Mahindra Scorpio N vs Toyota Innova Crysta: The SUV and MPV Compared

In this edition of Zig’s performance testing report, we line up the Mahindra Scorpio N and Toyota Innova Crysta. Okay, in essence, this might not be a fair comparison as one is an SUV and the other an MPV. But underneath their distinctive top hats, both vehicles share the same basic vehicle architecture: rear-wheel drive, a large diesel engine, and a body-on-frame chassis. So in this test, we’re going to find out which one is quicker and has better brakes. 

Spec Check

The Scorpio N might be short on displacement, but it puts out around 25PS and 40Nm more than the Innova Crysta. Plus, the Mahindra also offers you the choice of four-wheel drive, but we have brought the two-wheel-drive variant to keep it a fair comparison with the Innova Crysta. 

Acceleration Test

With its more powerful diesel engine and a more responsive automatic gearbox, the Scorpio N is the one that came on top in the acceleration test. Mind you, the Innova Crysta, for its size and weight, ain’t a slouch, but what could be better is the overall experience is its slow shifting six-speed auto ‘box. This is clearly evident during the roll-on acceleration test, where the MPV was slower by around 2.5 seconds. 

Braking Performance 

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The Scorpio N, with disc brakes on all corners and wider 255 section tyres, has better hardware than the Innova. The MPV relies on discs at front, drums at the rear and sits on slightly thinner section tyres. So the Innova might be at a disadvantage here, right? Well, the real-world results tell a different story:

Despite not boasting better hardware, it’s the Innova Crysta that has the better stopping power here. The brake bite is strong and the ABS calibration gets the large MPV to a quicker stop than the Scorpio N. 

Price And Verdict

The Scorpio N betters the Innova when it comes to outright performance, while it’s vice versa in braking performance. So in fair terms, this test can be best concluded as a tie. However, if you want to see how both the vehicles compare when it comes to cornering and on-road ride and handling, then check out the video below, where we have put them through their paces.