Is the Mahindra Thar or the Skoda Kushaq cheaper?

The Mahindra Thar, by ₹37,000: it starts at ₹10.32L against ₹10.69L ex-showroom Delhi for the Kushaq. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.

Which is more practical, the Mahindra Thar or the Skoda Kushaq?

On the figures the makers publish, the Kushaq seats 5 against the Thar's 4 and the Kushaq swallows 385 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 Skoda Kushaq?

The Kushaq: its cheapest automatic is ₹12.89L 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.

Mahindra Thar vs Skoda Kushaq: which should you buy?

The full picture

The Mahindra Thar starts at ₹10.32L against the Skoda Kushaq's ₹10.69L ex-showroom Delhi, so it is ₹37,000 cheaper to get into.

They run together up to ₹18.00L, where the Thar tops out. Past that only the Kushaq has anything left to sell you, up to ₹18.99L.

Only one of them takes the whole party: the Kushaq seats 5, the Thar 4.

Fuel is a real difference here: the Thar comes in diesel and petrol, the Kushaq in petrol.

Same money, which car?

Take ₹18.00L to both showrooms and you come out with the Thar LXT at ₹18.00L or the Kushaq Monte Carlo at ₹17.89L.

Mahindra Thar

LXT Diesel AT

₹18.00L ex-showroom Delhi

Skoda Kushaq

Monte Carlo Turbo Petrol 115 PS AT

₹17.89L ex-showroom Delhi₹11,000 of the budget left over

Our take

Our pickSkoda Kushaq Monte Carlo

Keeps ₹11,000, and gives up only hill descent control and touchscreen (10.25" against 10.1")

Buy the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo and keep the ₹11,000: the Thar LXT only adds small touches like hill descent control, touchscreen (10.25" against 10.1") and wheel size (18" against 16"). Nothing there changes the car.

Choose the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo if: You would rather keep the ₹11,000 than pay for kit you will not missOnly one here with6 airbagsLED projector headlampspanoramic sunroof
Choose the Mahindra Thar LXT if: Safety kit matters more to you than keeping the moneyOnly one here withhill descent control10.25" touchscreen

Put these two side by side, spec for spec →

Thar vs Kushaq, on paper

Spec	Mahindra Thar	Skoda Kushaq
Price (ex-showroom Delhi)	₹10.32L to ₹18.00L	₹10.69L to ₹18.99L
Variants	7	11
Body type	Off-road SUV	Midsize SUV
Seats	4	5
Fuels	Diesel, Petrol	Petrol
Cheapest automatic	₹14.76L	₹12.89L
Boot	257 litres	385 litres
Length	3,985 mm	4,229 mm
Width	1,820 mm	1,760 mm
Wheelbase	2,450 mm	2,651 mm
Ground clearance	226 mm	188 mm
Fuel tank	-	50 litres
Warranty	-	4 years or 1,00,000 km

The working behind our take

Our pickSkoda Kushaq Monte Carlo

Keeps ₹11,000, and gives up only hill descent control and touchscreen (10.25" against 10.1"). Here is everything that fed that call.

SeatsOnly the Skoda Kushaq seats 5, worth knowing if you need the space
Boot spaceThe Kushaq swallows the most luggage at 385 litres
Extra kitThar LXThill descent controltouchscreen (10.25" against 10.1")
Trade-offThar LXTairbags (6 against 2)headlamps (LED projector against Halogen)panoramic sunroof

The full story

Only the Skoda Kushaq seats 5, worth knowing if you need the space
The Kushaq swallows the most luggage at 385 litres
Also on the Thar LXT: hill descent control and touchscreen (10.25" against 10.1"), and some minor trim beyond that
Going to the Thar LXT, you give up airbags (6 against 2), headlamps (LED projector against Halogen) and panoramic sunroof, which the Kushaq Monte Carlo keeps

Whichever you pick, the variant is where the money goes

Every Thar variant →Every Kushaq variant →

Thar vs Kushaq: the questions people ask

Is the Mahindra Thar or the Skoda Kushaq cheaper?: The Mahindra Thar, by ₹37,000: it starts at ₹10.32L against ₹10.69L ex-showroom Delhi for the Kushaq. Both run well past that, so what you actually pay depends on the variant.
Mahindra Thar vs Skoda Kushaq: which gives you more for the same money?: At ₹18.00L it is the Thar LXT against the Kushaq Monte Carlo. Buy the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo and keep the ₹11,000: the Thar LXT only adds small touches like hill descent control, touchscreen (10.25" against 10.1") and wheel size (18" against 16"). Nothing there changes the car.
Which is more practical, the Mahindra Thar or the Skoda Kushaq?: On the figures the makers publish, the Kushaq seats 5 against the Thar's 4 and the Kushaq swallows 385 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 Skoda Kushaq?: The Kushaq: its cheapest automatic is ₹12.89L 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.

Still torn? Answer a few questions and we will pick →All Thar variants All Kushaq variants

Prices are ex-showroom Delhi and change without notice. Specifications are compiled from public sources; always confirm with a dealer before buying.