Mahindra Thar Roxx AX3L 2.2 Diesel MT 4x2

Autocar India

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If you are choosing between the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol IVT and the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3 petrol, this really comes down to what you want your car to feel like in everyday life. The Seltos is the more sensible choice with a smooth automatic that is effortless in traffic, better suited to your kind of usage and far easier to live with daily, while also offering a more comfortable and premium cabin experience. The Thar Roxx, on the other hand, is all about character with its strong petrol engine, big road presence and that sense of occasion every time you drive it, but it is still a heavier, more lifestyle-oriented SUV that is not as convenient for daily city use.So the choice is quite simple in nature. If you want something that quietly does everything well and keeps life easy, the Seltos will feel like the right fit. If you want something that feels special and makes every drive more memorable, the Thar Roxx will appeal more.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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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 Roxx

Mahindra Thar

Autocar India

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We recommend the Mahindra Thar Roxx petrol automatic, with your 650 km a month and a 10-year plan, it will be easier to live with and safer against policy changes. Your running is low, so the usual fuel savings of a diesel will not make up for the higher buy price and upkeep over time. The petrol is quieter and smoother in daily traffic, has lighter controls, and you avoid the diesel’s emission filter issue that can pop up with lots of short city trips. Looking 10 years ahead, petrol is also the safer bet for resale, especially in big cities, and you don’t have to worry about the 10-year diesel limit like in Delhi-NCR.For your usage, the petrol automatic is the stress-free choice you’ll enjoy every day and won’t worry about keeping for a decade.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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You can opt for the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition diesel automatic; it matches what you enjoyed in the drive and gives you the simple, physical buttons you prefer, while being usable enough for family duty now that it has five doors. You already like how it feels from the driver’s seat, and that matters most for a fun car. The high seating gives a clear view of traffic, and it feels solid on rough roads, which adds to the sense of fun.One thing to be aware of: it is not as comfortable or as quiet as the Tata Sierra, and the ride can be a bit bouncy on broken roads. Your family will probably find the Sierra more comfortable for longer journeys. Choose the Sierra if your top need is family comfort and space. Given what you liked and what worries you, the Thar Roxx diesel AT is the safer, more satisfying pick today; take your family along for a long drive and check back-seat comfort and boot fit before you commit.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

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Buy the Mahindra Thar Roxx after you move to Bengaluru. Registering it there will keep things simple and avoid extra costs later. While the on-road price looks cheaper in Mumbai today, if you shift the car to Karnataka for long-term use, you are expected to re-register it in Bengaluru and pay Karnataka road tax.Getting a refund of the tax you paid in Maharashtra is possible on paper, but slow and painful. You will also need an NOC from the Mumbai RTO, new number plates, and you may face checks in Bengaluru if you drive long-term on a Mumbai number. All this adds time and stress you can skip by buying and registering once in your new city.There is one clear exception: if you are eligible for the BH series number (government/PSU staff, or private company with offices in 4 or more states), go for BH. With BH, you pay road tax in 2-year blocks and do not need to re-register when you move.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar Roxx are hardcore off‑roaders first and family cars second, so they’re great on broken roads but compromised as primary road‑trip machines.They really come into their own on dirt tracks, bad village roads and unpaved sections, and they also deliver that rugged, “tough toy” appeal - the Thar Roxx especially has a lot more visual muscle and emotional pull. But for a family of five, we’d immediately rule out the Jimny: it’s simply too narrow for three adults or growing kids to sit comfortably in the back for any length of time, and luggage space is also very limited.The Thar Roxx can realistically take a family of five, but for long highway runs, its suspension is on the firmer, bouncy side, and overall refinement isn’t as good as some of the softer, more road‑biased SUVs. You’ll feel more vertical movement, more noise, and over a full day’s drive that gets tiring, especially for rear passengers.If your main requirement is road trips with the family and you don’t have a specific off‑roading need, a “soft‑roader” is the better tool for the job. Something like the Tata Sierra 1.5 diesel gives you the same tough‑as‑nails image and presence, but with a far more comfortable ride, more space, better highway manners and a more relaxed driving experience over long distances.

Tata Sierra

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO base variant. With your 500-800km/week usage, you will appreciate the better ride quality compared to the Thar Roxx.Your usage works out to roughly 2,000-3,200km per month, so stability, ride quality and interior comfort matter more. Coming from a Tata Harrier, the XUV 7XO will feel like a step up, thanks to its improved Da Vinci suspension. The base AX trim is well-equipped with features like the HD triple-screen setup, a six-speaker audio system and cruise control, which is more than what you get on the base Thar Roxx. In terms of powertrains too, the XUV 7XO’s petrol and diesel engines are more powerful than those in the Roxx.The one thing you give up is the rugged appeal of the Thar Roxx, but in terms of comfort and features, the XUV 7XO has a clear edge. Test drive both SUVs on the highway to compare ride quality. Also, ask the dealer to show you the base variants, as they can look and feel quite different from the top models.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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For your needs, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While it doesn’t have the rugged appeal of the Thar Roxx, it is far more comfortable in terms of cabin space and, importantly, ride quality. The new Da Vinci suspension works very well to absorb bumps at all speeds while still keeping the body well controlled at higher speeds, with none of the body swaying you experienced in the Roxx.As family comfort is a priority, you will appreciate the wide and comfortable second row, while the third row is a bonus for occasional use. It is also more powerful than the Roxx, so performance is very impressive. Before you decide, do take a detailed test drive.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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The Tata Sierra is the most practical option for you. It has a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride, and a punchy petrol engine. What helps its case in the city, especially compared to the other two, is the compact dimensions that make it easy to park and manage in traffic. The turbo-petrol engine with the DCT would be our recommendation as the naturally aspirated version lacks performance. The automatic gearbox is smooth, the engine is refined, and the ride comfort is excellent. It is also fresh on the inside with the latest tech and features.However, if you have a big family and a third row is a must, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good option. It has a strong and refined petrol engine, and it also has a comfy ride. But you will have to manage its size in the city, and it will not be as easy as the Sierra.The Mahindra Thar Roxx is not as comfortable as the Tata Sierra or the XUV 7XO. It has a lot of character in its design, but lacks the plush ride of the Sierra and the premiumness of the 7XO. If you don't venture off the tarmac or don't do much off-roading, best to avoid the Roxx. The Sierra would be a good fit overall.

Tata Sierra

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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Both these are very compelling SUVs that score high on desirability and road presence, as well as on interior space, but also do things very differently from one another. The Thar Roxx has the larger and more powerful engines which, combined with its aggressively calibrated automatic gearboxes, delivery strong and instantaneous performance. The downside, however, is that fuel economy takes a huge nosedive, which might be an annoyance on your long highway journeys. Moreover, the engines are not very refined and can feel a little too highly strung when you aren't driving quickly. And finally, while it is fun to drive in off-road and perhaps dirt-road conditions, it feels relatively large and cumbersome on tarmac, thanks in part to its ladder-frame construction. The Tata Sierra T-GDi, then, proves to be the better choice for you overall, as its monocoque chassis and sharper steering make it a lot more fun on the road. While not quite as powerful as the Mahindra, its 160hp turbo-petrol has more than enough punch and its 6-speed automatic is smooth too. It's also the more comfortable and fuel-efficient of the two by far, which should help on your highway drives.

Tata Sierra

Mahindra Thar Roxx