Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L D AT 4WD: Initial Ownership Experience Dealership Experience
Mahindra’s dealership experience has always been a mixed bag, and this time was no different. Unlike premium brands that offer a seamless and engaging experience, Mahindra’s approach is laid-back, slow, and often frustrating.
- The process is far from proactive—you have to constantly push and follow up to get things done.
- Post-delivery, the sales team goes radio silent, even within the first few days, when most new owners would have queries.
- Mahindra should consider differentiating the experience for customers spending ₹30L+, but their self-cannibalization strategy (same model selling between ₹15L - ₹30L) likely prevents this.
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Accessories:
Hinge Steps (Black): Adds a rugged aesthetic more than practical value, but they do enhance the look.
Mud Guards, Air Dam, and Tank Protectors: Absolute essentials if you prefer a stock look without going overboard on modifications.
7D Mats: Bit of a disappointment—they slide around and weren’t even properly installed. Had to stick them myself mid-drive as they interfered with the accelerator.
Sunshades: Basic “pluck and fix” type, making them inconvenient for frequent window operation, especially when talking to fuel pump attendants or at toll booths
Accessibility & Comfort:
One of my biggest concerns was how my 70+ year-old parents would manage getting in and out of the ROXX.
- Surprise, surprise! They had no issues whatsoever, thanks to the well-placed grab rails.
- Not only was ingress and egress easier than expected, but they also found it comfortable once seated. For those second-guessing this—don’t worry, it’s not a dealbreaker!
Seating Comfort:
- Under-thigh support is adequate for shorter drivers (like me, at 5’6”), but taller drivers may find it lacking on long journeys.
- Ventilated seats work just fine, keeping you cool and comfortable even on extended road trips.
Panoramic Sunroof:
- A major highlight! Passengers absolutely love it.
- However, cleaning it is a challenge, especially for shorter people. Dust and water stains tend to accumulate, affecting the view from inside.
- May be good to buy a long-handle glass cleaner to make maintenance easier.
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Practicality & Electronics: - Cubby holes & bottle holders: Limited space—and the Harman Kardon speakers eat into what’s available. Not that these speakers are great, they seemed pretty average to me despite playing around with the settings
- Limited space in the driver’s armrest storage. For e.g. a Samsung S22 Ultra doesn’t fit in here.
- No sunglass holder—which is a bit annoying.
- Wireless Charging: Works, but painfully slow (63% → 87% in 8 hours!).
- Flat-Bed Boot: No grooves, meaning objects roll around freely unless secured. Keeping a small anti-slip mat can help.
- Keyfob Alert: The car honks 3-4 times when the keyfob leaves the vehicle—super embarrassing, and no option to disable it (yet!).
- USB-A Slot: Dashcam remains powered even after ignition is off for 90 seconds (or indefinitely if doors remain unlocked).
- Temperature settings don’t display when adjusting AC knobs while on Android Auto. Need to press the home button to view it.
- Wireless connectivity disconnects intermittently (happened three times), but reconnects on its own.
- Headlights: Does its job, with no need for an upgrade.
How Does It Ride?
I've read numerous blogs and watched countless videos discussing the ride quality—or the supposed lack of it. Many claim that body roll is highly noticeable, making rear seat passengers uncomfortable. However, my experience was slightly different.
Solo vs. Loaded Ride Quality:
the ride feels different for sure when driving solo, with two passengers, or with a full load.
Surprisingly, body movements were never a real issue.
Where It’s Noticeable:
Rumble strips can be harsh, especially the more pronounced ones, making the ride a bit jerky.
Patchy roads also highlight the ladder-frame SUV dynamics, but it’s far from uncomfortable.
Despite moving from a Jeep Compass to the Thar Roxx, I felt completely at ease with its ride quality. Even my family and friends who drove it agreed.
High-Speed Stability:
Absolutely confidence-inspiring—stays planted even at highway speeds.
The sweet spot on highways is between 100-115 km/h.
At no point did I feel the need to dial it back due to instability.
Body Roll:
I put it to the test on sharp ramp-up curves while traveling from Salem to Coimbatore, and it handled them exceptionally well, even at good speeds.
City Maneuverability:
Despite its large size, I navigated narrow busy roads, cramped hospital parking lots, and tight spaces without any issues.
Once you get used to its dimensions, it drives like a charm.
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Engine: Power, Agility & Performance
The engine is an absolute pleasure to drive—pulls strongly without hesitation.
- Overtaking: Never a concern—most overtakes are smooth and effortless.
- Noise on Inclines: On hilly terrain, the engine gets a bit vocal at times. Occasionally, I found myself wishing for paddle shifters—would have made quick downshifts easier.
- Manual Mode : Works fine but won’t upshift if the RPM is under 2K, even if you try to override it.
- Steering Feel & Agility: I let a colleague (Innova Chrysta owner) drive it, and he was completely smitten by the engine, and how agile and light the steering felt.
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ADAS & Other Features- Electronic Start-Stop: Highly intrusive. Activates 20+ times in a minute in Bangalore traffic. I now manually disable it every time.
- Lane Assist: Feels intrusive on two-lane highways, where frequent lane changes are necessary. Every time I overtook, the steering feedback & chime would activate, which got annoying quickly.
- Proximity Sensors: Extremely useful in bumper-to-bumper traffic, providing clear distance indications on both sides.
- Other ADAS Features: Haven’t explored them extensively yet.
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Mileage:
1. Bangalore → Palakkad: (circa 430 kilometers) :
11.7 kmpl (both onboard computer & tank-to-tank calculations matched). At one point, I even saw
12.1 kmpl, which was a pleasant surprise.
2. Return Journey: Mileage dropped to 10.9 kmpl. Refueled at a BPCL COCO outlet, reset my calculations, and drove conservatively. Outcome:
10.2 kmpl—not sure why, but hoping this was an anomaly.
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Summary:
Despite its minor quirks, the Thar Roxx is an SUV that delivers an
experience, not just a drive.
•
Striking road presence that commands attention.
•
Comfortable for both daily commutes and long drives.
• Confidence-inspiring
high-speed stability.
• A thrilling, enjoyable drive that always puts a
smile on your face.