Which Mahindra Thar suits you - 3‑door or Thar Roxx?

Mahindra has two versions of the Thar SUV. One is the regular 3‑door Thar. The other is the newer Thar Roxx. Both share the same rugged look. Both are good for on-road and off‑road fun. But they differ in price, features and comfort. Here is a clear look at both.

1. Price and value

The 3‑door Thar price starts at ₹11.50 lakh ex‑showroom. Top trims go up to ₹17.62 lakh.. On‑road, prices range from about ₹13.75 lakh to ₹21 lakh, depending on the variant and city. Meanwhile, the Thar Roxx price starts at ₹12.99 lakh ex‑showroom and goes up to ₹23.39 lakh. On‑road, prices begin near ₹15.4 lakh and reach ₹26 lakh. So, Roxx costs ₹1.5‑2.0 lakh more at entry level models. Mid and top trims cost ₹3‑5 lakh more on road.

2. Engine and performance

Both use 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines. However, the Thar even gets a 1.5‑litre diesel variant. For the Thar Roxx, the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel motors output 175 PS and 150 PS, respectively. However, for the Thar 3-door, they offer 150 PS and 130 PS, respectively. Additionally, the 1.5-litre Diesel gives around 118 PS. In terms of mileage, in spite of being less powerful, the Thar doesn’t offer noticeably higher fuel efficiency. Clearly, though, the Roxx offers better performance.

3. Features and comfort

Thar Roxx is richer in kit. It has LED headlights and tail lights, a sunroof, bigger alloys, 6 airbags, ADAS in higher trims, Harman/Kardon sound, 360‑degree camera, and leatherette seats. The 3‑door Thar is more basic. It has halogen lights and no ADAS. But it has touchscreen, cruise control and other such basic features. If you want rugged, the 3‑door is fine. If you want luxury and comfort, go for the Roxx.

4. Look and image

Roxx stands out with a bigger body, bold wheel arches and a more stylish grille.It looks more modern and has great street presence. The 3‑door Thar has classic off‑road appeal. While it has a strong road presence, the Roxx is clearly the bolder vehicle here.

5. Practicality

Both are 5‑seaters. But space is not the same inside. The Roxx is clearly the bigger one of the two. It offers more space at the rear along with a bigger boot. At the front, though, both feel equally spacious. But the rear doors make the Roxx a much more practical offering than the three-door Thar. Roxx even gives slightly better ride comfort. T

6. Off‑road ability

Both have solid 4‑wheel drive, high ground clearance, and low‑range gear boxes. So they do equally well over rocks, mud, sand and water. However, the shorter wheelbase of the 3-door Thar makes it slightly better over some off-road patches. That said, no matter which you pick, you can go off‑road with confidence.

7. Warranty and service

Warranty and service packages are similar. Both the vehicles get a three years/unlimited kilometre warranty.

8. Thar desert appeal

People flock to Thar to drive in desert terrain. The 3‑door feels raw and pure. Roxx adds comfort even for the dune-bashing sessions. For desert trips lasting hours, Roxx may feel less tiring. But for short drives, both of them are fun.

9. Which to pick?

• Pick regular 3‑door Thar if you want a lower price. It is for those who like macho SUVs. However, you need to be okay without advanced features.
• Pick Thar Roxx if you want more comfort and practicality. But you will have to be ready to pay extra for the better cabin, ride and safety.

Conclusion

The Mahindra Thar is a macho SUV that can easily take on the rough terrain. The Roxx adds more features, safety and practicality to this. The regular model is for hard core buyers. The Roxx is more practical as it’s more family-oriented. If you have about ₹1‑2 lakh extra to spend, the Thar Roxx is worth it. If budget is tight, stick with the regular Thar. In desert, roads or city, both Thars are good.