We like what’s on offer but it could have been much better.

There, I have said it right at the beginning but considering the fact that some more development can happen (in areas of handling, braking and steering), the Scorpio’s performance envelope could be pushed even further forward. Where the engine impresses is in its refined nature and its near lag-free power delivery which is very linear. The engine makes torque from way down and the surge just keeps on in intensity as you go up the gearbox and rev her to its 4750rpm (fly-up) limit. The other turbo-diesel in the country - that powering the Sumo Deluxe and the Safari - does show up its delivery in a pronounced ‘we have arrived manner’ but not this AVL-developed Mahindra unit which is good manners personified. The only other powerplant which I think can match and surpass the Scorpio’s engine for power and torque and driveability has to be the 3.0-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged unit developed by Bajaj Tempo. Sadly, Bajaj Tempo does not have a proper modern SUV to house it in.

It is a shame to have a vehicle which looks like a mud plugger and not be able to dirty it! Well, we had no qualms about taking it off tarmac and she behaved with aplomb barring the lifeless over-assisted steering at slow speeds and the body roll. On tarmac those big P235/75R13 Bridgestones impressed massively with both good ride and road-holding.

Like any other DI-diesel, especially one with a rotary fuel pump (in this case a Mico-sourced item), the Scorpio’s engine makes itself heard as if to assert itself. We had two Scorpios with us (thanks to one breaking down en route from the plant in Nashik to our office in Pune) and both were pretty much audible compared to the competition. Noise deadening could be better addressed we think and with the windows rolled up there is some relief but the big mutha of an engine keeps on reminding us that it is pumping away up front. While noise needs to be eradicated or reduced, surprisingly vibes have been pretty well damped out or slotted into a frequency range which the majority of users will never power their vehicle to or stay in that band for long. On the move the driveability aspect is stupendous, with there being silky smooth power spewing forth as if one was driving a naturally aspirated motor. The next to no turbo lag is more than welcome, because nothing else will do.

Getting on to the sharp end of the performance game, the Scorpio is, along with the petrol-engined Qualis the most performance-oriented SUV in the business. While shifting cog to cog, the surge is exhilarating even with the bulk it has to shift and for the man behind the wheel it is a pretty enriching experience. The Scorpio rushes from zero to 100kmph in 21.57 seconds and does the quarter mile dash in 21.4 seconds - not exactly setting the strip on fire but eye opening for a vehicle of its class. And while we were at it, the printout spewing out of our Datron uEEP-20 data acquisition gear showed that the Scorpio was consistently settled around the 140kmph mark with a 141.88kmph reading being the best max speed achieved. Considering the handling and the brakes (which we shall get to later), I think this is performance which we can experience safely because anything else, and it won’t do!