It’s the weekend coming up and I’m sure everyone has one thing on their mind – to Get Away… Away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and the maze of bureaucracy and hypocrisy… and go far enough away to not have to deal with any of it… well, at least for the weekend.

Enter – The All New Mahindra Scorpio Getaway, the perfect vehicle to get you out there… away from it ALL (actually it’s not really new – it was released on Indian roads about a year ago) but anyhow…  I knew after having worked in the field for many years, this was the vehicle that would have to be a substitute for my dream vehicle – The Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD.

This is Mahindra’s answer to the Toyota Hi-lux. It’s got all the bells and whistles, but more importantly it’s inside engine capability and it’s outside appearance and performance fall only a tad short of the Hi-lux. In attention to small detail and user usability the Hi-lux of course maintains higher ground and I wish Mahindra would pay more attention to the little things, rather than focus on thoughtless improvements like the irritating audio system, which reminds you every time you switch off and on the vehicle, “please wear your seat belt for a safe drive” Took me forever to figure out how to shut that off, because in the field you are always starting and stopping, and it’s not the nicest thing to be hearing when you are in the midst of an otherwise quiet jungle.

All that apart, the combination of a comfortable SUV with a Pick-up bed has been a requirement in India for quite some time. To me as a wildlife Filmmaker who carries way more gear than required at most times, the Getaway is fantastic. All the important Camera Gear fits nicely in the back-seat of the Cabin, and all the rest of the equipment, tripod, luggage, etc. gets loaded into the bed at the back. I do wish I could get a roof-rack installed, then, I’d be able to lug around even more equipment, and keep the bed space free to transport people. I’ve probably fit in over 15 people in the back – and in remote places where public transport is hard to come by, giving people a lift from one place to the other, is a great way to build friendship.

Watch the video to see all the cool places the Getaway has taken me to!

Tech Specs:

Engine: SZ CRDe, 4 Stroke, Turbo-charged DI Engine

Fuel Tank: 80 Ltrs ( which is fantastic for long-haul journeys – gives about 10-11 kmpl)

Suspension: Front – Double Wish-bone with Torsion Bar Rear – Semi-elliptical Leaf Spring with double acting hydraulic shock absorber and stab bar.

Tyres: P 245 / 75 R16, RADIAL Tubeless

All said and done, the vehicle offers good power and comfort to drive on the highway, and is equally at home on mud roads along a jungle safari track. The open bed in the back is great to load tons of gear, people, or construction material and with the leaf spring suspension in the back, can actually handle a big load. The vehicle comes in 4 different colours – Mist Silver, Rocky Biege, Turf Green, and Fiery Black – for the jungles, I would most certainly go with the Rocky Beige. For more information, please do visit the Mahindra website. Couple of other reviews online that I looked at before going for it.

Whoever named the Getaway must’ve been a Lenny Kravitz fan and probably drew some inspiration from the song – Fly away

I wish that I could fly,
into the sky, so very high.
Just like a drangonfly.
I’d fly above the trees,
over the seas, in all degrees.
To anywhere I please.
Oh,

I want to get away.
I wanna fly away. (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I want to get away.

I would work up a full report, on the vehicle, but for now, this will have to suffice… More about it later.

The video was edited by Chinmay Rane, who is the newest member on board the Felis team. Well done Chinmay!