[UPDATE: We added Mahindra’s response which is a video of a similar stunt with another Scorpio N]
The brand-new Mahindra Scorpio N has been an absolute sales hit in India with long waiting lists and thousands of orders. However, an example of the SUV proved to have an improperly sealed sunroof, with a hefty amount of water leaking into the cabin when it was parked under a waterfall.
The video was uploaded on YouTube by Indian automotive YouTuber Arun Panwar and we discovered it on Rush Lane. The driver intentionally reverses the SUV under the waterfall as part of testing. A few seconds later, water starts leaking from the roof-mounted speakers, the top of the side windows, and even the interior lights, pouring on the leather-wrapped seats and the center console where it fills up the cupholders.
Read: Mahindra Scorpio-N Detailed As A $15k Rugged SUV From India
The damage sustained from the water is likely repairable but the model must visit a service station as soon as possible in order to be properly drained and dried off. Some electrical components might need to be replaced and all of the seals must be checked in order to avoid similar incidents in the future.
While parking or driving under a waterfall is not something SUV owners should do in real life, the heavy rains of India could have a similar effect on the roof of the Scorpio N. Judging from the multiple leaking points, the seals of the sunroof and the doors might have been improperly attached during production. We don’t know if this issue is limited to this particular vehicle which could be an early production press car, but if more examples of the Mahindra Scorpio N have similar problems, owners will definitely speak out sooner or later.
Weather sealing is an important aspect of all cars – let alone ladder-frame SUVs like the Mahindra Scorpio N which are designed to be capable off the beaten track and withstand harsher-than-usual conditions. Even if this was just a bad example of quality control, it resulted in bad publicity for Mahindra with the video already gathering nearly half-a-million views on YouTube.
Just another day in the life of the All-New Scorpio-N. pic.twitter.com/MMDq4tqVSS
— Mahindra Scorpio (@MahindraScorpio) March 4, 2023
In response to the viral clip, Mahindra went on social media to publish its own version of the stunt with the title “Just another day in the life of the all-new Scorpio N”. An identical-looking white Mahindra Scorpio N can be seen driving under the same waterfall and staying there for a while without any water leaking into the cabin. This time, the sunroof cover remains open, giving us a better view of the waterfall.
The disclaimer at the end of the video says it was “created under professional guidance”, prompting viewers to “not attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same”. Obviously, the note was added for safety purposes so SUV owners do not put themselves in danger by driving under waterfalls, but some will say it kind of beats the purpose of the response.
