Let's compare Honda Elevate Elevate SV MT vs Mahindra Thar Thar AXT RWD Diesel

Compare Honda Elevate Elevate SV MT vs Mahindra Thar Thar AXT RWD Diesel price, specifications, mileage, features and performance to find the best car for you.

Honda Elevate

Mahindra Thar

Here is a detailed comparison of price:

Honda Elevate Elevate SV MT

Price

₹ 12.48 Lakh

On-Road Price New Delhi

EMI

₹ 23,051/month
10% down payment, 8.5% for 5 Years
Change

Mahindra Thar Thar AXT RWD Diesel

Price

₹ 11.38 Lakh

On-Road Price New Delhi

EMI

₹ 21,010/month
10% down payment, 8.5% for 5 Years
Change

From the above comparison, we can conclude that Mahindra Thar feels light on the pocket compared to Honda Elevate by ₹1,10,526.

Dimensions & Seating

Body Type

Suv

Length

4312 mm +327

3985 mm

Width

1790 mm

1820 mm +30

Height

1650 mm

1850 mm +200

WheelBase

2650 mm +200

2450 mm

Ground Clearance

220 mm

226 mm +6

Seating Capacity

5 +1

Fuel Tank Capacity

40 Liters

57 Liters +17

Boot Space

458 Liters

-- Liters

Engine & Transmission

Fuel Type

Petrol

Diesel

Mileage (KMPL)

15.31

15.2 Km/l

Range

612 Kms

866 Kms

Engine Type

1.5 i-VTEC with VTC

D117 CRDe

Powertrain Assistance

Emission Standards

Bs Vi

No. of Cylinders

Displacement

1498 cc

1497 cc

Max Power

119 bhp @ 6600 rpm

117 bhp @ 3500 rpm

Max Torque

145 Nm @ 4300 rpm

300 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm

Transmission Type

Gear Box

6-Speed M

6-MT

Drive Type

FWD

RWD

Top Speed

160

155

Steering and Suspension

Tilt Adjust

Yes

Telescopic Adjust

Yes

Turning Radius

5.2 +0.3

5.5

Front Suspension

McPherson Strut with Coil Spring

Independent Double Wishbone

Rear Suspension

Torsion beam with Coil Spring

Multilink solid Rear Axle

Front Brakes

Ventilated Disc

Disc

Rear Brakes

Drum

Safety & Security

Airbags

6 +4

Seatbelt Warning

Yes

Over Speeding Warning

Yes

Anti-lock Braking System

Yes

ESP

Yes

Brake Assist

Yes

Tyre Pressure Monitor System

Reverse Camera

360 Camera

Hill Assist

Yes

Hill Descent Control

Yes

Child Lock

Yes

Isofix Child Seat Mount

Yes

Engine Immobilizer

ADAS

Comfort & Convenience

Power Windows

Front And Rear

Only Front

ORVM Adjustment

Electric

Manual

Request Sensors

Yes

Push Button Start

Yes

Cruise Control

Keyless Entry

Yes

Steering Mounted Control

Yes

Climate Control

Automatic

Rear AC Vents

Yes

Adjustable Steering Column

Yes

Interior Features

Upholstery

Fabric

Adjustable Front Seats

Yes

Height Adjustable Driver Seat

Yes

Rear Armrest

Yes

Rear Cup Holders

Front Cup Holders

Yes

Cooled Glovebox

Exterior Features

Sunroof

Not Compatible

Wheels

Steel Rims

Fog Lights

Tyre Size

215 / 60 R16

245 / 75 R16

Daytime Running Lights

LED

Headlight Type

Projector Led

Halogen

Tailgate

Electric

Manual

Roof Rails

Rear Wiper

Infotainment & Telematics

Touch Screen

Screen Size

USB Port

Yes

Navigation System

Speakers

Remote App Control

Wireless Charging

Smartphone Connectivity

Telematics

Analogue-Digital

Connectivity & Internet

USB Port

Yes

Navigation

Smartphone Connectivity

Honda Elevate Vs Mahindra Thar Colors

Platinum White Pearl

STEALTH BLACK

Platinum White Pearl

STEALTH BLACK

Honda Elevate Vs Mahindra Thar Expert Opinions

Design and Aesthetics

Features and Specifications

After Sales Support

Brand Value

Resale Value

Likes

Space and COmfort
Japanese Reliablity
Fun to Drive
Safety Package

Dislikes

Noisy Engine
No Panoramic Sunroof

Design and Aesthetics

Features and Specifications

After Sales Support

Brand Value

Resale Value

Likes

Off-road Capability
Has Fanbase
Strong Resale Among Off-roaders

Dislikes

Impractical Rear Seats
Stiff on Tarmac

Honda Elevate Vs Mahindra Thar FAQs

The Honda Elevate is priced between ₹11.91 lakh and ₹16.73 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It was launched in September 2025 and sits as Honda’s contender in the mid-size SUV segment, taking on Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Toyota Hyryder.

Honda Elevate is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with a displacement of 1498 cc. This tried-and-tested motor is the same as in the Honda City, tuned for smooth power delivery and reliability. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and CVT automatic, both front-wheel drive.

Honda Elevate delivers a certified mileage of 15.31 kmpl. With petrol priced at about ₹102 per litre, the running cost comes to around ₹6.65 per km. With its 40-litre fuel tank, Honda Elevate can cover about 640 km on a full tank, which means you can drive from Delhi to Lucknow without hunting for a fuel pump mid-way.

Honda Elevate measures 4.312 m in length (14.14 ft), 1.790 m in width (5.87 ft), and 1.650 m in height (5.41 ft). Its proportions are city-friendly yet SUV-like, so you won’t curse yourself while squeezing into mall parking. Ground clearance is healthy enough to handle Indian speed breakers without scraping the underbelly.

Honda Elevate offers 458 litres of boot space, which can easily swallow 3 large suitcases and 2 cabin bags. For a family road trip, that’s luggage for 4–5 adults without playing luggage-Tetris.

Honda Elevate is a 5-seater SUV. The rear seat offers ample knee room and headroom, making it comfortable for three average-sized adults. It’s more of a family SUV than a chauffeur-driven one.

Honda Elevate shares the same 1.5L petrol engine as the City but is tuned for SUV duty. It’s taller, has more ground clearance, and offers SUV practicality with a high driving position and big boot. The City, on the other hand, is better for highway cruising with its sedan stance.

The 3-door Mahindra Thar was launched in October 2020, and it remains in production. It has become one of the most iconic off-road SUVs in India, combining retro style with modern tech.

The Thar is built on a ladder-frame / body-on-frame chassis, not a monocoque. That means a separate rigid frame under the vehicle supports the body. This style gives it strength and toughness — excellent for off-road use, rugged terrain, uneven surfaces. The flip side? It tends to have more body roll, slightly less smooth ride at highway speeds compared to crossover SUVs, and more weight. But if your road includes broken stretches, streams, mud, or even adventure trails, ladder frame is gold.

Thar has many things working in its favor. First, its looks: round headlamps, seven-slot grille, boxy rugged shape — retro but cool. Second, it taps into nostalgia: Mahindra’s lineage of Jeeps (CJ, MM540) is legendary. Third, it offers real off-road capability in a licensed SUV package (4×4, high ground clearance, robust chassis) at prices many can reach. Fourth, media, film and owner stories have made the Thar more than a car, it’s identity, rebel car, adventure car. It’s that vehicle people imagine driving through desert dunes, forest trails, or Chennai monsoon roads and living to tell about it.

The first generation Thar (launched around 2010) grew out of Mahindra’s legacy of producing rugged “jeep-like” vehicles (e.g. MM540). The old Thar had simpler features: basic interiors, fewer comfort features, analogue dials, basic doors or soft tops. The current 2020 Thar upgrades a lot: modern suspension (independent front double wishbone, multi-link rear with coil springs instead of older leaf/composite springs), better ride comfort, features like touchscreen infotainment, LED lighting, safety equipment, more variants (petrol/diesel, manual/auto), removable tops (hard top, soft top, convertible style). So the Thar evolved from rugged utilitarian off-roader to “rugged + somewhat civilized” adventure SUV.

MM540 was one of the ancestors of Thar. Mahindra produced the MM540 from around 1985 to 2005 (varied by model), which itself was an evolution of Mahindra’s Jeep licence lineage (CJ, etc.). MM540 was very basic, almost military/off-road focused: leaf springs, minimal creature comforts, rugged and simple. Thar inherits that DNA: it’s part nostalgia, part engineering. But modern Thar is far more than just MM540 with a stereo.

Yes, design conflict has been a thing. Jeep’s parent companies (Stellantis / FCA) have alleged that Mahindra’s Thar too closely resembles the Jeep Wrangler or Jeep’s design trademarks — things like the front grille, bumper style, small design cues. In some markets (Australia among them), Jeep has taken Mahindra to court arguing that Mahindra is infringing intellectual property rights. Mahindra has responded sometimes by saying no immediate plan to launch in those markets, or has removed teaser images, etc. So there is legal tension. Thar is iconic, but because certain design cues are globally recognized, copying or resembling too closely invites trouble.

Because of its look, its roar, and how it is often used. Thar has appeared in films, in crime-stories, in rural strongman legends, in city stories as “that SUV that can drive anywhere”. Some people believe owning a Thar projects power: seeing it drive up means attrition of smaller cars, road space, etc. In some regions, Thar owners have been associated with overconfidence, performing reckless driving. Media reports of accidents or misbehaviour sometimes focus on Thar drivers. So it has “notorious” status in popular culture — partly romantic, partly real, partly exaggerated.

Should buy if you value off-road capability, want a car that can take mud, water, and rough terrain, like adventure weekends, beach drives, or need to go to remote areas. If you want strong road presence and don’t mind compromises on comfort, fuel cost, space. Also good for enthusiasts, younger people who want a fun weekend ride more than a plush city drive. Avoid if your drive is mostly smooth city roads, frequent traffic jams, parking tight, you want high fuel efficiency, or comfort as priority over ruggedness. If your back complains easily, Thar’s ride can be firm.

Thar got 4 stars for adult and child occupant protection in the 2020 Global NCAP test, when tested in basic spec with two airbags. The updated Thar Roxx version has gone further, earning 5 stars in both adult and child safety in Bharat NCAP. This shows Mahindra has worked to improve safety with stronger structure and more safety tech.

Because Thar is tall, high clearance, and body-on-frame, it has a higher centre of gravity than many other SUVs. That increases risk in sharp turns or fast evasive manoeuvres. However, standard driving, responsible speeds, avoiding overloading, and features like ESC reduce that risk significantly. Official crash tests noted “unstable dynamic behaviour” in some scenarios, so driver caution is required. There is no large public record (in tests) of design being proven unsafe in normal conditions.

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