Mahindra Thar vs Volkswagen Virtus

Last Updated: August 28, 2026

Mahindra Thar price starts at Rs. 9.99 Lakh, which is Rs. 9.21 Lakh cheaper than the base variant of Volkswagen Virtus, priced at Rs. 19.20 Lakh. In terms of mileage, the Thar offers a claimed 11 kmpl, while the Virtus delivers 19.62 kmpl. On the performance front, the Thar uses a 1497cc engine producing 116.93bhp@3500rpm and the Virtus a 1498cc engine producing 147.51bhp@5000-6000rpm. If you're deciding between the Thar and Virtus, the Virtus is the better pick for mileage and performance, while the Thar stands out for affordability.

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Thar vs Virtus Comparison Summary

Specification Mahindra TharVolkswagen Virtus
Ex-showroom price (base) Rs. 9.99 LakhRs. 19.20 Lakh
Mileage 11 kmpl19.62 kmpl
Engine 1497 cc1498 cc
Max power 116.93bhp@3500rpm147.51bhp@5000-6000rpm

Thar vs Virtus Key Highlights

Basic Info Mahindra Thar AXT RWD DieselVolkswagen Virtus Anniversary Edition
Rating
269 reviews
94 reviews
Brand Name Mahindra Volkswagen
Ex-Showroom Price Rs. 9.99 Lakh Check On Road Price Rs. 19.20 Lakh Check On Road Price
Engine Displacement 1497 cc 1498 cc
Body Type SUVAll SUV Cars SedanAll Sedan Cars
Max Power 116.93bhp@3500rpm 147.51bhp@5000-6000rpm
No Of Cylinders 4 4
Transmission Manual Automatic
Gearbox 6-Speed 7-Speed DSG
Drive Type RWD FWD
Colors
Mahindra Thar Colors
Volkswagen Virtus Colors
Fuel Type Diesel Petrol
Mileage (ARAI) 11 kmpl 19.62 Kmpl
Tyre Size 245/75 R16 205/55 R16
Boot Space Not Available 521 Liters
Ground Clearance (Laden) Not Available 145 mm
Steering Mounted Audio Control No Yes
Cruise Control No Yes
Airbags Driver and Passenger Driver, Passenger and Side Front
EMI
Rs. 19,325 @ 10.5% (60 months)
Rs. 37,140 @ 10.5% (60 months)
Servicing Cost Not Available
Rs. 29,395 / 5 years
Insurance Rs. 55,735 Thar Insurance Virtus Insurance
Brochure
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Idle Start Stop System
Not Available
Yes
Displacement
1497 cc
1498 cc
Engine Type
D117 CRDe
1.5L TSI EVO with ACT
Engine Displacement
1497 cc
1498 cc
Max Power
116.93bhp@3500rpm
147.51bhp@5000-6000rpm
Max Torque
300Nm@1750-2500rpm
250Nm@1600-3500rpm
Emission Norm Compliance
BS VI 2.0
BS VI 2.0
No Of Cylinders
4
4
Transmission
Manual
Automatic
Gearbox
6-Speed
7-Speed DSG
Valves Per Cylinder
4
4
Drive Type
RWD
FWD
Paddle Shift
Not Available
Yes
Kerb Weight
Not Available
1269 Kg
Turbo Charger
Yes
Yes

Fuel Type
Diesel
Petrol
Fuel Capacity
45 Liters
45 Liters
Mileage (ARAI)
11 kmpl
19.62 Kmpl
Mileage (City)
9 kmpl
Not Available
Mileage (Highway)
11 kmpl
Not Available

Alloy Wheel Size Front
Not Available
16
Alloy Wheel Size Rear
Not Available
16
steeringGearType
Rack & Pinio
Not Available
Suspension Front
2
Not Available
Suspension Rear
3
6
Brakes Front
Disc
Disc
Brakes Rear
Drum
Drum
Steering Type
Not Available
Electric
Minimum Turning Radius
Not Available
5.05 m
Tyre Size
245/75 R16
205/55 R16
Wheel Size
16
Not Available
Tyre Type
Tubeless All-Terrai
Radial & Tubeless

Ventilated Seats
Not Available
Yes
Digital Cluster Size
4.2 inch
8
Rear Reading Lamp
Yes
Yes
Upholstery
Not Available
Leatherette
Interior Lighting
Not Available
Ambient light, Footwell Lamp
Rear Seat Headrest
Not Available
4
Digital Cluster
Sami (Monochrome)
Yes
Air Conditioner
Yes
Yes
Glove Box
Yes
Yes
Seating Capacity
4
5
Doors
3
4
Boot Space
Not Available
521 Liters

Alloy Wheels
No
Yes
Rain Sensing Wiper
Not Available
Yes
Wheel Covers
Not Available
No
ORVM
Manual
Powered & Folding
Boot Opening
Manual
Not Available
Automatic Driving Lights
Not Available
Yes
Chrome Garnish
Not Available
Yes
Cornering Foglamps
Not Available
Yes
Integrated Antenna
No
Yes
LED DRLs
Yes
Yes
LED Fog Lamps
Not Available
Yes
LED Taillights
Yes
Yes
Sun Roof
Not Available
Single Pane
Power Adjustable Exterior Rear View Mirror
No
Not Available
Side Stepper
Yes
Not Available
Manually Adjustable Exterior Rear View Mirror
Yes
Not Available
Sunroof / Moonroof
Optional
Optional
Turn Indicator in ORVM
Not Available
Yes
Trunk Light
Not Available
Yes
Rear Spoiler
Not Available
Yes
Antenna
Not Available
Shark Fi
LED Headlamps
Yes
Yes
Ground Clearance (Laden)
Not Available
145 mm
Length*Width*Height
3985*1820*1850 mm3
4561*1752*1507 mm3
Wheelbase
2450 mm
2651 mm
Ground Clearance (Unladen)
226 mm
179 mm
No. Of Doors
3
4

USB Charger
Not Available
Front & Rear
Central Control Armrest
Not Available
With Storage
Lane Change Indicator
Yes
Yes
Additional Entertainment Features
Not Available
Wireless Connect with Android Auto
Automatic Climate Control
Not Available
Available
One Touch Operating Power Windows
Not Available
Driver's Window
No of Speakers
Not Available
8
Adjustable Steering
Not Available
4
Android Auto
No
Yes
Apple CarPlay
No
Yes
Bluetooth
No
Yes
USB Ports
Not Available
Available
Additional Features
Not Available
Wireless Connect with Android Auto
No of Tweeter
No
No
Power Windows
Front Only
Front & Rear
Power Windows Front
Yes
Not Available
Rear Window Washer
Yes
Not Available
Cupholders
Not Available
Front & Rear
Speakers
Not Available
Front & Rear
Integrated 2-Din Audio
No
Not Available
AC
Yes
Yes
Rear AC Ducts
Yes
Yes
Heater
Yes
Yes
Power Steering
Yes
Yes
Steering Column
Tilt
Tilt & Telescopic
Steering Mounted Audio Control
No
Yes
Cruise Control
No
Yes
Adjustable Driver Seat
Yes
Yes
Heated Seat Front
No
No
Heated Seats Rear
No
No
Touchscreen Size
Not Available
10.09 inch
Wireless Phone Charging
Not Available
Yes
Subwoofer
No
Yes
Folding Rear Seat
50:50 Split
60:40 Split
Height Adjustable Driver Seat
Yes
Yes
Engine Start Stop Button
Not Available
Yes
Rear ACVents
Yes
Yes
Touchscreen
No
Yes
Multifunction Steering Wheel
No
Yes
Rear Touch Screen Size
No
No
Tachometer
Yes
Yes
Rear Seat Centre Arm Rest
Not Available
Yes
Paddle Shifters
Not Available
Yes
Door and Trunk Ajar Warning
Not Available
Yes
Adjustable Headrest
Yes
Yes
Voice Commands
No
Yes
Powered Seats
Not Available
Front Only
Cooled Glovebox
Not Available
Yes
Seat Belt Warning
Yes
Yes
Push Ignition
Not Available
Yes
AM/FM Radio
No
Yes
Touch-screen Display
No
Yes
Speakers Front
No
Not Available
Speakers Rear
No
Not Available
Auto Rain Sensing Wipers
Not Available
Yes
Follow me home headlamps
No
Not Available
Parking Sensors
Rear
Rear
Front Cupholders
Yes
Not Available
Door Pockets
Front Door
Front & Rear Door
12V Power Outlets
Yes
Yes
Bottle Holder
Front Door
Front & Rear Door

Anti-Pinch Power Windows
Not Available
Yes
Speed Sensing Auto Door Lock
No
Yes
ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
Yes
Yes
Day/Night Rearview Mirror
Yes
Yes
Pretensioners and Force Limiter Seatbelts
Not Available
3
Hill Descent Control
Yes
Yes
Hill Assist
Yes
No
Curtain Airbag
Not Available
Available
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Available
Available
Side Airbag Rear
No
Not Available
Speed Alert
Yes
Yes
Airbags
Driver and Passenger
Driver, Passenger and Side Front
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
No
Yes
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Yes
Yes
No of Airbags
2
6
Brake Assist (BA)
Yes
Yes
Geo-fence Alert
Not Available
Yes
Traction Control System (TCS)
Not Available
Yes
Engine Immobilizer
Not Available
Yes
Central Locking
Yes
Yes
Advance Safety Features
Roll Cage
Active Cylinder Technology
Global NCAP Safety Rating
4 Star
5 Star
Child Safety Lock
Yes
Yes
Global NCAP Child Safety Rating
4 Star
5 Star
Driver Airbag
Yes
Yes
Eletronic Stability Control (ESC)
Yes
Yes
Fog Lamps (Front / Rear )
Not Available
Front & Rear
Rear Wash Wiper
Yes
Not Available
Day Night IRVM
Yes
Yes
Keyless Entry
Yes
Yes
Passenger Airbag
Yes
Yes
Rear Defogger
Yes
Yes
Rear Camera
Not Available
3
Side Airbag
No
Yes

Inbuilt Apps
Not Available
Apps Store
SOS Button
Not Available
Yes
RSA
Not Available
Yes
ECall And ICall
Not Available
Yes
Valet Mode
Not Available
Yes

grossWeight
Not Available
1685 kg

Pros and Cons

  • Positives
  • Negatives
Volkswagen Virtus
  • Clean styling that will not feel outdated quickly
  • Spacious interior for 4 adults
  • Features like a sunroof and easy to use touchscreen
  • Both engine options offer good performance
Volkswagen Virtus
  • Interior quality should have been better
  • Mileage in bad traffic is low

Is Volkswagen Virtus Better Than Mahindra Thar?

100% users have chosen Volkswagen Virtus over Mahindra Thar in a survey being conducted on zigwheels.com.
Apart from this survey a total of 634 users have also rated Volkswagen Virtus and Mahindra Thar on some really important factors like Mileage , performance, comfort, safety etc. and have given their personal opinions about these cars.
As per the users experiences Volkswagen Virtus is a winner for you if you are seriously looking for mileage, performance, comfort, safety and features in your car. On the basis of maintenance user have rated both the cars equally.

Before making your decision you should also consider the unbiased and thorough analysis of these cars on every aspect by our auto experts who have summarised the analysis in pros, cons and final conclusion..

Ratings Factor Thar Virtus
Mileage 4.2 3.9
Performance 4.7 4.5
Comfort 4.9 4.2
Maintenance 4.0 4.0
Safety 4.9 4.4
Features 4.7 4.1
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Recently Asked User Questions

Q. 1.0 GT or 1.0 Topline which is the best?
  • The Volkswagen Virtus is a distinguished sedan, offered in both the 1.0 Topline and 1.0 GT variants. The Topline variant provides a premium experience, with features designed to enhance comfort and convenience, while the GT/GT‑line delivers a sportier appeal through dynamic styling elements, blacked-out accents, and a more performance-oriented design. As multiple options are available under both variants, we recommend comparing them to select the model that best aligns with your preferences in terms of features, styling, and overall driving experience: https://www.zigwheels.com/compare-cars/volkswagen-virtus-gt-line-vs-volkswagen-virtus-topline-es

Mahindra Thar Vs Volkswagen Virtus FAQs

Which car is best between Mahindra Thar vs Volkswagen Virtus?
Volkswagen Virtus is better on the grounds of mileage, performance, comfort, safety and features. On the basis of maintenance user have rated both the cars equally.
Which car is cheaper Mahindra Thar vs Volkswagen Virtus?
The Mahindra Thar is cheaper than Volkswagen Virtus by ₹9.21 Lakh.
Which car offers better performance Mahindra Thar vs Volkswagen Virtus?
For the AXT RWD Diesel version, 1497 cc Diesel engine of Thar produces 116.93bhp@3500rpm of power and 300Nm@1750-2500rpm of torque. Whereas for the Anniversary Edition version, 1498 cc Petrol engine of Virtus produces 147.51bhp@5000-6000rpm of power and 250Nm@1600-3500rpm of torque
As per the users experiences the Mahindra Thar has better performance.

Images of Mahindra Thar and Volkswagen Virtus

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