Mahindra Thar Roxx: Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2025
Mahindra Thar Roxx clinched the coveted ICOTY 2025 title with 139 points, followed by the runner-up Maruti Suzuki Dzire securing 137 points from the jury.
The prestigious Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) awards announced every year evoke a feeling of pride and recognition for carmakers and auto enthusiasts. This year, a jury consisting of 20 renowned journalists from leading automotive publications adjudged a slew of newly launched cars for the coveted title. As is the tradition, eight cars were culled out from the nominees for the final decision.
The final nominees for the ICOTY 2025 were as follows:
- BYD eMax7
- Citroen Basalt
- Mahindra Thar Roxx
- Maruti Suzuki Swift
- Maruti Suzuki Dzire
- MG Windsor
- Tata Curvv and Curvv EV
- Tata Punch EV
The jury conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the finalists on various parameters including design, performance, efficiency and safety, value packaging, and so on. At the end, Mahindra’s ‘Thar Roxx’ topped the list with 139 points, followed by Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Swift hatchback.
Crowning moment
One of the most aspirational and long awaited Mahindra SUV ever, the Thar Roxx became an instant hit soon after its market launch last year. The idea of a 7-seat LWB (long wheel base) Thar got new vigor right after the debut of the new-generation Thar. Expectedly, the Thar Roxx blended the iconic ruggedness of the sub-brand with modern styling and amenities.
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The ICOTY 2025 award rightly recognizes the car’s perfect embodiment of innovation, design, safety, and overall excellence. The award aptly reflects the SUV’s overwhelming praise from both automotive journos and discerning enthusiasts. The car’s strong sales figures and positive customer reviews further solidify its position as a deserving recipient of the ICOTY 2025 award.
The Mahindra Thar Roxx offers a choice of powerful engines – a 2.2-litre diesel and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol – in both 4×2 and 4×4 avatar. Both the engines are paired with 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, delivering strong performance both on and off-road. The off-roader has also secured 5-star safety ratings from Bharat NCAP.
In addition, the SUV gets a ‘modern’ charm with its advanced and sophisticated equipment. For instance, Level 2 ADAS technologies including warnings for lane departure and forward collision and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) are offered. Chic features such as 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, digital instrumentation, and single-pane sunroof are also in the list.
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Most importantly, the SUV’s ingenuity lies in its cunning packaging and positioning of variants. The Thar Roxx is offered in numerous variants, with value packaging of features and tech options to suit a wide range of buyers. Interestingly, the price difference between the top-of-the-line AX7 L Diesel AT (Mocha Intrs) and the base variant (MX1 petrol MT) is over ₹10 lakhs!
