Honda Elevate vs Mahindra Thar: which should you buy?
The Mahindra Thar starts at ₹10.32L against the Honda Elevate's ₹11.81L ex-showroom Delhi, so it is ₹1.49L cheaper to get into.
They run together up to ₹16.36L, where the Elevate tops out. Past that only the Thar has anything left to sell you, up to ₹18.00L.
Only one of them takes the whole party: the Elevate seats 5, the Thar 4.
Fuel is a real difference here: the Elevate comes in petrol, the Thar in diesel and petrol.
Same money, which car?
Take ₹16.36L to both showrooms and you come out with the Elevate ZX at ₹16.36L or the Thar LXT at ₹15.59L, the Thar leaving ₹0.77L of that in your pocket.
Our take
The real reason to pay ₹0.77L more for the Elevate ZX: the Elevate ZX shifts itself while the other is a manual. It also adds airbags (6 against 2) and level 2 (core suite) ADAS. The rest of the additions are minor trim. At that price, we would stretch.
- Only the Honda Elevate seats 5, worth knowing if you need the space
- The Elevate swallows the most luggage at 458 litres
- The Thar LXT is the strongest of the two at 152 PS
- Also on the Elevate ZX: blind spot monitor, single-pane sunroof, wireless CarPlay / Android Auto and connected car tech, and some minor trim beyond that
- Choose the Mahindra Thar LXT if
- You would rather keep the ₹0.77L than pay for kit you will not miss
- Choose the Honda Elevate ZX if
- You will do long stints in this car and want the daily comforts
Elevate vs Thar, on paper
| Honda Elevate | Mahindra Thar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom Delhi) | ₹11.81L to ₹16.36L | ₹10.32L to ₹18.00L |
| Variants | 7 | 7 |
| Body type | Midsize SUV | Off-road SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Fuels | Petrol | Diesel, Petrol |
| Cheapest automatic | ₹13.43L | ₹14.76L |
| Boot | 458 litres | 257 litres |
| Length | 4,312 mm | 3,985 mm |
| Width | 1,790 mm | 1,820 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,650 mm | 2,450 mm |
| Ground clearance | 220 mm | 226 mm |
| Fuel tank | 40 litres | - |
| Turning radius | 5.2 m | - |
| Warranty | 3 years | - |
Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes
Elevate vs Thar: the questions people ask
- Is the Honda Elevate or the Mahindra Thar cheaper?
- The Mahindra Thar, by ₹1.49L: it starts at ₹10.32L against ₹11.81L ex-showroom Delhi for the Elevate. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.
- Honda Elevate vs Mahindra Thar: which gives you more for the same money?
- At ₹16.36L it is the Elevate ZX against the Thar LXT. The real reason to pay ₹0.77L more for the Elevate ZX: the Elevate ZX shifts itself while the other is a manual. It also adds airbags (6 against 2) and level 2 (core suite) ADAS. The rest of the additions are minor trim. At that price, we would stretch.
- Which is more practical, the Honda Elevate or the Mahindra Thar?
- On the figures the makers publish, the Elevate seats 5 against the Thar's 4 and the Elevate swallows 458 litres of luggage against 257. Everything else about living with them, from boot shape to how the back seat actually feels, is a test drive question rather than a spec sheet one.
- Which is cheaper as an automatic, the Honda Elevate or the Mahindra Thar?
- The Elevate: its cheapest automatic is ₹13.43L against ₹14.76L for the Thar, ex-showroom Delhi. A gearbox is usually the biggest single step on either ladder, so check what else that trim brings before you read it as the price of the automatic alone.
Prices are ex-showroom Delhi and change without notice. Specifications are compiled from public sources; always confirm with a dealer before buying.