A cut-price Everest or Prado? New 2023 Mahindra Scorpio promises plenty of off-road bang for fewer bucks

The all-new Mahindra Scorpio has arrived in Australia, presenting as a cut-price alternative to ladder-frame, diesel-powered 4WDs like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest with sharp drive-away pricing.

The Indian brand’s newest SUV arrives in two trim levels, both riding on an all-new platform and featuring a 2.2-litre diesel (129kW and 400Nm) and six-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

Technically a large SUV - though the Scorpio is among the shortest vehicles in its segment - the 4WD is also a strict six-seater, with captain’s chairs in the middle row.

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The range opens with the Scorpio Z8, which is $41,990 drive-away until June 30 - significantly undercutting its competitors in the diesel 4WD category.

It arrives with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front lighting – including sequential indicators, DRLs and fog lamps – a sunroof and skid plates.

Inside, there’s a coffee-coloured ‘leatherette’ theme – the only interior treatment available – along with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a second, smaller screen in the driver’s binnacle, USB-A and USB-C charging in the first and second rows, and twin-zone climate control.

Stepping up to the top-spec Scorpio Z8L ($44,990 drive-away until June 30) adds a 12-speaker Sony stereo, wireless device charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-way powered driver’s seat and a bigger 7.0-inch colour display in the driver’s binnacle.

Both models get a 2.5-tonne braked towing capacity and arrive with a heap of proper off-road kit including shift-on-the-fly 4WD with high and low range, a mechanical locking differential, and the brand’s 4XPLOR terrain management system with Snow, Mud, Sand and Normal modes.

The Scorpio is strictly a six-seater.

But while well-equipped in most areas, the three-row SUV does arrive without key active safety equipment. There’s no AEB, lane management or blind-spot assistance, and the six airbags include curtains which don’t fully cover the third row.

There’s is a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, with the Z8L adding front parking sensors and a front camera which can also be used for off-road maneuvering.

"Scorpio is an iconic SUV brand and a true testament to sophisticated engineering that is aimed at delivering an authentic 4WD experience,” said Sachin Arolkar, Mahindra’s Head of International Operations.

“The Scorpio leverages our expertise in SUVs with a range of technological advancements and will be a compelling proposition for our Australian customers. We are confident that the all-new Scorpio will be the first step in scaling up our operations multiple-fold in Australia."