Mahindra Thar vs Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: which should you buy?
The Mahindra Thar starts at ₹10.32L against the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara's ₹10.77L ex-showroom Delhi, so it is ₹0.45L cheaper to get into.
They run together up to ₹18.00L, where the Thar tops out. Past that only the Grand Vitara has anything left to sell you, up to ₹19.50L.
Only one of them takes the whole party: the Grand Vitara seats 5, the Thar 4.
Fuel is a real difference here: the Thar comes in diesel and petrol, the Grand Vitara in petrol, CNG and hybrid.
Same money, which car?
Take ₹18.00L to both showrooms and you come out with the Thar LXT at ₹18.00L or the Grand Vitara Alpha at ₹18.00L.
Our take
Same money either way, so take the Grand Vitara Alpha: airbags (6 against 2), 360° camera and panoramic sunroof. The useful extras on top: wireless CarPlay / Android Auto and connected car tech. The rest of the additions are minor trim.
- Only the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara seats 5, worth knowing if you need the space
- The Grand Vitara swallows the most luggage at 375 litres
- The Thar LXT is the strongest of the two at 132 PS
- Also on the Grand Vitara Alpha: ventilated front seats, head-up display, headlamps (LED projector against Halogen) and driver display (7" digital against Semi-digital), and some minor trim beyond that
- Choose the Mahindra Thar LXT if
- Your budget is firm and the basics are enough for you
- Choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha if
- You will do long stints in this car and want the daily comforts
Thar vs Grand Vitara, on paper
| Mahindra Thar | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom Delhi) | ₹10.32L to ₹18.00L | ₹10.77L to ₹19.50L |
| Variants | 7 | 13 |
| Body type | Off-road SUV | Midsize SUV |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Fuels | Diesel, Petrol | Petrol, CNG, Hybrid |
| Cheapest automatic | ₹14.76L | ₹13.45L |
| Boot | 257 litres | 375 litres |
| Length | 3,985 mm | 4,345 mm |
| Width | 1,820 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,450 mm | 2,600 mm |
| Ground clearance | 226 mm | 210 mm |
| Fuel tank | - | 45 litres |
| Warranty | - | 3 years or 1,00,000 km |
Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes
Thar vs Grand Vitara: the questions people ask
- Is the Mahindra Thar or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara cheaper?
- The Mahindra Thar, by ₹0.45L: it starts at ₹10.32L against ₹10.77L ex-showroom Delhi for the Grand Vitara. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.
- Mahindra Thar vs Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: which gives you more for the same money?
- At ₹18.00L it is the Thar LXT against the Grand Vitara Alpha. Same money either way, so take the Grand Vitara Alpha: airbags (6 against 2), 360° camera and panoramic sunroof. The useful extras on top: wireless CarPlay / Android Auto and connected car tech. The rest of the additions are minor trim.
- Which is more practical, the Mahindra Thar or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara?
- On the figures the makers publish, the Grand Vitara seats 5 against the Thar's 4 and the Grand Vitara swallows 375 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 Mahindra Thar or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara?
- The Grand Vitara: its cheapest automatic is ₹13.45L 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.