Mahindra Thar Roxx vs Scoprio-N vs XUV700

So, you walk into a Mahindra showroom with a bag full of cash – 25 lakh or thereabouts – and want to buy a real family SUV. You immediately find yourself in a soup. Which one should you take home? Naturally, being an SUV guy, you find it hard to resist the temptation of the brand-new five-door Thar Roxx, although the XUV700, with a monocoque body, would make the most sense for you and your family. But that’s not it. To make matters worse, there’s a third contender vying for your hard-earned money – the Scorpio N.

It’s a great problem, both for Mahindra and prospective customers, but it’s a problem nonetheless. So, to fish you out of this Mahindra SUV conundrum, we are at help again.

New Pecking Order

In the past, it used to be a simple and straightforward affair. If you wanted comfort, features, and space, the XUV700 was the default Mahindra family SUV for you. But for those looking for a more robust and capable off-roader with similar levels of space and features, the Scorpio N, with a body-on-frame chassis, would have appealed more. The Thar, meanwhile, was never in contention for the family man, thanks to its three-door configuration. Sure, you could’ve easily brought it home for selfish reasons, but it wouldn’t have been a great choice in the long run. Let’s just say that if you ferried your young ones in it, they would inevitably grow up resenting you, secretly plotting revenge as they bounced around in the back seat. 

With the arrival of the five-door Thar Roxx, though, things have changed, lines have become blurred, and the pecking order has changed. It has two more doors, with a lot of creature comforts, extensive changes in the platform, making it more comfortable, and, of course, a lot of space in the back. In short, your children won’t despise you, and you are less likely to end up in an old-age home in your twilight years.

That the Thar Roxx is a more complete family SUV than the three-door Thar is undeniably true. But given its all-roundedness, it’s now become a threat to its very own siblings. So, is the Thar Roxx now the go-to Mahindra family SUV? Should you buy it over the XUV700 or the Scorpio N? Or, more importantly, why shouldn’t you? 

Butch Brothers

Say what you will, but one of the primary reasons to buy a Mahindra SUV is its appearance. Among a sea of pseudo crossovers, these Mahindra models stand tall with their big butch SUV appearance. However, picking a clear winner between the three here based on their brawniness is like choosing to wrestle with one of the Phogat sisters – it won’t make any difference, for they are all equally strong and buff. However, that’s not to say that you can’t pick one.

In terms of visual appeal, there’s no beating the Thar Roxx. No matter where you go, it inadvertently takes centre stage, making its siblings fade into the background. With its classic old-school boxy proportions, towering height, short overhangs, massive 19-inch wheels shod with AT tyres, and tailgate-mounted spare wheel, the Thar Roxx has well and truly nailed the SUV design. What’s more, despite being a classic off-roader, it’s not a spartan SUV on the outside. The new C-shaped projector LED lamps, diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED taillights, and the choice of some vibrant colour options make it as contemporary as any other SUV out there. That said, the oddly slanted C-pillar is a bit of an eyesore – even after spending days with the Thar Roxx, it still triggers my OCD. I’ve just learnt to avoid looking at it.

The XUV700 is an equally badass-looking SUV, though in a refined and sophisticated way. It has an edgy and bold design with smoother surfaces and clean lines, unlike the Thar’s straight-cut, angular design. Despite being the oldest vehicle here, it still has a macho road presence, and I must say that it has aged rather well. However, given the number of XUV700s you find on our roads, it doesn’t quite evoke the same sort of ‘terror’ in fellow motorists as the Thar, but it’s still a bit of a bully.

For decades, the Scorpio was the ‘baddie’ of the Mahindra family. However, in its current generation, it’s the most subdued of the lot in terms of exterior design. It’s not as wide as the XUV, nor as loud as the Thar Roxx. It sits somewhere in the middle – a little restrained and evolved. However, that’s not to say that it is meek. It’s still intimidating, but in more of a ‘you-already-know-who-I-am’ kind of way as compared to the ‘look-I-am-here’ attitude of the Thar Roxx. You get my drift, right? 

Of Stallions & Hawks

Mahindra offers the same petrol and diesel powertrain options in all three SUVs. These include 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and 2.0 mStallion petrol engines. However, these are offered in different states of tune in each of the vehicles. For this comparison, we tested the diesel AT versions of the Thar Roxx and Scorpion N, while the XUV700 we tested was petrol-powered, paired with an AT gearbox. We didn’t include the 4WD or AWD (the XUV700) versions because we truly believe that 95% of the buyers of these SUVs don’t actually need it or even use it that often.

In the Thar Roxx, the mHawk diesel makes the least power and torque of the trio – 150bhp and 330Nm. In comparison, the same engine develops 172bhp and 400NM in the Scorpio N and 182bhp and 450Nm in the XUV700.

Despite having fewer horses than the other two, and the fact that it weighs only a few kilos lighter than the moon, you might expect the Thar Roxx’s performance to be pedestrian. But that’s far from the case. In all fairness, it picks up pace in a rather daunting manner. Its acceleration is strong and seamless, thanks to the linear and wide powerband of its proven oil burner. What stands out more than anything here is the refinement. Even when the engine is spinning at 4,000rpm, it’s barely audible inside. This is genuinely remarkable. Its another impressive aspect is the 6-speed automatic gearbox, which complements the engine excellently with its effortless and jerk-free shifts. And it’s not just upshifts; the gearbox is equally smooth and responsive during downshifts as well. You will struggle to find faults in this engine-gearbox combo. Perhaps, the only thing you might miss is paddle shifters behind the wheel, but that’s it.

In terms of engine performance, the Scorpio N doesn’t offer a significantly different driving experience. Sure, the acceleration is a bit quicker, thanks to its extra 22 horses and 70Nm of torque, but in the larger scheme of things, it’s a similar affair. Unless you pull your stopwatch out and time both the vehicles on a drag strip, you won’t find any real difference in their real-world performance. In short, the Scorpio N is also as refined, effortless, and enjoyable to drive. And the six-speed gearbox is as good as it’s in the Thar, meaning the drivetrain is difficult to fault.

What’s more, even in terms of fuel efficiency, both the Thar Roxx and Scorpio N are almost as thirsty as each other. In the city, they return close to 9 – 10km/l, while on the highway, the Scorpio N is slightly more efficient (13km/l) than the Thar Roxx (12km/l) – you can blame the latter’s brick-like aerodynamics for that.

If fuel economy isn’t a concern for you, you might as well go for the petrol versions of these SUVs – they’re no less of a barnstormer! In the XUV700, the mStallion engine develops 197bhp, which is more than the Thar Roxx petrol (174bhp) but slightly less than the Scorpio N (200bhp). The torque figure in all three is identical at 380Nm, which if you come to think of it is almost diesel-like. And this also shows in the way the petrol-powered XUV700 moves – it pulls like a diesel locomotive.

Despite being petrol-powered, this engine doesn’t rev like a maniac – it’s more of a linear beast. There’s a bit of delay / turbo lag below 1,800rpm, but once the turbo spools, the XUV700 turns into a rocket-ship. Acceleration is furious and stronger than the diesel versions for sure, and there’s a greater sense of speed and drama. The gearshifts are quick and the turn of speed is addictive. What about refinement? Well, sure the mHawk diesel unit is superb when it comes to NVH levels, but it can’t beat the mStallion’s silky smoothness – It’s just the nature of petrol engines. The only downside is that this engine drinks like a fish. In daily city driving, the XUV700 struggles return more than 7-8km/l, and even on the highway it hardly goes into double-digit figures.

Overall, though, in terms of powertrain, there is no clear winner amongst these three Mahindra siblings – they all are equally good. 

The Tie-Breaker

It’s in terms of ride and handling that the family bond between these three SUVs breaks, and how! The Thar Roxx, Scorpio N, and XUV700 go about their business in completely different manners. There are similarities in the way they drive, but it’s the differences between them that make, well, the difference.

Let’s talk about the Thar Roxx first. You might think this is just your regular Thar stretched to accommodate two extra doors. However, the truth is that Mahindra has gone to town to make it a proper five-door family SUV. Consequently, it sits on the company’s latest fourth-generation ladder frame chassis and features a raft of changes compared to the three-door Thar. These include an electric steering wheel, a new multi-link suspension featuring Watt’s Linkage to control lateral axle movement, and hydraulic rebound stoppers for better damping. That’s a lot of technical jargon, but does it work on the road? Actually, it does; however, the Thar Roxx isn’t perfect on tar.

At low speeds, the Thar Roxx wiggles and jiggles over even the smallest of undulations. Sure, it does flatten everything that comes its way, but you always feel the suspension working beneath you. As the speed rises, there’s a lot more composure and body movements are better controlled. It’s also surprisingly agile for an SUV – it handles rather impressively, plus the new electric steering makes it a breeze to manoeuvre this behemoth. However, its body-on-frame underpinnings are always evident, regardless of where you go. Honestly speaking, as long as you are driving within the city speed limits, i.e. 60-80km/h, this isn’t a problem. It’s not perfect, but you make peace with it and quickly learn to live with it. Is the ride still bumpy? Yes, it is, but it’s miles better than three-door Thar, especially for rear-seat occupants.

On the open road, the Thar Roxx has the engine performance to cruise comfortably at triple-digit speeds, but again it’s not as planted as its other two siblings. As long as the road surface is smooth, you can comfortably cruise at high speeds, but on the bumpy expressways, like those outside New Delhi, it feels out of its depth.

In isolation, the Thar Roxx is a huge improvement over the regular Thar. However, the moment you jump into the Scorpio N, it becomes clearly evident that it’s the better of the two for the road. The Scorpio N’s body control is tighter at low speeds, and its ride is more absorbent, not to mention that the steering offers better feedback. At high speeds, the Scorpio, too, suffers from the typical body-on-frame shimmy while going over undulations, but road-holding is better and it inspires more confidence. The reason that Thar doesn’t instil the same confidence is partly also because of the combination of its AT tyres and softer suspension setup compared to the other two, which run on smaller 18-inch road-biased tyres.

Even in terms of driving position and ergonomics, the Scorpio pips the Thar, thanks to its wider cabin. In the Thar, your knee won’t stop rubbing against the centre console, which isn’t the case in the Scorpio. The Scorpio’s seats, too, are more supportive.

The moment you bring the XUV700 into the mix, though, it’s game over for the other two. Being a unibody construction, it’s heads and shoulders above its ladder-frame siblings. The ride quality is stellar, the comfort levels are top-notch, and the road manners, whether at low or high speeds, are exemplary. The XUV’s superior ride comfort and handling also demonstrate why the world has shifted from ladder-frame to monocoque chassis for road-focussed SUVs.  

Family Business

The Thar used to be a crude and utilitarian off-roader, however, with the arrival of the Roxx, it’s gone right into the territory of more premium SUVs. But where does it rank within the family? Well, truth be told, I expected it to be closer to the Scorpio N, albeit, surprisingly, the quality of materials, fit-and-finish levels, and the creature comforts in the Thar Roxx bring it closer to the XUV700, and in some areas, it even one ups its elder sibling!

On the top-end AX7L variant that we tested, you’ll find a large panoramic sunroof, soft touch materials, electrically adjustable driver seat, wireless charging, a crisp 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, ventilated front seats, Level-2 ADAS, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a 360-degree camera, and more creature comforts. Club this with its all-white interior, and you can clearly tell the Thar Roxx is out to woo families instead of lone alphas. What’s more, there are certain things that are markedly better in the Thar Roxx compared to its siblings – the touchscreen response is better and crisper, the camera quality is superior, and the sunroof is the largest of the lot. And, by the way, the Scorpio N doesn’t get a panoramic sunroof, and nor does it get ADAS. Plus, in terms of fit-and-finish, the Scorpio N isn’t as good as the Thar Roxx – the former’s interior is a lot more plasticky. Its 8-inch touchscreen is also the smallest of the bunch and it feels a generation old compared to the bigger 10.25-inch screens of the XUV and Thar. The Thar and XUV also get a fully digital instrument cluster compared to the analogue dials of the Scorpio N – albeit, in this case, I prefer the Scorpio N.

The XUV700 and Scorpio N get some extra features here and there, though – both get dual-zone air-conditioning, a 12-speaker sound system, and wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The Thar Roxx too gets wireless connectivity, albeit CarPlay is ‘coming soon’. However, speaking of the audio quality in all three, we found it to be subpar at best. Interestingly, both the Thar and Scorpio N come fitted with auto-dimming IRVM, but not the XUV700. Similarly, the Thar and XUV700 are equipped with an electronic parking brake while the Scorpio N gets a manly mechanical handbrake.

Now, let’s direct our attention towards the space and comfort inside these SUVs. Thanks to its FWD-layout and large dimensions, the XUV is the most spacious and comfortable both at the front and back. The seats are large and sumptuous, the cabin is wide, and it feels BIG and roomy. We tested the six-seater version with captain seats at the back, and it proved to be the best in terms of legroom and comfort. It’s also got the flattest and lowest floor, meaning passengers of all heights can sit comfortably.

Step out of the XUV and into the Thar Roxx, and you immediately find yourself making a lot more efforts. The footboard is quite high – it’s the tallest SUV here –  plus the door opening is narrow, although the doors open at 90-degrees. The legroom is comparatively tight and the floor isn’t as low the XUV, so you do feel claustrophobic at first. However, if you’re below 6 ft, you will sit at ease, eventually. The headroom is the best here and the rear bench is comfy. Now, despite the Thar not being the widest SUV here, three adults can sit in comfort. The seatback is quite upright in its default setting but it can be reclined slightly. Overall, it may not have the same amount of room or comfort as the XUV but, it’s not that far behind.

The Scorpio N’s ingress and egress is much better than the Thar Roxx’s, albeit it’s still a bit of a climb compared to the XUV. The Scorpio N we had on test was the 7-seater version, featuring a bench in the middle-row. The overall space in the cabin  is somewhat in the middle of what’s being offered in the XUV and Thar Roxx. It’s definitely more practical and roomier than the Thar, but not quite in the same league as the XUV. That said, it’s the only SUV here that gets fan-speed control in addition to the AC vents at the back.

Boot space in all three vehicles is ample – considering you fold the third-row in the XUV and Scorpio N. However, the XUV’s hatch opening is any day more practical and convenient than the swing-out tailgate of the other two. 

Verdict

If you think logically, the XUV700 is the most complete product here. It’s big and butch and is capable of light off-roading. It is also the most comfortable of the three and packs the most creature comforts. What’s more, its ride-and-handling is superior, and it’s the most spacious of the lot. It’s all things to all men. Sure, it’s the most expensive of the lot, but it’s worth every penny. So, objectively, it’s the best Mahindra family SUV on sale.

But, then, buying a new car – or an SUV – isn’t always a head decision; it’s also about the heart. This brings us to the Scorpio N. It’s an SUV in the true sense of the term – a rugged true-blue off-roader that’s also modern and premium both inside and out. At the same time, it’s remarkably comfortable and practical for a family and almost as spacious as the XUV700. What’s more, unlike the other two here, it has a subdued presence. It’s the sort of SUV that commands respect without drawing attention. And for this reason, the Scorpio brand name is hard to beat.

And, finally, the Thar Roxx. I will come straight to the point – I wasn’t expecting it to be this good and hold a candle to the Scorpio N, let alone the XUV700 as an ideal family SUV. The Thar has always been that spoilt brat of the family with no responsibilities. But the Thar Roxx…well, it has changed the narrative. You see, in terms of creature comforts and premium feel, it’s closer to the XUV than the Scorpio N, which is quite surprising. You can no longer pigeonhole it as just a ‘lifestyle’ off-roader. It’s very much a complete family SUV now. It drives and rides well, offers ample space for five occupants, has a useable boot, and boasts an X-Factor that none of its rivals, let alone its siblings, can match. Sure, it’s not the perfect family SUV still – that title still belongs to the XUV700 amongst the three, in case you need reminding – but, then, who wants to be perfect when you can be cool? And, if you think about it, isn’t that the whole point of driving an SUV anyway?

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No matter where you go, the thar roxx inadvertently takes centre stage

The scorpio n is the most subdued of the lot in terms of exterior design

In terms of engine performance, there is no clear winner amongst these three – they all are equally good!

The xuv700’s ride-and-handling is far superior