

A Mahindra insider told us that all of its “new” models will be tested, and this isn’t “new” – it’s just refreshed, so don’t expect a re-test on it.

I also asked ANCAP what the safety authority’s thoughts were on the changes, and it said the additional tech is a “welcome improvement” and that it “may be considered for future re-assessment”.

However, since there have been no known or reported changes to the structure of the vehicle, ANCAP explained that the “comparatively weak” results from physical crash testing may “limit any substantial improvement” in overall scoring for the Scorpio.

Even so, the Scorpio would theoretically achieve a better final score than the previous model, given the host of standard safety gear now offered.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go (NEW)
• Autonomous emergency braking (NEW)
• Lane-keep assist (NEW)
• Leading vehicle departure alert (NEW)
• Smart Pilot Assist (NEW)
• Traffic sign recognition (NEW)
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Tyre pressure monitoring

There are six airbags fitted, including dual front, front side, and curtain coverage, but the curtain airbags do not cover the third row.

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Mahindra Scorpio cost to run?

Mahindra offers a strong ownership promise. The brand has a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty program.

There is also up to seven years of roadside assistance if you service with a Mahindra dealer. And speaking of servicing, there’s an initial free check-up at 1500km, then the intervals are pegged at 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. Here’s a rundown of the capped-price service pricing:

The biggest cost with the Scorpio, and any new car, will be your resale value. Perhaps this one with the extra spec and safety tech will fare better than its predecessor on that front, though…

To see how the Mahindra Scorpio lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Mahindra Scorpio

The zero-star safety rating might be too hard to swallow for some, but as a fit-for-purpose 4×4 diesel seven-seater that isn’t too cumbersome and is actually more refined than you’d expect, the Scorpio is a bargain.

I wouldn’t be scared to buy one, if it fitted my needs better than any alternative.

What do you think? The comments section is yours!

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MORE: Explore the Mahindra Scorpio showroom