The Roxx, Jimny, Scorpio N and Gurkha 5-door all boast of proper go-anywhere capability. We find out which offers more, on paper.
Prices for the Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 have now been revealed – the 4WD variants cost between Rs 18.79 lakh and Rs 22.49 lakh. In the 4WD, 5-door, ladder-frame SUV space, the Roxx goes up against the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Force Gurkha 5-door, along with Mahindra’s own Scorpio N. We bring the four SUVs together, on paper, to find out which could be the most capable off-roader.
Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: Powertrain
| Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: Powertrain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thar Roxx | Jimny | Gurkha 5-door | Scorpio N | |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol | Diesel | Diesel |
| Engine | 2.2-litre, 4-cyl, turbo | 1.5-litre, 4-cyl, NA | 2.6-litre, 4-cyl, turbo | 2.2-litre, 4-cyl, turbo |
| Power | 152hp/175hp | 105hp | 140hp | 175hp |
| Torque | 330Nm/370Nm | 134Nm | 320Nm | 370Nm/400Nm |
| Gearbox | 6MT/6AT | 5MT/4AT | 5MT | 6MT/6AT |
The Roxx’s 4WD variants only come with the 2.2-litre diesel engine option whose power figure differs based on whether its paired with the 6-speed manual or the 6-speed torque convertor automatic. This same diesel engine is shared with the Scorpio N, which has it in the higher state of tune, making it the most powerful of the lot here. The Jimny’s naturally aspirated petrol engine has the lowest outputs but has manual and automatic gearbox options, while the Gurkha’s diesel unit has the largest displacement, but sits on the median in terms of output and only comes with a manual gearbox.
Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: Off-road specs
| Mahindra Thar Roxx vs rivals: off-road stats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Thar Roxx | Gurkha 5-door | Jimny | Scorpio N |
| Approach angle | 41.7 degree | 39 degrees | 36 degrees | NA |
| Departure angle | 36.1 degree | 37 degrees | 46 degrees | NA |
| Ramp over angle | 23.9 degree | 28 degrees | 24 degrees | NA |
| Ground clearance | NA | 233mm | 210mm | 187mm |
| Water wading | 650mm | 700 mm | 310mm | 500mm |
While the Thar Roxx boasts of the best best approach angle, the Jimny’s departure angle is the highest here. The Gurkha 5-door has the highest water wading capability and ground clearance; while Mahindra hasn’t revealed the 5-door Thar Roxx’s ground clearance, the 3-door version’s 226mm could be used as a reference point. In addition, Mahindra has not stated the Scorpio N’s off-road specs, however, it its unlikely to be better than the other off-roaders here.
Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: 4WD features
| Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: 4WD features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thar Roxx | Jimny | Gurkha 5-door | Scorpio N | |
| 4L (Low range gear) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4H (High range gear) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2H (RWD) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front diff lock | No | No | Manual | No |
| Rear diff lock | Electronic | No | Manual | No |
| Brake limited slip diff | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Terrain modes | Snow, Sand, Mud | No | No | Snow, Sand, Mud |
Coming to the off-road specific features, the Gurkha, Roxx and Scorpio N get a high and low transfer case while the Jimny makes do with just a low range. Both the Mahindras also get terrain modes for specific off-roading scenarios, though it’s the Roxx that is the only one here to get a rear electronic differential. The Gurkha is the only one here to get front and rear manual locking differentials, which bodes well for its ability to get through some serious rough stuff.
Mahindra Thar Roxx vs Scorpio N: Price
| Mahindra Thar Roxx 4×4 vs rivals: price (ex-showroom) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thar Roxx | Jimny | Gurkha 5-door | Scorpio N | |
| MT (Rs, lakh) | 18.79-20.99 | 12.74-13.69 | 18.00 | 21.37-22.98 |
| AT (Rs, lakh) | 20.99-22.49 | 13.84-14.79 | – | 23.09-24.54 |
Whether you opt for the manual or the automatic, the Maruti Jimny is the most affordable 5-door off-roader here. On paper, it seems to be just shy of its rivals’ capability, but considering it’s priced much moe attractively, the Maruti makes a compelling case for itself. The Gurkha 5-door is only Rs 79,000 more affordable than the entry-level Thar Roxx, and while the Force SUV seems to be more capable on paper, it does lack certain feel-good 4WD features like terrain modes and an e-diff.
The two Mahindras are definitely the more expensive models here, with the 7-seat Scorpio N topping out at Rs 24.54 lakh. These two are more feature-rich than their rivals, and even between the two, the Roxx outdoes the Scorpio N to a degree. Considering its shape, wheelbase and overhangs, it’s highly likely that the Roxx will also be a more capable off-roader than the Scorpio N.
Also see:
Mahindra Thar Roxx booking amount set at Rs 21,000
Mahindra Thar Roxx: why there’s no 1.5-litre diesel at launch
