Mahindra Thar vs Thar ROXX: price, engine and space compared
Which Mahindra SUV to buy depends on whether you want a compact off-roader or a roomier, family-friendly ride.
Buyers choosing between the Mahindra Thar and Thar ROXX often struggle because the two SUVs share a similar look and name. But the difference is not just in size, it is also in purpose.
The 3-door Thar is built primarily for off-roading and lifestyle use, while the 5-door Thar ROXX offers more everyday space, a bigger boot and a design meant to be more convenient for families. Both SUVs use body-on-frame construction and have 4X4 off-road capability. Even so, the ROXX is not simply a bigger Thar, it has its own variants and a distinct identity.
On price, the Thar is a 3-door, 4-seater lifestyle SUV with an ex-showroom price starting at Rs 10.32 lakh and going up to Rs 17.99 lakh. It is available with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engine options, along with RWD and 4WD configurations and both manual and automatic gearboxes. The Thar ROXX, on the other hand, is a 5-door, 5-seater SUV built on a platform with a longer wheelbase. It is priced from Rs 12.52 lakh to Rs 23.52 lakh and comes in a total of 7 variants. The engine family is similar to the Thar's, but the engine in the higher variants is tuned to be more powerful.
On design, the ROXX gets a double-stacked 6-slot grille, LED projector headlamps and LED DRLs, while the Thar has also received a new dashboard and updated grille after its facelift. Inside the cabin, the ROXX's longer wheelbase gives rear passengers more legroom, along with a new centre console and steering wheel. In the Thar, getting to the rear seat means going through the front door, and boot space remains limited.
On engine performance, the ROXX has a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and a 2.0-litre mStallion turbo petrol engine, both tuned to deliver more power and torque than the standard Thar. For off-roading, the ROXX gets 226mm ground clearance, a 650mm water-wading depth and the 4XPLOR terrain management system, which includes electronic locking and brake-locking differentials; the automatic variant also has Crawl Smart Assist. However, on narrow and difficult trails, the standard Thar's smaller size can prove more useful.
For everyday use, the ROXX's 5-door layout, softer ride, 447-litre boot, rear AC vents and reclining seats work in its favour. So if only a 3-door layout is needed purely for off-roading, the Thar is the choice, and if 5 doors, more space and family comfort are needed, the Thar ROXX is worth considering.
