Team-BHP - Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

I happened to take the test drive of Diesel AT AX7L today. While much has been said on the positives, I would like to share a few interesting bits based upon my experience and discussion with the sales executive:

1. Beaten to death, the white interiors. What’s strange though is, that the executive informed me Roxx’s white seats are getting dirty like crazy, even for non test drive vehicles just by regular user touches. He said that xuv 700 and 3xo both have similar light interiors but they don’t get that dirty. So if color is not a problem, what else is?

2. The under thigh support was really underwhelming, and almost felt like I’m not sitting at all. I currently own and drive the 3D Thar on daily basis and I expected the 5D seating to be atleast same if not better. Could it just be my mind playing tricks or the seat support is WORSE than Thar 3D? Can Anyone who has driven 3D and 5D back to back help me out here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit (Post 5844567)

1. Beaten to death, the white interiors. What’s strange though is, that the executive informed me Roxx’s white seats are getting dirty like crazy, even for non test drive vehicles just by regular user touches. He said that xuv 700 and 3xo both have similar light interiors but they don’t get that dirty. So if color is not a problem, what else is?

This was the condition of 3XO showroom display car's rear seat when I checked few days back. This turned black inside the showroom itself. Can't imagine if Roxx seats are worse than this!

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Originally Posted by romeomidhun (Post 5844108)

The "ITA" or Intelligent Turn Assist is a boon in tight turning spots, but will cause a lot of tyre burn for the locked wheel on hard surfaces if you are doing such "locked turns" frequently. Instead of completely locking the inner wheel, they should have locked it just 70 - 80%, allowing the wheel to rotate a bit so that the tyre burn can be reduced albeit ending up with a slightly higher turning radius.

You are supposed to use it only on off-road situations like on sand/mud.

To Mahindra (assuming they are reading our blogs):

Fire the person/team who came up with the idea of providing white upholstery in the MX5/AX5 variants. For the top variants, it is justified.

However, if the same team was responsible for including the Auto dimming IRVM, rear armrest, push-button start, and LED projector headlights in the MX3 variant, then kindly pardon them.

As always, Mahindra = Quirkiness!

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Originally Posted by MyGoRa (Post 5844659)

Fire the person/team who came up with the idea of providing white upholstery in the MX5/AX5 variants. For the top variants, it is justified.

The guy who approved it for final production should resign too.

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Originally Posted by ags82 (Post 5844561)

Quick question - is it possible to retrofit power folding mirrors in mx3 or mx5 variants directly from Mahindra or outside dealers? Has anyone done this on Thar?

Yes,can be done with retero fit kits

Question on the pre-booking - I've already added my preferred variant to the cart.

Will the dealer also have the same added to his cart and will he be able to book before the normal online bookings open? What should be the ideal way to book? Dealer or self?

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Originally Posted by Cresterk (Post 5844647)

You are supposed to use it only on off-road situations like on sand/mud.

Offroad is not always about sand / mud, it is also about rocky hill areas. Also, in tight city u-turns, this feature will be very useful. Are we not supposed to engage it during these circumstances?

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeomidhun (Post 5844717)

Offroad is not always about sand / mud, it is also about rocky hill areas. Also, in tight city u-turns, this feature will be very useful. Are we not supposed to engage it during these circumstances?

Using Intelligent Turn Assist on tarmac/hard surface can cause uneven wear and tear to the inner back tire. Saw a video where it was getting tested on soft loose mud and it was clear that the tire was getting dragged after the lock up happened. Once the feature is activated by the driver, based on the steering position, the inner back wheel is locked up and it still has to be dragged as the turn need not happen with the locked up wheel acting as the pivot. Ideally, it has to rotate at a really slow speed compared to the outer wheel but completely locking it up won’t work in normal driving. In slush/sand, this won’t be a problem as there is almost no damage.

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Originally Posted by daf23 (Post 5844698)

No, the preferred variant on pre booking has no impact on the actual booking process. That was just a way for M&M to keep you engaged.

On the booking day, it is fastest fingers first - it took ~90 secs for XUV700 and ~40secs for Scorpion N to exhaust the introductory pricing batch. Unless you know the dealer personally, you should do yourself and focus on pressing the payment button ASAP when the booking window opens with the details filled. The payment gateway will most probably collapse and you will not be able to make the payment. But M&M will honour if you reached the payment gateway. I will suggest you use all the mobile numbers and devices to do the above. I remember M&M accepting transferring bookings between blood relations and so do consider that too.

Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeomidhun (Post 5844717)

Offroad is not always about sand / mud, it is also about rocky hill areas. Also, in tight city u-turns, this feature will be very useful. Are we not supposed to engage it during these circumstances?

No you are not supposed to!

Other cars with the same feature such as the Toyota landcruiser or Ford bronco specifically mention in the owners manual that it is designed for low traction situations since it places a lot of stress on the car.

Here’s a video with more information and where they also try it on road surface : https://youtu.be/b2tHfTvZWTU

Quote:

Originally Posted by atluri_rkc (Post 5844864)

On the booking day, it is fastest fingers first - it took ~90 secs for XUV700 and ~40secs for Scorpion N to exhaust the introductory pricing batch.

When did the bookings start for the above vehicles ? 12 in the night ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeomidhun (Post 5844108)

Some clarifications on ITA:

Quote:

1. ITA or Intelligent Turn Assist is supposed to be used only off-road and NOT on-road. The vehicle has to be set to the terrain mode for the feature to work. For example Snow/Mud/Sand. Each of these modes have different calibration and hence the feature works differently in each of these modes to enable a shorter turn.

2. ITA is a skid steer functionality and it won't work if the wheels aren't locked. To create the yaw moment about the CG from the rear axle, the wheels have to break traction.

This is also why the feature is not advised to be used on road and is not available in "normal" mode.