There is little denying the fact that Mahindra cars are the most awaited cars in the Indian automobile sector. Every time a new car is launched, it is followed by demand that takes everyone by surprise. The recently launched Mahindra Scorpio-N is no exception here. Launched to carry on the legacy of the old Mahindra Scorpio, the new Mahindra Scorpio-N is studded with features and options to suit most of the potential customers in the Indian market. Starting at Rs. 11.99 lakh and going all the way up to Rs. 19.19 lakh, the Scorpio-N caters to a very wide segment and it has been received very well by the audience.
Waiting period for Mahindra Scorpio-N variants as of December 2022 | |
Scorpio-N Z2 | 85-90 weeks (21-22 months) |
Scorpio-N Z4 | 90-95 weeks (22-23 months) |
Scorpio-N Z8 | 100-105 weeks (25-26 months) |
Scorpio-N ZX Luxury Automatic | 15-20 weeks (3-5 months) |
Scorpio-N ZX Luxury Manual | 65-70 weeks (16-17 months) |
As of December 2022, the waiting period for a brand-new Mahindra Scorpio N is anywhere between four months to over two years. Where the entry level Z2 variant of the Mahindra Scorpio N has a waiting period of 85-90 weeks, the second most affordable variant – Z4 – can take up to 90-95 weeks from the time of booking to receiving the possession. Interestingly, the higher up variant Z8 is the one for which you have to wait the most at 100-105 weeks. The ZX Luxury variant with the automatic transmission is the one with the minimum waiting period of 15-20 weeks, but the wait for the ZX Luxury trim with a manual gearbox again goes up to 65-70 weeks. But what if you want a car more urgently than the Mahindra Scorpio N in flesh and blood? Well, here are some alternatives you can consider if you do not want to wait for almost two years before you get behind the wheel of your own car, or spend too much to buy a car to be your companion on a daily basis.
Table of Contents
Tata Harrier
Tata Harrier was an instant hit when it was launched back in 2019. The car looked beautiful and had an immense road presence. It was in sync with the new design theme that is very Land Rover-ish and is now followed by all Tata cars. The Tata Harrier was launched only with a 2-litre diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Soon, a six-speed automatic was introduced and people had very little to complain about. Sadly, there is no petrol version available yet.
The base variant of the Tata Harrier starts at Rs. 14.7 lakh which is Rs. 2.7 lakh costlier than the base variant of the new Mahindra Scorpio-N. The top-end version of the Tata Harrier goes up to Rs. 22.2 lakh which is over Rs. 1 lakh more than the top-spec Mahindra Scorpio-N. Apart from some of the features that are very trim-specific, the Tata Harrier has a slightly better ground clearance than the Mahindra Scorpio-N. There is no 4×4 option in the Tata Harrier, but the Mahindra Scorpio-N too has that only in the top-end variant. The interiors and the seats of the Tata Harrier offer more comfort and premium feel, but that is very subjective.
The lower height of the Tata Harrier gives you a more planted driving pleasure on the highways and the six-speed automatic is refined and smooth. The Harrier can accommodate five adults with ease which is standard for both the cars. If you talk about the road presence, well, the Tata Harrier wins here.
Waiting period for the Tata Harrier is lower than that of the Mahindra Scorpio-N at 3-5 weeks. If lucky, you might get it instantly in some markets depending on the variant.
- Engine: 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
- Mileage: 16.35kmpl, 14.6kmpl
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Tata Safari
Relaunched in the Indian market, the Tata Safari is back with a lot of promises. From being a very capable SUV to being a seven-seater, it has a lot to offer to consumers. On the outside, the new Safari looks like a bigger version of the Tata Harrier, which says a lot about the looks of the car. Powered by the same 2-litre diesel engine as found in the Harrier, the new Tata Safari also comes with the option to choose between a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the six-seat variant with captain seats in the second row is available only in the top variants – the XZ+ and XZA+.
Even though the starting price of the new Tata Safari is more than that of the Mahindra Scorpio-N or even a Tata Harrier, it also offers more than the two models we have discussed so far. The new Safari’s base model with the manual gearbox starts at Rs. 15.35 lakh and the top-end automatic trim goes all the way up to Rs. 23.56 lakh. It would be unfair to compare the Mahindra Scorpio-N with the new Tata Safari due to the different ‘segments’ they belong to, but it does live up to its name and the expectations people have from a Tata car. Depending on which trim excites you more, the entire range of the new Safari has something for everyone. The lack of a petrol engine might put some people off, but the diesel engine has enough to take you anywhere with ease.
The new Tata Safari looks big on the road and does command your attention. The front and rear ends look sleek and the additional third row does not look forced. Unless going for the top two variants, it can house seven adults without it being a tight squeeze.
The waiting period of three-five weeks for the Tata Safari makes it a more lucrative option for many who do not want to wait for months/years before being able to drive their own SUV.
- Engine: 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
- Mileage: 16.14kmpl, 14.08kmpl
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 6/7
- Body Type: SUV
MG Hector Plus
Another potential contender to consider as an alternative to the Mahindra Scorpio-N is the MG Hector Plus. The MG Hector Plus is a three-row version of the successful MG Hector, but the addition of the third row without increasing the length of the car much makes it slightly uncomfortable for the third-row passengers. The car looks big on the outside which is eye-catching on the road. The MG Hector Plus lets you choose between a 1.5-litre petrol and a 2-litre diesel engine. The transmission can be chosen from a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, or a CVT. This gives you a wide array of choices to choose from. The captain seats in the second row have been reserved only for the top two variants, and the seven-seater option is available across the line-up.
The more-affordable seven-seater version of the MG Hector Plus starts at Rs. 16.43 lakh and the most-expensive six-seater version goes up till Rs. 21 lakh. This price bracket is again not in sync with the Mahindra Scorpio-N as the Tata Safari and the MG Hector Plus both offer ‘more’ than the Scorpio-N. The Hector Plus offers more utility and features as compared to the Scorpio-N, and the almost zero waiting period does work in its favour too. The option to choose from a petrol and a diesel engine caters to a larger audience as well.
The MG Hector Plus does look ‘big’ on the road and has an impressive road presence. The typical MG front grille gives it an unmistakable look that cannot be confused with anything else in the market. The captain seats in the second row will attract a price rise for the same trim with a seven-seating arrangement, but that will depend on your personal preferences.
In most markets, the MG Hector Plus is readily available which makes it a serious option to consider if you do not intend to see the seasons change one after another without being able to enjoy them while cruising in your new car.
- Engine: 1.5-litre petrol, 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, CVT
- Mileage: 16.56kmpl, 16.65kmpl
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 6/7
- Body Type: SUV
Used Mahindra XUV500
Unlike the Scorpio, the arrival of an updated version meant the end of the road for the Mahindra XUV500. When Mahindra launched the XUV700, many expected Mahindra to continue the production of the XUV500, but that did not happen. Mahindra said that it would discontinue the production of the XUV500 ‘temporarily’ but it seems that the moniker will be revived some time later in the future for a ‘brand new’ car.
Despite being taken off the market, there is still a sizable demand for used Mahindra XUV500s. The Mahindra XUV500 used to be powered by a 2.2-litre diesel or a 2.2-litre petrol engine, with a choice of a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The base model started from Rs. 12.3 lakh and went up to Rs. 20.3 lakh at the other extreme.
The XUV500, till date, has a very solid stance thanks to its ‘low’ height and ‘wide’ look. It had a very unorthodox Mahindra look when compared to the other brothers from the same mother, which made it look refreshingly nice and attractive. The AWD was available only in the top-end variants, and rest of the variants were front-wheel-driven but it had enough ground clearance and torque to take 7 adults wherever they wanted to go.
The fact that Mahindra discontinued the XUV500 last year means that there is a pretty good demand for it in the used car market. The interiors might not be as flashy as a brand new car, but that also depends a lot on the way it has been kept and maintained over the years. There is no fixed price on a used car in any market, but on average Mahindra XUV500 prices start as low as Rs. 8 lakh, with many examples of top end XUV500s priced at the same range as the Scorpio-N. This makes it an extremely viable option to consider.
- Engine: 2.2-litre diesel, 2.2-litre petrol
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
- Mileage: 15.1kmpl, NA
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Diesel, Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 7
- Body Type: SUV
Like most of the things in life, things lose value and importance if they take too long to be delivered. Buying a car is one of those things. Unless you are looking for your second, or third, or fourth car, you do not have the luxury to wait for over two years before you can have a car that you can call your own. Many times, carmakers are unable to gauge the market which is why the waiting period turns into a nightmare for some people.
Unless you are starstruck by the Mahindra Scorpio-N or are a firm believer of the classic Scorpio and want to see if the new Scorpio-N lives up to the expectations, it’s pointless to spend months waiting for ‘that’ morning. You might as well look around for alternatives and spend that time enjoying with your loved ones as opposed to waiting for a car.
