Mahindra Thar Roxx

In terms of fuel economy gains, there honestly isn't too much benefit in choosing the diesel version of the Mahindra Thar Roxx over the petrol. 

Both engines are tuned for power and instantaneous responses, and suffer from terrible fuel economy. Perhaps if your driving is primarily on highways, you can extract a few extra kilometres out of the diesel version. 

Both engines are about equal on refinement, too, so there are no gains made there either. As such, it might be worth going for the petrol version, if only to save some money on the cost price.

The main reason the Jimny is adept at handling the slope up is its rear-wheel-drive layout. Unlike the rest of Maruti's model range, the Jimny (like the Gypsy before it) uses a ladder-frame chassis and a longitudinally mounted engine that sends power to the rear wheels. This is in accordance with its AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, which can then engage the front axle on command. However, a rear-wheel-drive layout is inherently better at tackling steep slopes as the weight of the car falls onto the rear wheels when the nose is pointed upwards, and power at the rear 'pushes' the car up the hill. 

In a front-wheel drive car like the Swift, the car is trying to 'pull' its way up the hill using wheels that don't have enough traction, hence momentum is required to get it going. While an AWD car like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris will help to an extent, what you want is a RWD car. Our recommendation at your budget is the Mahindra Thar Roxx, which is available at your budget in a decent mid-spec variant. Its combination of rear-wheel drive and strong petrol and diesel engines should make light work of that slope, with enough control to tackle the sharp turn at the end safely.

The choice between the two really comes down to your usage. The Mahindra Scorpio N has good road presence and a commanding seating position, and is built over a ladder-frame (chassis). The Scorpio N is also better suited to handle some level of abuse from rough roads. So, if this is typical of your usage, this car will do just fine. 

However, over medium-sized bumps and ruts, the Scorpion N will have a jittery shake typical of most ladder frame vehicles. Thus, if your driving is primarily over regular city roads and highways, you will find the ride of the Mahindra XUV7XO far more composed and level.

As for the facelift of the Scorpio N, which should come out in the first half of this year, not much is known about the features. But expect changes to the exterior lighting elements, alloy wheels and the 10.25 inch from the Thar Roxx along with an upgraded sound system. 

An update for the Mahindra Scorpio N is expected this year. The changes will likely include a tweaks to the styling as well as feature enhancements inside. We expect a larger touchscreen and an uprated sound system to be part of the updates. 

There won't be any changes to the engine and gearbox options. But Mahindra could move the Scorpio N to the Thar Roxx's chassis, bringing in advancements in ride comfort and refinement. 

There's no clear timeline for when the updated Scorpio N will launch. So if waiting is not an option, the XUV 7XO is the easy pick of the two Mahindra SUVs. It feels more sophisticated and polished in the way it drives, and it packs in lots more features, such as the three-screen layout. Being a large SUV itself, the XUV 7XO is not short on road presence in its own right.  

 

 

Unfortunately, you won't get a Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic in your budget, and the most affordable variant is around Rs 20 lakh on road. 

The Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3 petrol AT 2WD will fit in your budget, and if that's the SUV you desire, you should go for it. You're right in saying it has just the basic features, but that still includes a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and many other creature comforts. 

Plus, the combination of petrol engine and torque converter automatic is smooth and punchy - if a little heavy on fuel consumption. 

The Mahindra Thar will easily fall within your Rs 20 lakh budget - it is a rugged off-roader with plenty of ground clearance and strong engine performance. If this is going to be the primary car in your household, you could opt for the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX5 diesel-MT 4x4 variant instead. It will be more convenient when you want to ferry more than one passenger, due to its 5-door arrangement. 

However, if you want something that's a lot more polished, refined and car-like than the Thar/Thar Roxx. Also, if you're willing to sacrifice performance, you could consider the AWD variants of the Maruti Victoris or Toyota Hyryder.

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to guide you to the right vehicle. We have listed the options for you to consider - 

Maruti Suzuki Jimny - Great off-road and efficient enough for a 4x4. However, small size means a tight cabin, and performance is dull

Mahindra Thar 4x4 - Very capable off-road and good engine. Two door layout is inconvenient for rear seat passengers

Mahindra Scorpio N 4x4 - Capable off-road, strong diesel engine, seating for 7 passengers

Mahindra Thar Roxx - Excellent off-road, strong diesel engine, great image

Maruti Suzuki Victoris AWD - Decent off-road ability, engine scores well for efficiency. Power and performance is unexciting