Introduction
The Mahindra Thar vs Mahindra Thar Roxx comparison is interesting because both SUVs share the same rugged Thar DNA, but they are designed for different buyers. The three-door Mahindra Thar is smaller, more focused on adventure and serious off-roading, while the five-door Thar Roxx adds more space, comfort, technology and family-friendly features. For 2026, Mahindra offers both with petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions, and 2WD or 4WD choices depending on the variant. Mahindra currently lists the Thar from ₹10.32 lakh and the Thar Roxx from ₹12.52 lakh ex-showroom.
- Introduction
- Overview of the Vehicles
- Design and Styling
- Engine Specifications
- Engine Comparison
- Performance and Top Speed
- Mileage and Fuel Efficiency
- Transmission Details
- Features and Technology
- Safety Features
- Comfort and Driving Experience
- Variants Available
- Color Options
- Price: Ex-Showroom and On-Road
- Pros and Cons
- Mahindra Thar
- Mahindra Thar Roxx
- Who Should Buy This Vehicle?
- Final Verdict
Overview of the Vehicles
The Mahindra Thar is a compact lifestyle SUV with a traditional body-on-frame construction, short wheelbase and strong four-wheel-drive hardware. It seats four people and is especially attractive to buyers who enjoy weekend adventures and off-road driving.
The Thar Roxx is essentially a larger, more practical interpretation of the same idea. It has five doors, five seats and a much longer wheelbase. Its M_GLYDE platform was developed to improve ride comfort, handling and refinement without losing its off-road ability.
| Specification | Mahindra Thar | Mahindra Thar Roxx |
| Body style | 3-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Length | 3,985 mm | 4,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,450 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Ground clearance | 226 mm | Around 226 mm |
| Fuel options | Petrol/Diesel | Petrol/Diesel |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes, diesel variants |
| Best suited for | Off-road/adventure | Family + adventure |
Design and Styling
The Thar has a classic, upright SUV design with round headlamps, a vertical grille, high ground clearance and a boxy body. Its compact dimensions give it a strong road presence without making it difficult to place on narrow trails. The 2025 update also brought design and interior improvements, including a new black dashboard theme and additional convenience features.
The Thar Roxx looks wider and more mature. Its longer body, C-shaped DRLs and five-door layout make it more suitable for everyday family use. Despite being larger, Mahindra has retained the upright Thar character.
Engine Specifications
The Mahindra Thar offers a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and two diesel options depending on the variant: a 1.5-litre diesel for the entry 2WD version and a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel for higher-specification 4WD versions. The petrol produces 112 kW, or roughly 150 hp, with up to 320 Nm in automatic form. The 2.2-litre diesel produces 97 kW, or about 130 hp, and 300 Nm.
The Thar Roxx uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel. The petrol produces 160 hp with the manual and 175 hp with the automatic, while the diesel produces 150 hp in its standard tune and up to 175 hp with the 4WD automatic. Torque goes as high as 380 Nm for the petrol automatic and 370 Nm for the diesel 4WD automatic.
Engine Comparison
| Engine | Thar | Thar Roxx |
| Petrol | 2.0L turbo | 2.0L turbo |
| Petrol power | Up to 150 hp | Up to 175 hp |
| Petrol torque | Up to 320 Nm | Up to 380 Nm |
| Diesel | 1.5L/2.2L | 2.2L |
| Diesel power | Up to 130 hp | Up to 175 hp |
| Diesel torque | 300 Nm | Up to 370 Nm |
Performance and Top Speed
The Thar feels energetic because of its relatively compact dimensions and strong turbocharged engines. The 4WD versions are particularly capable on loose surfaces, steep climbs and rough trails. Mahindra does not publish a single official top-speed figure for the current Thar, so quoting an exact number as an official specification would be misleading.
The Thar Roxx is more powerful and more stable at highway speeds. Its longer wheelbase and improved suspension give it better straight-line stability. Again, Mahindra does not officially specify a top-speed figure in the technical information used here, so real-world performance depends on engine, transmission, road and conditions.
Mileage and Fuel Efficiency
Official fuel-economy figures can vary by engine, transmission and certification cycle, and Mahindra’s current online pages do not prominently provide one single mileage figure for every Thar and Thar Roxx combination. In real-world Indian driving, buyers should realistically expect fuel economy to vary significantly with traffic, driving style, tyre pressure and off-road use.
As an estimate, petrol versions can generally return around 9–13 km/l in mixed driving, while diesel versions can deliver roughly 11–16 km/l. These are practical estimates rather than guaranteed figures.
Transmission Details
Both SUVs offer six-speed manual and six-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions on applicable engines. The Thar’s 4WD system uses a low-range transfer case, making it particularly useful for serious off-road conditions. The Thar Roxx also offers 4×4 hardware with an electric locking differential, SmartCrawl and IntelliTurn on higher 4WD variants.
Features and Technology
The updated Thar gets a 26.03 cm infotainment display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Type-C USB ports, rear AC vents and Adventure Stats.
The Thar Roxx goes much further with features such as dual 26.03 cm screens, connected technology, panoramic skyroof on higher variants, powered and ventilated seats, Harman Kardon audio, 360-degree camera and ADAS.
Safety Features
The Thar provides ABS, airbags, electronic stability-related systems and other standard safety equipment, although equipment varies by variant.
The Thar Roxx has a major advantage because it achieved a 5-star Bharat-NCAP rating, scoring 31.09/32 for adult occupant protection and 45/49 for child occupant protection. It also offers six airbags, ISOFIX mounts, TPMS, 360-degree surround view and Level 2 ADAS on higher variants.
Comfort and Driving Experience
The Thar’s short wheelbase makes it excellent for trails but less comfortable for families. Rear-seat access is not as convenient and boot space is limited.
The Thar Roxx is much better for daily use. Its longer wheelbase, five-door layout, improved suspension and better NVH make it considerably more comfortable on highways and broken city roads. Mahindra specifically developed the M_GLYDE platform with WATT’s Link suspension and advanced damping technology for improved ride quality.
Variants Available
The current Thar range includes the AXT Diesel 2WD, LXT Diesel 2WD, LXT Diesel 4WD, along with LXT petrol 2WD and 4WD combinations depending on transmission. Mahindra’s current online pricing shows the AXT Diesel 2WD at ₹10.32 lakh, LXT Diesel 2WD at ₹12.99 lakh and LXT Petrol 2WD at ₹14.76 lakh.
The Thar Roxx range runs from MX1 to AX7L, with petrol and diesel options and 2WD/4WD combinations depending on the trim. Current Mahindra listings show the range from ₹12.52 lakh to ₹23.52 lakh ex-showroom.
Color Options
The Thar is offered in colours including Deep Forest, Galaxy Grey, Battleship Grey, Tango Red, Stealth Black and Everest White. The Thar Roxx adds options such as Nebula Blue and Burnt Sienna, along with Stealth Black, Tango Red, Everest White, Deep Forest and Battleship Grey.
Price: Ex-Showroom and On-Road
The current Mahindra Thar starts at ₹10.32 lakh ex-showroom and goes to around ₹18 lakh depending on the configuration. The Thar Roxx starts at ₹12.52 lakh and reaches ₹23.52 lakh for the top 4WD automatic.
On-road prices are not fixed because registration, insurance, taxes and local charges vary by state. As a broad estimate, buyers should budget several lakh rupees above the ex-showroom price depending on the selected version.
Pros and Cons
Mahindra Thar
The biggest strengths of the Thar are its compact size, excellent off-road geometry, strong 4WD system, iconic design and relatively lower entry price. Its main disadvantages are limited rear-seat practicality, smaller cabin space and a ride that is less family-friendly than the Roxx.
Mahindra Thar Roxx
The Roxx offers better comfort, space, safety, technology, highway manners and family practicality. Its disadvantages are its larger dimensions, higher price and slightly reduced agility on extremely tight off-road trails compared with the shorter Thar.
Who Should Buy This Vehicle?
The Mahindra Thar makes more sense for buyers who want a genuine lifestyle off-roader and do not need maximum rear-seat practicality. The Thar Roxx is the better choice for families who want one SUV for city driving, highway trips and occasional serious off-roading.
Final Verdict
The Mahindra Thar vs Mahindra Thar Roxx battle does not have one universal winner. The Thar is the purer adventure machine, while the Roxx is the more complete all-round SUV.
If your priority is serious off-roading, compact dimensions and the classic Thar experience, choose the Thar. If you want comfort, safety, features, rear-seat space and everyday usability without giving up 4WD capability, the Thar Roxx is the stronger choice.
For most family buyers in 2026, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is the better all-round package, while enthusiasts who put off-road ability first will still find the three-door Thar more appealing.
