Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Which is a good choice? We know you were set to buy the Thar back in 2020 but then your family held you back. They were right; those basic black plastic interiors had no good features, no space or boot space, and maybe walking would have been more comfortable.
So, you had to settle for a more urban and family-friendly SUV like a Hyundai Creta. But you’ve seen the Thar Roxx, and you’re tempted again – especially since you can get a good resale value for the Creta now and bring home a new Thar Roxx. So, will your family ride with you in the Thar Roxx, or will they give you they rather stay in the Creta?
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Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Key
It is time for Mahindra to get their key to progress onto a key fob and leave this flip key design behind. Speaking of practical features, in the Creta, you could begin turning the vehicle over with the key and pre-cool the cabin, unlock the car without actually taking the key off because you can press a button on the door handle.
None of these applies to the Thar Roxx. Remote start in Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta is fine, but there has to be passive keyless entry because now you have to pull the key out of your pocket to unlock the car for its push-button start/stop.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Looks
There’s no contest here. And if we are speaking of strong road presence, then the Thar is quite in the lead. Its conventional SUV look and size give it more dominating presence. Not just that but also boasts premium elements like all LED headlamps, DRLs, indicators, tail lamps, fog lamps, and five large 19-inch alloy wheels.
Creta is also a good-looking city SUV. You get all LED lights here, inclusive of dynamic turn indicators. It doesn’t feature fog lamps and alloys at 17 inches. If you want something that looks stunningly city-friendly and sophisticated SUVs to impress others, then it is more about the Creta. But if you are looking for road presence, the Thar Roxx is way ahead.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Boot Space
Boot space in the Thar is better than the Creta. Because the Thar doesn’t have a spare wheel underneath the boot nor a parcel shelf it comes without, the boot is flat and wide, so you can store your luggage in any way you want. Big, upright suitcases fit as easily as small, flat ones do. However, you’ll have to lift your luggage pretty high to stuff it inside.
In the Creta, you cannot stack one suitcase over another due to the parcel tray, and it is also slightly narrower than the Thar, so fewer luggages’ fits in. The good part is that the seats fold flat here, which you don’t get in the Thar. So, carrying large items is easier in the Creta.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Interior Fit, Finish, and Quality
This is where things get interesting. It sounds strange, but the interior quality is better in Thar than in Creta. The dashboard has soft-touch leatherette with contrast stitching, door pads have soft-touch leatherette too, and the elbow pads are soft. Very good-quality leather wraps for the center armrest, seats, and the steering wheel.
The buttons are of quality, as well except for the carbon fiber finish in the middle, which appears to be the wrong finish and should have been gloss black.
The fit and finish of the Creta, however, are better. All panels interlock seamlessly whereas still some panel gaps can be seen in the Thar. On its dashboard, there is a rubber-type cover that does look neat, but the quality of all the buttons is better here. Colors such as grey, white, and copper also look very upmarket. However, if there were leatherette on the door pads also then it would have looked even better.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Features
The features comparison between off-road and the city SUV are all wrong. What Mahindra does with the Thar Roxx is not different than your mother is making pizza at home, putting in whatever vegetables are left in the fridge. Mahindra added almost all the features they have in the warehouse. On this point, neither car is lacking features.
Both the cars feature branded sound system, 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, steering-mounted controls, automatic headlamps, and digital instrument cluster along with auto day/night IRVM and auto climate control. As I said, there’s no shortage.
In fact, both the cars have their advantages. In the case of Creta, it has dual-zone climate control, paddle shifters, connected car tech, telescopic steering adjustment, and it even features an air purifier. Its infotainment system also works like butter, with no issues, and the quality of the camera and smoothness is better than the Thar, mainly the blind view monitors.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Distinct Features
The Thar also gets distinct features like Android Auto on the instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and auto wipers. Here, the sound system has been far superior to the Creta in terms of clarity and loudness, especially bass. Apple CarPlay still is missing, though-not entirely disappointing either. But yes, the panoramic sunroof here is quite big.
So, in features, it’s a tie – if after some updates Mahindra’s infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and makes the camera smooth, and then Thar can lead in this point.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Safety
- Both cars get 6 airbags, electronic stability control, and ABS EBD as standard. Both also get level 2 ADAS in the higher variants. So, on paper, both are pretty safe.
- The Thar Roxx also gets BLD from the base variant, so if you get stuck on bad roads, the Thar will be more capable.
- But still, crash test results for both cars are pending.
- So, the Thar Roxx should get a 4-star rating, just like the Thar 3-door, and the Creta facelift is expected to get a 4-star or better rating.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Cabin Practicality
That’s where you understand the difference between an off-roader and an urban SUV. Mahindra has tried to make the Thar Roxx a practical offering this time, and it succeeds in this RWD version where the 4×4 shifter would have probably been, Mahindra now accommodates a pretty deep storage unit where all your stuff, whether phone, wallet, and keys can just be fitted neatly.
On top of that, two cup holders, a charging area for your phone, under-arm-rest storage, and a glove box which has a pretty decent size and comes with a cooling element as well. Well, to the good news: all central storage areas are covered with rubber mats. Door pockets are still pretty small and could hold only the thinnest of water bottles.
Storing stuff is easier in the Creta. There’s a big central storage in the middle, it’s much spacious in terms of cup holders, and I think the under-armrest storage is pretty good, too. At least, the glove box is better here. I can easily put three bottles in door pockets, which, in my opinion, is its biggest difference-the considerable space around the bottles in door pockets that lets you store anything else, not just bottles.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Ingress Egress
- The Thar is very high. It is now both its strength as and off-roader and a weakness.
- Compared to this, Creta feels like a hatchback.
- That is also why getting in and out of the Creta is much easier.
- In the Thar, you will have to step on the sidestep to get in.
- If you have your grandparents on board or ladies clad in some heavy traditional wear for some function, they may face some issues getting inside.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Rear Seat Experience
The rear seat experience of the Creta has been a benchmark in its class. And Thar is trying to challenge this benchmark. The space here is slightly better, and you get window shades as well.
Seats in Thar are far more supportive, recline much better, and have a full flat floor, so two people can be a lot more comfortable. Yes, for three people, the width of Creta is still better, but there is a headrest for the middle passenger in Thar. For long drives, there is better thigh support and under-thigh support by Thar.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Position
In the Thar, you sit quite high up. From here, you get a clear view of the road and traffic. Nevertheless, this is also a big vehicle, and that is going to take some time to figure out where the bumper ends from the driver’s seat.
Even now people can get a little bit scared to drive it, but for an experienced driver, there’s nothing better to drive than a Thar. And now, this steering too has been made into electronic power steering – so it’s as light as a car. There’s another problem- the driving position. If your height exceeds 6 feet, then you will find the footwall cramped, and since the steering adjustment doesn’t extend in and out, you’ll have to sit closer to it.
So, for tall drivers, the driving position in the Thar is not comfortable.
Switching from the Thar to the Creta feels like you have stepped into a hatchback. This is comfortable for most drivers, but it doesn’t have that Thar feeling.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Drive Experience
There’s quite a distinction between the drive experiences of Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Smoothness versus raw power!
All three of Creta’s engine options are refined and smoothen. Its turbo petrol is very quick and delivers swift acceleration driving feels effortless. It’s butter smooth. Then comes its 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, also very refined, and it gives a very smooth drive, especially in the city, with the CVT automatic transmission.
The diesel is pretty well-refined too, offering an all-round driving experience that is good to the last mile. Now comes the Thar Roxx. Its 2.2L diesel engine is refined yet mighty. Whether it be quick overtakes or highway high-speed overtakes, it can do everything with ease. Though it is heavier than the Creta, driving the Thar does not give you a feeling that the engine is under some sort of stress.
And it only gets better with the petrol engine.
None of them will provide you with the right mileage too. Turbo petrol Creta and Thar will return 8 km in the city. Petrol Creta and diesel Thar will return you 10-11 kmpl in the city. Diesel Creta will return you 12-13 kmpl in the city. All of them will return you mileage close to 15 on the highway.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs. Hyundai Creta: Ride Comfort
- This is the biggest weakness of the Thar: its ride comfort, especially on bad roads.
- The Thar is a ladder-frame off-roader prepared as a family SUV. It offers space and features to the family, but on such rough roads, it can’t hide its true nature.
- It drives silky smooth on good roads. So you will like it a lot on the roads of Delhi or Rajasthan.