I plan to buy a Thar Rox. My daily running is about 10 km, with long road trips once every quarter. Which engine is best for my use - petrol or diesel - and which model offers the best value for money within a ₹20 lakh budget? Please advise.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx petrol makes more sense given your limited running. The 2.0 litre turbo petrol is powerful, smooth and refined. While the diesel is more efficient, it is not as smooth, and you would need significantly higher running costs to recover its higher upfront cost.

Since you are not planning hardcore off-roading and your usage will mostly be daily commutes and highway driving, the fact that the petrol is only offered in 4X2 does not really matter. 

The MX5 fits your requirements well, in both manual and automatic, stays within your budget, and offers features you would expect, such as 19-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a single pane sunroof and a reversing camera.