Mahindra Thar LXT 1.5 Diesel MT 4x2

autocar.india

•19h

The Jimny is a genuinely likeable car with its compact dimensions, rugged looks and proper SUV feel, and it is well suited to city use and small road trips. However, your concerns about low sales and resale value are valid. The Jimny has not found a large audience, and that does have an impact on long-term ownership confidence. The Thar Roxx is indeed much larger and less city-friendly, while the standard Thar remains cramped in the second row, so neither is an ideal alternative for your usage.As for a facelift, there is no confirmed timeline for a major update, and waiting for a 4x2 variant is not advisable unless you are specifically looking for a more affordable, less capable version. The Jimny’s appeal lies in its 4x4 capability, and a 4x2 version would dilute much of what makes it special.If you love the Jimny for what it is, you can still go ahead and buy it, but do so with the understanding that resale value may not be its strongest suit. If that is a major concern, you may want to consider more mainstream alternatives like the Brezza or the Kylaq, which offer better ownership confidence without the same level of off-road character.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•5w

Yes, that combination actually makes a lot of sense if the roles are clearly defined. For the Seltos, the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is perfectly adequate if it is going to be your city car. It is smooth, refined, easy to drive in traffic and ownership costs are reasonable. You do not really need the turbo petrol if the car's primary duty is urban commuting. The NA petrol may not feel particularly exciting, but for city use it will feel relaxed and effortless. Even in its lower variants, the Seltos is surprisingly well equipped, so it does not feel bare bones.As for the Thar 3-door, if it is purely a weekend fun vehicle, the base model can make sense from a value perspective. However, it is worth remembering that the Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom variant is a 4x2 model, so you do not get the full off-road capability that most people associate with the Thar. If your idea of enjoyment is primarily the lifestyle, road presence and occasional beach or trail drives, it will still do the job. However, if you genuinely want to explore tougher trails and off-road terrain, it is worth stretching to a 4x4 variant.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Thar

autocar.india

•6w

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. For Spiti’s narrow, broken mountain roads with light to moderate snow, the Jimny’s small size and low weight make life easier. It is simpler to place on those cliff-edge tracks, its narrow tyres bite better on packed snow, and visibility is excellent. The 4x4 with low range works cleanly, and Maruti’s service reach in Himachal is wider if you do need help.Be ready for one compromise. The 1.5 petrol loses power at high altitude, so climbs will be slow and you will use lower gears more often. Cabin and boot are smaller too.If you regularly travel with four adults plus big luggage, or you expect fresh, deeper snow, the Thar’s extra torque and higher clearance give you more headroom. But for a typical winter, Spiti run in light to moderate snow where control and confidence matter more than brute force, the Jimny is the better tool.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar

autocar.india

•8w

Since you've already owned a Mahindra Thar 3-door, and you believe that it is the best for you, we would recommend you go ahead with it. You already know what the vehicle is capable of, and as an owner, you're aware of all its pros and cons too. There are no other options in the market that can deliver what the Thar can.The Maruti Jimny is smaller, very tough, and surprisingly capable, although its engine performance is no match for the Mahindra. The Force Gurkha is capable off-road, but lacks the Thar's sophistication, and feels too crude in comparison. Other monocoque AWD options include the Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Victoris, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and dual-motor EV options like the Vinfast VF7 and Tata Harrier EV. Do note that while all these models will get you through sticky situations and handle mild trails easily, none are as good off-road as the Thar. All things considered, go for the Thar; it seems to be the best fit for you.

Mahindra Thar

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•12w

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

•14w

Go for the Tata Punch EV Smart + 40. For a 50 km daily office run and as a second car alongside your Innova Crysta, it fits your use best right now. It is small on the outside, easy to park, and the smooth electric drive makes stop-and-go traffic stress-free.As a daily beater, it is quiet, quick, and has enough ground clearance for bad patches. If you can install a home charger in your parking, you can charge overnight and forget about fuel pumps. Tata also has the widest EV service reach today, which helps for long-term peace of mind.One thing to be aware of is that you must have a reliable place to charge at home or office; otherwise living with any EV becomes awkward.If home charging is not possible, pick the Honda Amaze ZX CVT instead. The CVT is very smooth, the car is light to drive, and Honda service gives you peace of mind as well. I would skip the Mahindra Thar 1.5 RWD for a daily 50 km city run. It is a heavy, 3-door manual, rides firm, and your diesel ban worry is valid in many cities over time.Overall, the Punch EV Smart+ will make your commute calmer and simpler. Just confirm charger installation before you book.

Tata Punch EV

Toyota Innova Crysta

Honda Amaze

Mahindra Thar

autocar.india

•19w

Indeed, Mahindra & Mahindra doesn’t have the best reputation for service and reliability like Toyota has. But quite honestly, the Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Thar Roxx are sturdy and fairly reliable vehicles underpinned by proven mechanicals.There are isolated cases of Thars facing problems and service issues that haven’t been resolved to the owners' satisfaction, and that often forces them to highlight them on social media, making it sound like the norm. Social media tends to amplify negative experiences far more than positive ones. Also, there are influencers in the north of the country actively working to tarnish Mahindra’s reputation.As you said, if you are prepared for some service issues, you can go right ahead and buy the Thar Roxx.

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

autocar.india

•27w

The Tata Sierra's that we reviewed were well put together for the most part, with just a few niggles around. However, Tata Motors is known to have many issues with its cars, especially in the initial period. Thus, if you are in doubt about the quality, we would suggest you wait for a few months. As for the other options, we would rule out the Mahindra Thar as it is tilted more towards performance. Also, it will not meet your requirement of a balance of power and efficiency. What would meet this requirement would be the diesel Kia Seltos.

Tata Sierra

Mahindra Thar

autocar.india

•28w

The Mahindra Thar is one of those special products that tug at the heartstrings, so we can understand why the boy in you wants it. The Mahindra Thar Roxx, which is a 5-door, has a far better suspension than the 3-door. The practicality of a spacious back seat, is the one to go for if you want to use it as a daily driver. It is tough and can withstand a lot of beating and high mileage without a sweat, but it may not be completely niggle-free like your Honda City probably is. Also, bear in mind that you may tire of the Thar, which has a bumpy ride and controls that are heavier than the user-friendly Honda City you are used to. Yours is a case of heart over head, so go ahead and satisfy that boy in you :)

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

autocar.india

•31w

Given your passion for adventure, off-roading and birding, your best bet is to stick with Mahindra and get the new Thar. Whether the Thar 3 Door or the Roxx, you get a wide range of smooth and powerful engines and gearboxes of your choosing, and exceptional off-roading ability.What's more, the new Thars are far more comfortable, luxurious and easy to live with, with loads of creature comforts, making them usable every day - especially the Thar Roxx, which is also much more spacious than the old Thar.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Thar