INSIDES: Friendly vs Utility

Now, the quality of plastics, levers and knobs and the overall finish in both cars leave much to be desired. But manufacturers have to make some money, right? Especially when they have to price their products extremely competitively in a cutthroat market like ours. The passage of time especially is hard on the Scorpio – the learnings from the XUV and Mahindra’s now-acquired knowledge in making passenger car interiors friendly and usable will be seen only in the next-gen W105 Scorpio. So for the moment, this one will have to take on the newer SUV here. The Duster interiors are friendly enough and Renault India especially has made quite a few changes to the insides to make it suitable for our country. That said, there are some quirks still to contend with, as if it is a necessary thing in any car that wears a French badge (<<do read our initial driving impression of the Duster here>>). The Duster is definitely more ergonomically designed on the inside compared to the Scorpio – be it arriving at the perfect driving position, manoeuvring the AC vents or to store your knick-knacks, it is all easily achieved.

At the rear, the Scorpio can seat three abreast compared to the Duster, in which three is a squeeze. And the Duster’s rear seat couldn’t be pushed back, though Renault wanted to, so that they could liberate some more leg room. Consequently, the Scorpio wins in this aspect. Of course, it is easy for grandma to get into the Duster as compared to the Scorpio. Plus you can fit in two more passengers at the rear of the Scorpio, though the Renault dealer can fit in two jump seats at the rear as an option. It’s not something we recommend, however.

Verdict, round two: The taller Scorpio offers better visibility and it also offers more room inside. The Duster interior however is a bit more friendly, thoughtful and easier on the eye.

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