Hello, I have booked the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition Diesel, but I am concerned about the way Mahindra is portrayed on social media. Many videos are complaining about service quality, lack of responsiveness, and product issues, which is making me apprehensive. I currently own a Volkswagen Vento, which I have driven for the past 11 years. It has had its own issues with suspension, steering rack, slow service, and expensive spare parts. However, when you love a car, you tend to live with some shortcomings. I understand that no brand is perfect, and I am prepared for a reasonable margin of error in both product and service. However, the sheer number of negative videos about Mahindra is making me uneasy. While some online content may be exaggerated, there must be underlying reasons behind such strong reactions. Could you please provide an informed and balanced perspective on whether these concerns are valid or amplified by social media? Thank you.

Autocar India

•1h

Given your usage, you don't necessarily need 4x4. A rear-wheel drive, tough diesel SUV with high ground clearance should suffice. That leaves you with two options: Scorpio N and Thar Roxx. Both these SUVs meet your requirements, and both these will tackle treacherous roads rather effortlessly.Between them, the Scorpio N's ride on the highway feels a touch bumpier, whereas the Thar Roxx feels more settled in comparison. Hence, go for the Scorpio N only if you need that extra row of seats; otherwise, in every other way, the Thar Roxx seems like the better pick for you.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

•3d

The Mahindra Thar 2-door certainly has a lot of appeal, and it’s easy to see why you’re considering it. It offers strong road presence and that rugged, go-anywhere feel that few SUVs can match. However, when it comes to highway comfort, especially for long drives of 700-750km, it’s not the most suitable choice. The hydraulic steering is quite heavy, the ride is quite stiff and tends to feel bumpy, particularly over uneven surfaces, and there’s noticeable road noise at cruising speeds. All of this adds up, making long highway journeys more fatiguing than they should be.A better-rounded alternative is the Thar Roxx. It retains much of the Thar’s visual appeal and toughness but is significantly more comfortable and refined. The lighter electric steering, improved ride quality, and better overall highway manners make it far easier to live with on long trips.That said, it still uses a body-on-frame setup, so it does feel bumpy on broken roads and may move passengers around, but it’s a far less of a compromise than the 2-door Thar.

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

•2d

For mixed city use and some weekend trips, a clean 2019 Audi A4 30 TFSI from a known owner with full records is a buy we would back, as long as the price sits well below current market listings in your city. It suits this use because the Audi A4 is very quiet and comfortable, so daily traffic feels easy, and the 1.4 turbo petrol with the 7‑speed automatic is smooth and quick enough for gaps in traffic and steady highway runs.A few things to weigh up for your situation. Service and parts will cost more than a mass‑market car, so plan for that each year. Low mileage on a 2019 car can mean the tyres and battery are old, even if they look fine, so check the tyre manufacturing week/year and battery health and budget to replace them soon if they are original. In very slow traffic, these gearboxes can feel a bit hesitant off the line, so make sure it feels smooth in stop-and-go driving.If the deal is tempting, do one final check at an Audi workshop in your city. Scan the car, confirm there are no pending issues, get the approximate price for the next service, and ask what it would cost to bring wear parts up to date. If all this clears up and the price is right, this A4 is a safe, enjoyable step up.

Audi A4

Autocar India

•4d

On paper and in real-world ownership, these are very different cars, and the Mahindra XUV 7XO sits in a clear segment above. The XUV 700 is a bigger, more complete SUV. It offers more space, better road presence, stronger performance and a far richer overall experience, including the option of a third row and a more premium cabin. It is designed as a proper family SUV and feels more capable on highways and long drives.The Renault Duster, even in its new form, is a simpler, more driver-focused and lighter SUV. It will likely be easier to drive in the city and feel more rugged and straightforward, but it is still a step down in terms of overall size, features and cabin experience.So the decision really comes down to intent. If you are moving because you want something more compact, easier to use daily and less feature-heavy, then the Duster can make sense. But if you are expecting it to feel like an upgrade or even equal to the XUV700 in terms of space, comfort and overall experience, it will not.

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•4d

The Tata Sierra is a big, heavy car, and the petrol engine, being a naturally aspirated unit, feels just about adequate, especially once you load it up or hit the highway. The diesel, on the other hand, suits the car far better with its stronger low-end pull, making overtakes easier and long-distance driving far more relaxed.That said, with your low annual running of under 6000 km, the petrol still makes sense if your usage is mostly in the city. It will feel smoother, easier to live with and perfectly adequate for everyday driving, even if it lacks that effortless punch on highways.If you are open to alternatives for a better petrol manual experience, the Renault Duster with its turbo petrol engine is a strong option. It feels far more effortless to drive, while naturally aspirated options like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta offer a more refined and effortless experience than the Sierra petrol.

Tata Sierra

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•3d

Between the three, the Skoda Kylaq is the best automatic for the money. It doesn’t use an AMT but a proper 6‑speed torque-converter with the 1.0 TSI, which is smooth, robust and easily the nicest for your occasional highway runs.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 turbo also gets the same 6‑speed torque-converter auto, and while it is refined and efficient, it doesn’t have the same solid, European feel or driving dynamics as the Kylaq. However, from an overall cost-of-ownership point of view - price, fuel efficiency and service, the Fronx is likely to work out cheaper.The Tata Nexon in your budget doesn’t get a torque-converter. You mainly have a 6‑speed AMT, which is convenient but nowhere near as smooth or quick as a proper automatic. There is also a 7‑speed DCA dual‑clutch option, which is noticeably better than the AMT, but still not as seamless as the autos in the Kylaq and Fronx, and it can push the price higher.For 11-13 lakh, 1,000km a month in the city and the odd long drive, we would pick the Kylaq auto. If budget discipline and running costs are top priority, go for the Fronx 1.0 turbo automatic.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Nexon