The Mahindra Thar Roxx won the Indian Car of the Year 2025. It's unique with its rear-wheel drive. Despite this, it competes in the price range of the Grand Vitara and Creta. This mix of ruggedness and urban style makes it stand out.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire came close to winning the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2025, losing to the Mahindra Thar Roxx by just 2 points. While the Dzire is renowned for its fuel efficiency, affordability, and reliability, it may have fallen short in areas such as advanced features, off-road capability, and overall versatility compared to the Thar Roxx.

Thar Roxx myth busted: It was never Jimny's rival

The Mahindra Thar Roxx stands out with its unique design that balances rugged off-road aesthetics with modern urban appeal. When it was introduced, many assumed it was Mahindra’s response to the Suzuki Jimny 5-door, riding on the hype of compact off-roaders. However, that’s not the case.

Jimny is pure off-road, no distractions. It has the vibe of a true adventurer, rugged from the outside and straightforward on the inside. It's lightweight, agile, and built for conquering trails without worrying about luxuries. It’s more like a dedicated tool for off-road lovers—raw, simple, and effective.

The Thar Roxx, on the other hand, is an experience. It doesn’t just look tough from the outside—it surprises you with luxury vibes inside. The cabin is modern and refined, with features that make it feel more premium than you’d expect in a rugged SUV. It’s like stepping into comfort while the wild remains just outside the window.

The Jimny is a true 4x4. It’s light, quick, and grips the ground like a mountain goat. Its small size, under 4 meters, makes it perfect for tight trails and rocky paths. It’s made for people who love simple off-roading and don’t need a lot of space.

The Thar Roxx, however, is a completely different machine. You could call it the desert’s camel. It’s bigger, stronger, and built for open spaces. While it can handle tough terrains, it also offers more comfort and practicality for daily use.

How Indian Car of Year (ICOTY) is chosen

The Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) award is a prestigious accolade in India's automotive industry, recognizing the best new car launched in the country each year. To qualify, a vehicle must be a new model (excluding facelifts), manufactured or assembled in India, and available for sale before November 30 of the previous year. It should also be approved for the Indian market by the official authority; however, Completely Built Units (CBUs) are not considered for the award.

The evaluation process involves a jury of esteemed automotive journalists from various publications. Each jury member allocates a total of 25 points across at least five contenders, with no single car receiving more than 10 points from any member. This system ensures a balanced and fair assessment of each vehicle.

The cars are assessed on several key parameters:

Design: The vehicle's aesthetic appeal, including exterior styling and interior layout.

Safety: Features and ratings that ensure the protection of occupants.

Performance: Engine capabilities, handling, and driving dynamics.

Fuel Efficiency: The car's economy in terms of fuel consumption.

Technological Innovation: Incorporation of advanced technologies and features.

Value for Money: The overall package offered relative to the price.

Affordability and Availability: Consideration of the vehicle's price point and its availability in the market.

What makes Thar Roxx a justified winner: Expert oinion

The Thar Roxx’s victory in the Indian Car of the Year 2025 award is justified for several compelling reasons. The auto experts at Carwyapar believe that while mileage might be a concern, especially when compared to the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, it offers much more in terms of the overall package. The Thar Roxx stands out because it is one of the few proper off-road vehicles with a ladder-on-frame chassis and a 5-seater configuration. It delivers the classic off-road vibe, which is something even bigger players like the Scorpio or XUV700 can’t match. These vehicles may offer performance and features, but they lack the pure off-road soul that the Thar Roxx embodies.

Externally, it competes with true off-roaders, but inside, it goes head-to-head with FWD SUVs like the Seltos and Creta, which are packed with features. This dual approach makes it a unique competitor. The Thar Roxx bridges the gap between performance and luxury, and yet, it's priced within the range of more urban-oriented SUVs like the Creta and Seltos. This balance of off-road capability and affordability makes it a solid offering in the market.

The Thar Roxx, while priced similarly to FWD SUVs, offers far more in terms of performance, body type, and off-road capability. It's a proper full-size RWD or 4WD off-roader, which makes its mileage quite reasonable when compared to other similar vehicles. Sure, a hybrid powertrain could improve the mileage further in the future.