The Mahindra Scorpio-N is the cheapest diesel SUV in South Africa, with prices starting at R487,999.
A diesel engine is an excellent way for motorists to reduce their monthly fuel spend, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a non-bakkie option in today’s market that goes for less than half a million rand.
The only sub-R500,000 diesel SUV in South Africa
The Scorpio was launched in early 2023 and is available in six variations, though all of them share the same 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel powerplant mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
This block generates a total of 129kW and 400Nm, which is sent down to either the rear or all four wheels depending on whether you purchase the more expensive 4XPlore derivatives.
Naturally, fuel consumption is one of the biggest draws of this type of vehicle, and the Mahindra averages a reasonable 6.9l/100km despite being a bulky off-road SUV.
Combined with a 57-litre fuel tank, the Scorpio should be able to travel for roughly 826km before needing to top up.
As a point of reference, diesel 500ppm is currently trading for a minimum of R17.87 per litre as of November 2024, meaning that you are paying R1,019 for a tank that can do over 800km.
That works out to a fuel spend of just over R1.2 per litre per kilometre, which is pretty good considering how expensive a trip to the pump is these days.
Beyond its drivetrain, you are also getting a decent spec sheet with the Mahindra, as all units come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control, hill ascent and descent control, driver alert monitoring, a 7-inch digital driver display flanked by analogue dials, and an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and onboard navigation.
The Scorpio also features three driving modes for Normal, Eco, and Sport, and the 4×4 variants have terrain settings for Grass, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Ruts, and Sand.
The price tag for the SUV admittedly goes a lot higher than R487,999, as you’ll need to spring for the R663,999 Adventure trim to get everything it has to offer.
This includes automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, larger 18-inch rims, keyless entry and start, black leatherette upholstery, a front camera, front parking sensors, a 12-speaker Sony stereo, an electronically adjustable driver seat, and a wireless charger.
If the Mahindra isn’t your thing, you’ll need to spend at least R574,500 to pick up the BAIC B40 Plus, which is the second-cheapest diesel SUV in South Africa.
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