Let's compare Mahindra Thar AXT RWD Diesel vs Hyundai Creta E

Compare Mahindra Thar AXT RWD Diesel vs Hyundai Creta E price, specifications, mileage, features and performance to find the best car for you.

Mahindra Thar AXT RWD Diesel
Mahindra Thar
Hyundai Creta E
Hyundai Creta
Car comparison placeholder
Car comparison placeholder
Here is a detailed comparison of price:

Mahindra Thar AXT RWD Diesel

Price

₹ 11.26 Lakh

On-Road Price New Delhi

EMI

₹ 20,594/month

Hyundai Creta E

Price

₹ 12.24 Lakh

On-Road Price New Delhi

EMI

₹ 22,397/month

From the above comparison, we can conclude that Mahindra Thar feels light on the pocket compared to Hyundai Creta by ₹98,540.

Dimensions & Seating

Body Type

Suv

Suv

Length

3985 mm

4330 mm +345

Width

1820 mm +30

1790 mm

Height

1850 mm +215

1635 mm

WheelBase

2450 mm

2610 mm +160

Ground Clearance

226 mm +36

190 mm

Seating Capacity

4

5 +1

Fuel Tank Capacity

57 Liters +7

50 Liters

Boot Space

-- Liters

433 Liters

Engine & Transmission

Fuel Type

Diesel

Petrol

Mileage (KMPL)

15.2 Km/l

17.4 +2.2

Range

866 Kms +16

850 Kms

Engine Type

D117 Crde

1.5l Mpi

Powertrain Assistance

No

No

Emission Standards

Bs Vi

Bs Vi

No. of Cylinders

4

4

Displacement

1497 cc

1497 cc

Max Power

117 bhp @ 3500 rpm +4

113 bhp @ 6300 rpm

Max Torque

300 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm +156.2

143.8 Nm @ 4500 rpm

Transmission Type

MT

MT

Gear Box

6-MT

6-Manual

Drive Type

RWD

FWD

Top Speed

155

195 +40

Steering and Suspension

Tilt Adjust

Yes

Yes

Telescopic Adjust

--

Yes

Turning Radius

5.5 +0.2

5.3

Front Suspension

Independent Double Wishbone

McPherson strut with coil spring

Rear Suspension

Multilink solid Rear Axle

Coupled torsion beam axle

Front Brakes

Disc

Disc

Rear Brakes

Drum

Disc

Safety & Security

Airbags

2

6 +4

Seatbelt Warning

Yes

Yes

Over Speeding Warning

Yes

Yes

Anti-lock Braking System

Yes

Yes

ESP

Yes

Yes

Brake Assist

Yes

--

Tyre Pressure Monitor System

No

Yes

Reverse Camera

No

No

360 Camera

No

No

Hill Assist

Yes

Yes

Hill Descent Control

Yes

No

Child Lock

Yes

Yes

Isofix Child Seat Mount

Yes

Yes

Engine Immobilizer

--

Yes

ADAS

No

No

Comfort & Convenience

Power Windows

Only Front

Front And Rear

ORVM Adjustment

Manual

Manual

Request Sensors

--

--

Push Button Start

No

No

Cruise Control

No

No

Keyless Entry

--

--

Steering Mounted Control

--

--

Climate Control

--

--

Rear AC Vents

No

Yes

Adjustable Steering Column

Yes

Yes

Interior Features

Upholstery

Fabric

Fabric

Adjustable Front Seats

Yes

Yes

Height Adjustable Driver Seat

Yes

--

Rear Armrest

Yes

Yes

Rear Cup Holders

--

Yes

Front Cup Holders

Yes

Yes

Cooled Glovebox

No

No

Exterior Features

Sunroof

Not Compatible

No

Wheels

Steel Rims

Steel Rims

Fog Lights

No

No

Tyre Size

245 / 75 R16

205 / 65 R16

Daytime Running Lights

--

LED

Headlight Type

Halogen

Projector

Tailgate

Manual

Manual

Roof Rails

No

No

Rear Wiper

No

No

Infotainment & Telematics

Touch Screen

--

Yes

Screen Size

--

--

USB Port

Yes

Yes

Navigation System

No

No

Speakers

--

--

Remote App Control

No

No

Wireless Charging

No

No

Smartphone Connectivity

No

No

Telematics

Analogue-Digital

Digital

Connectivity & Internet

USB Port

Yes

Yes

Navigation

No

No

Smartphone Connectivity

No

No

Mahindra Thar Vs Hyundai Creta Colors
Mahindra Thar STEALTH BLACK

STEALTH BLACK

Hyundai Creta Abyss Black

Abyss Black

Mahindra Thar STEALTH BLACK

STEALTH BLACK

Hyundai Creta Abyss Black

Abyss Black

Mahindra Thar Vs Hyundai Creta Expert Opinions
Design and Aesthetics
Features and Specifications
After Sales Support
Brand Value
Resale Value
Likes
Dislikes
Design and Aesthetics
Features and Specifications
After Sales Support
Brand Value
Resale Value
Likes
Dislikes
Mahindra Thar Vs Hyundai Creta FAQs

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.

The Hyundai Creta is priced between ₹11.11 lakh and ₹20.92 lakh (ex-showroom) depending on variant, fuel type (petrol/diesel), and automatic vs manual gearbox.

Hyundai Creta measures 4.330 m in length, 1.790 m in width, 1.635 m in height (≈ 14.20 ft x 5.87 ft x 5.36 ft). The wheelbase is 2,610 mm, which helps with legroom for back-seaters. Ground clearance is 190 mm (nice if you hate scraping speed breakers).

The Creta offers multiple engines: petrol (1.5-litre NA), a 1.4-litre turbo petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel, depending on variant. Mileage ranges from ≈ 17.4 kmpl to ~21.8 kmpl depending on fuel & transmission.

If you want an SUV that’s stylish, well-loaded, confident on the road (yes, Lord Creta memes are a thing), and gives you good ground clearance, big boot, and highway comfort, Creta is for you. It’s great for small families, professionals who travel, or people who want the image without going full luxury-SUV. If you’re someone who only needs a hatchback for very tight city parking, or wants lowest possible running cost, Creta might feel like “overkill” (and yes, some of the “chhapri” memes come from seeing people park huge SUVs where a small hatchback would do). But for many buyers, that size + road presence + features justify it.

Because Creta has become a status symbol. It’s seen everywhere, sometimes over-parked, sometimes used for flashy selfies. “Lord Creta” jokes come from people treating the SUV like royalty on roads, or behaving like “I own this road because I drive Creta.” It’s humor but also signals what some people value: image + presence. If that matters to you, Creta gives you that.