Mahindra
XUV700
7.8 / 10
VS
Mahindra
Thar Roxx
8.0 / 10
Compare · Three-Row & Lifestyle SUV · 2025-26
Mahindra XUV700 vs
Mahindra Thar Roxx
Choose between a practical three-row family hauler and an iconic lifestyle SUV with real 4x4 muscle.
For: This comparison is for buyers with a budget between Rs 18 and Rs 30 lakh who are deciding between genuine seven-seat practicality and a character-rich lifestyle SUV with off-road capability. Buyers who simply want the most efficient commuter or a luxury badge should look elsewhere.
Find Your Car
Same price. Different life.
Most buyers decide here. Read this before anything else.
Choose the
Mahindra XUV700
- You regularly seat six or seven passengers, including elderly relatives who need a flat, accessible third row for long road trips.
- You drive 1,500-plus kilometres a month on highways and need the diesel automatic's torque band to make those journeys effortless.
- You work in a city but live in a gated community, and a practical, discreet SUV fits your lifestyle better than a statement vehicle.
- You want all-wheel drive for occasional wet-weather confidence without committing to a dedicated off-road machine.
- You value a proven, low-drama ownership record over novelty, and your service centre familiarity with the platform matters to you.
- You have two school-age children and need boot space that survives a family holiday without creative packing every single time.
Choose the
Mahindra Thar Roxx
- You live in a hilly region, drive forest roads on weekends, or own land that demands genuine low-range 4x4 hardware at least twice a month.
- You are buying your first premium SUV and want a car that sparks conversation in every parking lot, not just another competent family carrier.
- You have a family of four or five and do not need a third row, but you do want adult-friendly rear seats with ventilation and recline.
- Your budget is closer to Rs 20-23 lakh and you want the maximum feature haul per rupee, including panoramic sunroof and ADAS Level 2.
- You take weekend escapes to Coorg, Spiti, or Ladakh and want a vehicle that is genuinely built for those routes, not just marketed around them.
- You are buying with your heart as much as your head, and an iconic nameplate with a distinct personality matters to your ownership experience.
Where They Diverge
Four situations that tip the decision
Both score 7.8/10. In real life, they are built for different people.
Long-distance highway run with family
The XUV700's 185 hp diesel automatic is a refined, fatigue-free highway tool with a wide torque band that holds highway speeds without drama. Namaste Car noted that rear passengers in the XUV700 feel genuinely isolated from road noise on expressways. The Thar Roxx is capable on highways but its ladder-frame roots mean greater sensitivity to crosswinds and a slightly busier ride at sustained triple-digit speeds.
Edge:
Mahindra XUV700
Rough terrain or off-road weekend adventure
The Thar Roxx carries factory-fitted 4x4 hardware, a disconnectable sway bar, and Mahindra's proven off-road genetics into every trail you point it at. Arun Panwar called it the only car in this price band where off-road capability is a genuine engineering priority, not a marketing footnote. The XUV700 AWD is competent in slippery conditions but is tuned for on-road confidence, not rock crawling.
Edge:
Mahindra Thar Roxx
Daily city commute with parking constraints
At 4.7 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, the XUV700 demands respect in tight urban carparks and narrow lanes. The Thar Roxx, at 4,428 mm, is more manageable in dense traffic without feeling like you are wrestling a barge into a slot. TopGear India's Mumbai drive confirmed the Roxx threads through the city's chaotic gaps with noticeably less stress than its longer stablemate.
Edge:
Mahindra Thar Roxx
Resale value and long-term ownership cost
The XUV700 has a longer track record in the used-car market and its diesel automatic commands strong residuals, particularly in AWD trim. The Thar nameplate historically holds value exceptionally well, and the Roxx's desirability premium should protect it similarly. MotorOctane considers both strong holds, but the XUV700's broader buyer pool in Tier 2 cities gives it a marginal edge in liquidity.
Edge:
Mahindra XUV700
Dimension by Dimension
What the jury said, head-to-head
Scores shown inline. "Best for" tells you who each result matters to.
| Axis | Mahindra XUV700 | Mahindra Thar Roxx | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Design |
The XUV700's 2025 update adds a Napoli Black edition, dual-tone roof options, and blacked-out trim, but the silhouette is unchanged from launch. Faisal Khan notes the Tata Safari's recent refresh has made the XUV700 look comparatively familiar on the road. It is handsome and purposeful, but it no longer turns heads the way it did at launch. 7.5 / 10 |
The Roxx is unmistakably Thar yet clearly its own machine, with C-shaped LED DRLs, exposed bonnet hinges, and 19-inch diamond-cut alloys giving it genuine road presence. Gagan Choudhary described it as the most visually distinctive SUV Mahindra has produced in this segment. The longer wheelbase and angled C-pillar strike a balance between rugged identity and modern SUV proportion. 8.5 / 10 |
Statement buyersRoxx carries unmistakable personality that the XUV700's evolutionary updates no longer match
|
Interior |
The twin 10.25-inch screens, ventilated front seats, and passenger-side display on top trims make the XUV700 cabin feel genuinely premium. Gagan Choudhary flags that the bronze, tan, and dark grey dashboard combinations can feel visually busy. Seven airbags and driver memory seat are standard on higher variants. 7.5 / 10 |
The Roxx represents Mahindra's biggest single-generation interior leap, with soft-touch dash materials, double-stitched leatherette, frameless auto-dimming IRVM, and illuminated power-window switches lifting quality well above the three-door Thar. The 9-speaker Harman Kardon system impressed Namaste Car as one of the best in-class audio setups at this price. Rear seat space is genuinely adult-friendly for a five-seater. 8.0 / 10 |
Feature-focused familiesRoxx delivers more premium texture per rupee; XUV700 wins on raw passenger count
|
Performance |
The 2.0L mStallion petrol delivers 200 hp and pulls hard in a way the Roxx's petrol cannot match. The 185 hp diesel automatic is the sweet spot, combining strong torque with smooth delivery across all road types. MotorOctane rated the XUV700 diesel automatic as one of the most effortless powertrains in its class for mixed driving. 8.0 / 10 |
The Roxx diesel produces 172 hp and 370 Nm in 4x4 automatic trim, enough for confident overtaking and unhurried mountain climbs. The petrol tops out at 175 hp but is rear-wheel-drive only, which limits its all-weather appeal. Arun Panwar noted that the diesel 4x4 automatic feels remarkably refined for a ladder-frame SUV, and you frequently forget it is a diesel. 8.0 / 10 |
Highway performersXUV700's 200 hp petrol and AWD diesel give it a broader powertrain portfolio
|
Ride Quality |
The updated 2025 suspension tune makes the XUV700 one of the more compliant three-row SUVs at highway speeds, absorbing broken expressway surfaces without unsettling passengers. MotoWagon found it composed on both smooth and patchy roads in back-to-back testing. At low city speeds, larger potholes occasionally thud through to the cabin. 8.0 / 10 |
The Roxx rides better than any Thar before it, but the ladder-frame platform means it cannot fully match monocoque rivals on smooth roads. Faisal Khan described the highway ride as composed for the platform but noted that sustained high-speed travel reveals more vertical movement than the XUV700. In its natural habitat of broken village roads and rough tracks, it absorbs punishment impressively. 7.5 / 10 |
Highway comfort seekersXUV700's monocoque platform delivers a more car-like, settled highway experience
|
Build Quality |
The XUV700 has accumulated several years of ownership data and the consensus is strong: panel gaps are consistent, paintwork holds well, and the chassis feels tight even at higher mileages. Namaste Car rates its long-term durability as one of the reasons it remains a benchmark in the segment. Minor interior plastics on lower trims are the only persistent criticism. 7.5 / 10 |
The Roxx arrives on a fourth-generation ladder frame that Mahindra has significantly stiffened versus the three-door. Gagan Choudhary noted that panel fit on the Roxx is a clear step above the outgoing Thar, with door shutlines and bonnet alignment that now meet monocoque SUV standards. As a newer platform, it lacks the long-term ownership data the XUV700 carries. 8.0 / 10 |
Proven reliability buyersXUV700's longer track record gives it an edge in verified long-term build confidence
|
Value for Money |
The XUV700 spans Rs 16 to 33 lakh on-road, offering five powertrain options and a feature list that remains competitive in 2025. The AWD diesel automatic at the top of the range is genuinely rare at this price point in India. Pricing breadth means buyers at almost every budget within the segment can find a relevant variant. 8.0 / 10 |
The Roxx starts around Rs 15 lakh on-road and tops out near Rs 27-29 lakh for the diesel 4x4 automatic, undercutting the XUV700's equivalent trim by a meaningful margin. For that money it includes panoramic sunroof, ADAS Level 2, Harman Kardon audio, and genuine 4x4 hardware. MotorOctane called it the most feature-dense lifestyle SUV per rupee currently available in India. 8.5 / 10 |
Maximum-feature buyersRoxx packs more technology and off-road hardware per lakh than any direct rival
|
Practicality |
Seven seats, 200 mm ground clearance, and a boot that accommodates family luggage behind the third row make the XUV700 a genuine people-mover. The wide 1.9-metre body means three adults fit abreast in the second row without shoulder conflict. For buyers who regularly carry six or seven passengers, no rival at this price comes close. |
The Roxx is a five-seater only, and no seven-seat option exists. Boot space behind the second row is respectable for a lifestyle SUV, but it is not a substitute for the XUV700's three-row layout. Where it wins on practicality is approach and departure angles, making it the better tool for buyers whose daily drive includes unpaved roads or seasonal flood-prone routes. |
Large familiesXUV700's three-row layout is irreplaceable for buyers who regularly carry six or seven people
|
Jury Scores
The aggregated verdict
Both cars score 7.8/10 overall from 6 independent creators. The overall number is almost meaningless here: the dimension breakdown is where the real story is.
Mahindra
XUV700
7.8/10
5 independent creators
Build Quality7.5
Design7.5
Interior7.5
Performance8.0
Ride Quality8.0
Value for Money8.0
Mahindra
Thar Roxx
8.0/10
5 independent creators
Build Quality8.0
Design8.5
Interior8.0
Performance8.0
Ride Quality7.5
Value for Money8.5
Direct Battle
One creator. Both cars. Same test.
TopGear Mag India: Testing Mahindra’s Posh SUV Arsenal: XUV 3XO vs Thar ROXX vs Scorpio-N vs XUV700 | TopGear India
Sources for
Mahindra XUV700
Sources for
Mahindra Thar Roxx