The new Sorpio mHawk has lost weight and it works wonders, says Ouseph Kallivayalil.

The new Scorpio mHawk from Mahindra and Mahindra is the latest upgraded model of India’s favourite SUV. However, this is the third engine that the Scorpio is getting in the last five years. That too, the engine is being changed when there isn’t anything particularly wrong with the pre-existing one.

Why is there a need for change? The answer is that M&M’s future product strategy is to make the mHawk the powertrain platform for Mahindra’s future line-up, which includes export models, an all-new Scorpio in 2010 and even a hybrid version. So is the new Scorpio mHawk better than its predecessor? Read on to find out.

Style file

There aren’t many changes on the exterior of the car. There is a new set of alloys, small mHawk badges, some subtle decals on the sides and stickers that produce a checkered effect. However, despite being a five-year-old design, the Scorpio still possesses a special presence on the road.


The feature that is completely new on the latest Scorpio variant therefore, is the engine. The engine on the latest Scorpio the 2.2-litre common-rail diesel is quite similar to the latest 2.2-litre Tata motor for the Safari. Given that both engines were developed with help from world-renowned engine specialists, AVL, this isn’t surprising.


However, while the Tata motor produces a maximum of 140bhp, the mHawk motor puts out just 120bhp — 5bhp more than the existing CRDe unit. The biggest difference between the older and new Scorpio is the weight, the mHawk being 82kg lighter than its predecessor. This reduced weight translates into better performance, fuel economy and handling.

Under the hood

The compact mHawk motor allows for a more effective top-mounted intercooler, fed by that aggressive bonnet scoop which now plays a functional role. The 2.6 CRDe has acceptable noise levels, but the new 2.2 engine is even quieter throughout the rev range. Vibration levels are lower too and overall, the mHawk feels more refined than even the Safari. However, the whistle from the variable-geometry turbo, which, though not irritating, is a bit prominent when it rises in pitch along with engine revs.


The mHawk’s clutch is much lighter as well, but the feel-good factor is interrupted when you try selecting first gear. There’s a ­­­­t­­i­­nct ‘step’ you have to wrestle with when you move from neutral to first and the gearshift in general is very notchy, requiring considerable effort. The impressive part of the mHawk engine is its overall flexibility and ability to pull cleanly from low revs.

The power-to-weight ratio on the mHawk is better than the older Scorpio and as a result, it is quicker and gets from 0-100kph in less than 15 seconds, making it the fastest SUV in its segment. The top speed of 152kph is also similar, but with greater speeds in each gear, thanks to the engine’s ability to rev higher. The fuel economy has improved greatly on the new Scorpio and the mHawk delivered 10.6kpl in the city, while it gave 13.6kpl on the highway. The mHawk can achieve a top speed of 152kph.

Driver’s deal since its launch, the Mahindra engineers have tried to improve the Scorpio’s ride and handling not to mention its unruly road manners. With help from Lotus Engineering, M&M has now tweaked the suspension on the mHawk to get better ride and handling.

The suspension has been re-calibrated to match the reduced engine weight. Though the suspension layout and design have remained unchanged, there are new springs and dampers in the front. The suspension bushes have also been optimised after Mahindra played around with six different sets of bushes.


This, along with changes in the suspension geometry, has taken out unwanted compliance in the suspension system to make the Scorpio’s handling more direct.

Inside story

The mHawk’s interiors are similar to the old Scorpio as most of its interiors have been carried forward from the older variant. However, on the mHawk, the black-and-red-themed dashboard with the faux carbon-fibre centre console looks better and gives the interior a sporty feel. Though the upholstery used is of better quality; the seats’ design has not changed.


The mHawk engine is only available in the VLX trim. The VLX comes with lots of high-tech equipment like rain-sensing wipers, a tyre pressure-monitoring system, auto headlights, parking sensors and cruise control. You also get alloy wheels and a MP3 CD player with USB and SD card ports, along with steering-mounted controls. This version of the Scorpio costs Rs 9.79 lakh and we feel M&M should have made a cheaper version of the mHawk available even if it meant fewer features.

Final verdict

Yes, the new Scorpio is a significant improvement over the existing model. The new engine on the vehicle is more refined and performs better as well. The best news is that fuel efficiency has improved and even ride and handling is better. In addition, the new features and high-tech equipment only add to the mHawk’s appeal. However, at Rs 94,000 more, is all of this worth it? Well, if you think it is too much, you can still buy the 2.6 CRDe.


Ouseph Kallivayalil