BAIC B30 vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

BAIC B30 in South Africa

BAIC B30

B30 Elite Adventure Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 305 Nm ⛽ 12.41 km/l
VS
Mahindra Scorpio-N in South Africa

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Z8L 4x4 AT Adventure Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 129 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BAIC B30 vs Mahindra Scorpio-N: the short answer

Scorpio-N has a modest catalogue-index lead, while B30 remains close.

Scorpio-N starts ZAR 29,901 cheaper B30 from ZAR 519,900 · Scorpio-N from ZAR 489,999

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification B30 Scorpio-N
Maximum Power B30138 kW Scorpio-N128.6 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque B30305 Nm Scorpio-N400 Nm
Engine Size B301498 cc Scorpio-N2184 cc
Combined Fuel Economy B3012.41 km/l Scorpio-N14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance B30215 mm Scorpio-N187 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

B30

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Scorpio-N

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

B30

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Scorpio-N

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec B30 Scorpio-N
Model Introduced Year 2025 Not Available
Generation Current first-generation BAIC B30 for South Africa, introduced locally for the 2025 model year with petrol and self-charging HEV derivatives. Current local listing
Facelift History The B30 was unveiled locally in August 2025 and launched in November 2025 as the first South African version; no later local facelift has been announced. Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door mid-size SUV SUV
Model Year 2025 Current
Production Status active Active
Segment Mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1825-2070 kg
Spec B30 Scorpio-N
Length 4730 mm 4662 mm
Width 1910 mm 1918 mm
Height 1790 mm 1905 mm
Wheelbase 2820 mm 2750 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 215 mm 187 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 60 l 57 l
Boot/Cargo Space Not Officially Disclosed 460 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2034 kg -
Payload Capacity 459 kg -
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors -
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed -
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed -

In depth: how these cars differ

This B30 and Scorpio-N comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: B30 59 vs Scorpio-N 69.

Efficiency index: B30 51 vs Scorpio-N 60.

Safety-equipment index: B30 92 vs Scorpio-N 90.

Practicality index: B30 61 vs Scorpio-N 78.

Ownership-cover index: B30 not separately scored vs Scorpio-N not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Scorpio-N leads by 9 points

Scorpio-N has a modest catalogue-index lead, while B30 remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 54% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

Scorpio-N

54% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 60
Performance 69
Efficiency 60
Safety 90
Practicality 78
Leads by 9 points
66
#2

B30

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Scorpio-N +10 Efficiency Scorpio-N +9 Safety B30 +2 Practicality Scorpio-N +17

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Scorpio-N

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 78/100

B30

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mahindra Scorpio-N leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 66 pts for B30

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Scorpio-N leads. However, B30 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

B30
B30
VS
SEALION 5 DM-i
SEALION 5 DM-i
B30 vs SEALION 5 DM-i →
B30
B30
VS
ALCAZAR
ALCAZAR
B30 vs ALCAZAR →
B30
B30
VS
HS
HS
B30 vs HS →
B30
B30
VS
06
06
B30 vs 06 →
B30
B30
VS
Taigo
Taigo
B30 vs Taigo →
B30
B30
VS
XUV700
XUV700
B30 vs XUV700 →
Scorpio-N
Scorpio-N
VS
SEALION 5 DM-i
SEALION 5 DM-i
Scorpio-N vs SEALION 5 DM-i →
Scorpio-N
Scorpio-N
VS
ALCAZAR
ALCAZAR
Scorpio-N vs ALCAZAR →

B30 vs Scorpio-N questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.