Upon reading the headline, many might scratch their heads, wondering why a spec check comparison is being made between the rugged Mahindra Thar Roxx and the Hyundai Creta. Unlike its usual competitors, the Force Gurkha and Maruti Suzuki Jimny, the Thar Roxx offers a rear-wheel-drive option, placing it in the same category as the Creta. Another reason is that Mahindra has only released the prices for the 4×2 Thar Roxx variant. Hence, we have decided to compare it against the midsize segment leader, the Creta, which was also the top-selling vehicle in the market last July.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs Hyundai Creta: Engine
The Thar Roxx and the Creta both come with petrol and diesel engine options. The Korean SUV, Creta, goes a step further by offering two petrol variants—a turbocharged and a naturally aspirated engine. Mahindra’s Thar Roxx, however, provides a turbo petrol engine in two different power outputs, similar to its diesel engine options.
Starting with the Thar Roxx, it is equipped with a 2-litre turbo petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel engine. The 6-speed manual version of the turbo petrol engine delivers 159 bhp and 330 Nm, while the automatic torque converter version produces 174 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. The diesel engine’s base model, available in both manual and automatic transmissions, generates 150 bhp and 330 Nm. The highest diesel variant offers 172 bhp and 380 Nm of torque, paired exclusively with a 6-speed automatic torque converter.
On the other hand, the Creta is available with three engine choices—a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) petrol, a 1.5-litre turbo petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel. The NA petrol engine, aimed at the more economical trims, produces 113 bhp and 144 Nm and comes with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission. The turbo petrol engine generates 158 bhp and 253 Nm, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Lastly, the diesel engine offers 114 bhp and 250 Nm, with the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic torque converter transmission.
| Specifications | Mahindra Thar Roxx | Hyundai Creta | |||
| Fuel | Petrol / Diesel | Petrol / Diesel | |||
| Engine | 2-litre | 2.2-litre | 1.5-litre NA | 1.5-litre turbo | 1.5-litre diesel |
| Power | 159 bhp (MT)174 bhp (AT) | 150 bhp (MT)172 bhp (AT) | 113 bhp | 158 bhp | 114 bhp |
| Torque | 330 Nm (MT)380 Nm (AT) | 330 Nm (MT)380 Nm (AT) | 144 Nm | 253 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Transmission | MT / AT | MT / CVT | DCT | MT / AT | |
| Drivertrain | RWD | FWD | |||
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs Hyundai Creta: Price
Our focus is on the Thar Roxx RWD, as the prices for the 4×4 lineup by Mahindra have not been revealed yet. The starting price for the Thar Roxx petrol variant is Rs 12.99 lakh, and for the diesel variant, it’s Rs 13.99 lakh, both ex-showroom. The petrol manual variants are priced between Rs 12.99 lakh and Rs 16.49 lakh, while the automatic variants range from Rs 14.99 lakh to Rs 19.99 lakh. For the diesel Thar Roxx, the price spans from Rs 13.99 lakh to Rs 18.99 lakh, with the automatic variants costing between Rs 17.49 lakh and Rs 20.49 lakh.
The Creta’s naturally aspirated petrol models are priced from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 18.88 lakh, the turbo models are between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 20.15 lakh, and the diesel models range from Rs 12.56 lakh to Rs 20.15 lakh, all prices being ex-showroom.
