[N.A.GTC]

The lack of a soft-top/removable top option has been the biggest disappointment for me. I have a 2018 Thar, the roof of which I got further modified to allow it to be removed/attached within two minutes. Open-top cruising on hills, early morning drives etc. was the biggest love for the vehicle. Otherwise, practically speaking - what does it have? No FE, no comfort, no reliability. Just the show-off factor, albeit supposedly of prime importance in NCR, where I reside.

Now with four doors it's way more practical. Certainly. But now that Mahindra is stuck with the hard-top-only configuration, in my eyes it's just a cousin of Scorpio. Scorpio is then the cousin who joined the army and is thus capable, trained to handle anything, dignified-yet-muscular; whereas Thar is the cousin who got into crime. It too is capable and fearless, but not in the dignified way. It's way more brutish.


All of that aside, I wonder how Mr. Behram Dhabar would have felt about this. I'm sure a part of him would have been very, very proud for creating something that is beyond the status of legendary now. If I'm not wrong, he had faced some resistance from the management within the company in reviving the 'jeep' concept? Well, well. At the same time, would he have approved of transforming his project from a bare-bones, do-whatever-you-want-with-it vehicle to a comfortable car, practically indistinguishable from any other SUV apart from the external looks? I wonder.

[Venkatesh]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Thar ROXX artwork from design team.

ROXX interior artwork









Link

[vivekdewanta]

Trust me dude it's Mahindra Maxx renamed as Mahindra Roxx.

[magikrider]

Good review as always as expected from this forum! This is something you make an excuse to buy! I mean mind would say, go for the XUV/Harrier/Safari/Alcazar etc. but heart will say, Thar Roxx! Lol why couldn’t they name it better?

Love the looks! I specially liked what they’ve done with the blacked out Triangle in the rear! That looks much better than the OG wrangler! This one is a lifestyle vehicle yet practical! I see no reason to buy this over the XUV 700 petrol, specially after the rate cut which makes it very close to this one in top model, but still look at this! With the practicality and good interiors now, it’s tempting to get this as a daily drive even! Good that they have sorted the ride quality and made it much comfortable for it to be a family car now! Will be easier to convince the mind to buy it!

[One]

Originally Posted by Zinger_Winger

1) My height for reference is 5.11".
I hope if so, it can be corrected in the aftermarket in case it gets too tiring post long drives.

Strongly recommend not trying to correct your height it in aftermarket.

[Bit]

Originally Posted by One

Strongly recommend not trying to correct your height it in aftermarket.

There are times when I desperately feel the need for other react icons apart from “Thanks”, this is one of them!

[arin_12]

Mahindra should think of a MX3 Dark variant soon with out striping any current feature.

1. Dark Interior
2. 4*4 setup
3. Petrol / Diesel

[a023624a]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyTangoFox

I believe the most VFM variants here (If one is looking for the automatic variant specifically) would be the MX3 Petrol AT 2WD or the MX5 Petrol AT 2WD (Diesel if you use the car a lot).
====[*]Auto headlamps and wipers[*]Acoustic Windshield[/list]

Agree with you on VFM variant thoughts. Btw, CarPlay is wired in both MX3 and 5.
Probably you too meant so by following:
with Wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play

[Cresterk]

Goofy styling aside, they managed to take a hardcore 4x4 and made it into something luxurious and comfortable enough for every day usage. That in itself is commendable. These kind of 4x4s are generally criticised for not being practical and they just managed to make it possible to use a Thar as an everyday car.

[coldice4u]

Very happy at how this car has turned out. The MX1 variant is absolute value for money. I will definitely take a test drive. I'm planning to get rid of my 9yr old hatch next year amd pretty sure that MX models will only be delivered late next year which suits me perfectly. Looking for a larger,safe, abuse friendly car relatively comfortable car for road trips. I dont like going above 100kmph and hoping that this drives well below that number. Good NVH, tough build and will be 5 star rated too. I don't plan to do any off roading whatsoever. Also has all the safety options starting the base variant. Anyone wanting to drive big diesels should make tgeir purchases before the 2027 cafe norms come into the picture.

Not sure about the cries on the forum about the "THAR" brand getting diluted. Owners and potential owners are just fretting about the lack of exclusivity thats going to happen as there will be definite buyers from the CRETA/SELTOS crowd. But honestly i don't care. This will do very good numbers and will help M&M get closer to the 3rd place.

I'm worried for TATA as i dont see a very strong product pipeline. The Sierra if done right will keep it in the fight.

[avdhesh15]

Do I need to replace my 10 year old City - no.

Do I need to replace it with the ROXX - hell yeah!

Mahindra has got my money for this beauty.

[Geta]

Fantastic review for the (very likely) T-BHP Car of the year 2024. 👏

On the first glance, a few designs tug your heartstrings instantly that you hopelessly fall in love with them. No "growing on you" or "being practical" business here. Like your high-school crush. Thar is one such design. Royal Enfield Classic 350 is another. The design is so perfect that you choose to turn a blind eye to all the practical difficulties you might need to face if you choose to live with them.

Mahindra is to 4 wheelers what Royal Enfield is to 2 wheelers. They might sell an utilitarian Bolero/Bullet350, or a ScorpioN/Shotgun650, or try to attract youngsters with gizmo rich XUV3XO/Hunter350, but all these products revolve around their core DNA which is the Thar/Classic350.

And when they make the core products as practical, feature loaded, and launch it at mouthwatering prices, there is longer any conflict between your heart and mind.

This is almost like your high-school crush coming home and proposes to you kneeling down and tries to convince your parents that she will be an excellent daughter in-law!

Accept her proposal before her mind changes! 😂

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by vij

What about fun? Is Thar Roxx more fun?

It is a hoot to drive, the improved dynamics, ride and direct EPS system makes it drive almost like a hatch than a wallowing jeep.

Originally Posted by harikrishnansp

The 3 door is kind of an image builder and it still is the extreme offroader version of the Thar. It looks much better than the Roxx. If Mahindra discontinues it, it would be a mistake and a dilution of the Thar brand, which is not good in the long run.

Mahindra is also very clear about the 4x4 brand Thar carries. Just coz we have not really driven it offroad does not mean it is not capable. The added tech has really worked wonders. I will add more details once I get back to base on the "demo" drive we experienced. As far as 3 door is concerned, it is more raw and they will surely maintain it that way, maybe tech additions would happen, but the 3 door will always remain more a purpose built offroad is what I think.

Originally Posted by premsky

I feel that if you're serious about off-roading, the 3-door Thar is your pick. The shorter wheelbase means better manoeuvrability in tight spots and improved approach/departure angles. Lighter weight = less chance of getting stuck in tricky terrain. Plus, it’s more affordable and has that classic, rugged look we all love. The 5-door Roxor? Great for space and practicality, but for pure off-road fun, the Thar’s got the edge.

It is hard to comment on offroad capability with a demo drive riding as passenger, but what we saw was not really simple obstacle. So the tech seem to have worked. But in general your views are right, except weight which we need to find what is the actual delta increase (if any) with all the new tech and weight saves.

Originally Posted by Bit

A question born out of curiosity:

how does it affect the driver’s and co-passenger’s feel-good factor? Even cars with a single pane sunroof, they are usually above drivers head.

My personal take, having the sun roof opening behind driver head is what I would prefer anyday as a driver. Whereas it will be perfect for rear passengers while taking a drive. Even for shooting interiors on a cloudy day, sun roof was a boon.

( @jaggu ) -does the placement make it any less pleasing for the front seat folks?

It is perfect if you ask me, lets in light but not distracting.

Originally Posted by sahil624

Three door version, so safe to say we can’t expect any changes in three door for another year?

Thanks.

Very difficult to comment on a manufacturers product strategy, but 6-12 months for upgrade for 3 door Thar is realistic.

Originally Posted by AG86

There seems to be a feature "Acoustic Windshield" missing in the lower variants. Any idea?

This comes in for higher variant, helps with more tighter NVH levels inside.

Originally Posted by Zinger_Winger

1) A lot of reviewers have been crying about the lack of under-thigh support in the drivers seat. Is that really the case? Is it that bad? My height for reference is 5.11".

It is better than 3 door in top end model with all the seat adjustment for driver, but yes it cannot be compared to other vehicles like say a Creta. Is it a deal breaker? Not really. Is it an irritant, yes a minor one.

2) I don't understand the logic behind the decision taken behind the power parity between the diesel variants. The AX7L D AT (top-end) gets some 15x BHP, while 4x4 versions get 172 BHP (ScorpioN tune)? Whereas all petrol AT versions get the same, top-spec tune. Doesn't look good for buyers that will be shelling out 25 big ones (on-road) to get a lower power map.

Even I don't really understand but 1) maybe there research date shows price concious buyer would look for higher FE. 2) petrol is not a volume seller for Mahindra, even the scorpio petrol especially 4x4 version never raked in number after initial sale. So they might be ok to forego those niche customer and focus on volumes.

They can always make it on order for these specs/combo, but I guess each variant adds to testing and homologation cost.

3) All the technical jargons thrown with regards to the suspension/chassis don't seem to have fully translated into the real world. The suspension still jiggles a LOT and can cause motion sickness for ladies with a weaker stomach/elderly sitting on the 2nd row.

19" tyres on interlocking blocks and undulating roads at speeds under 20-30 kmph lets through the choppiness. At higher speed it is absolute fine. Toyota Fortuner has similar ride if you want to compare. I would focus on improvements from 3 door and overall how it is to other SUV's now and it is remarkable achievement.

coffee brown trim would've given it the feeling of plushness

Bingo! that white shade is horror, even within test drive and strict instruction from Aditya not to mess up his interior shots, even faintest touch left marks! Its like you breathe and leave a mark, it can be cleaned but for a daily drive?!

Reviewers have also complained about the knee hurting the dashboard/side trim issue. Similar to the issue with the Harrier/Safari since ages. Has that problem been brought to the Roxx as well? It's a major ergonomic impediment if so.

Lesser than 3 door, thanks to slightly better tunnel dimension and overall width, but issue still persists!

Originally Posted by rkv_2401

While this is a good question, I think a solution to the heat issue on any car w/ sunroofs is to stick one of those heat rejection windscreen films on the sunroof.

Tried sometime under sun now and it is not bad at all. The dark glass plus light but opaque blinds works wonders. The blind was warm to touch of hand, but not bad at all.

Originally Posted by 84.monsoon

On a different note, I am disappointed the Thar Roxx misses out on a simple but very important feature that one takes for granted in cars in the 15-25 lakh bracket -Full keyless entry with sensors on doors.
====
Another important feature that seem to be missing is lumbar support. My 2020 Thar has a very effective lumbar support, with a good range of adjustment, it was subsequently removed in the Thar range, and also seems to be missing the five door Thar Roxx.

Keyless sensor definitely helps, even if you know the key fob well, nothing like walking towards and placing fingers to unlock.

Lumbar support is not bad at all, the top end models electric seat adjustments takes care of driver fitting to a T, not best but adequate for city. Long highway trips will have to be experienced.

Originally Posted by Rocky_Balboa

This windshield supposedly reduces external noise by upto 20dB, not experienced it personally and no idea why MX1 and MX3 wont get it as standard!

Cost and incentive to move to higher model.

Originally Posted by Rocky_Balboa

Completely Agree, 150 bhp seems way too conservative; hopefully a remap will solve the problem.

And depends on ECU, the petrol ECU is not easily hackable as far as I am aware.

As for the Keyless Entry miss, would it be related to Remote Engine Start/ Stop and lack of Alarm-system.

Why would that hamper? I think it is a definite miss for cost optimisation.

Originally Posted by N.A.GTC

The lack of a soft-top/removable top option has been the biggest disappointment for me. I have a 2018 Thar, the roof of which I got further modified to allow it to be removed/attached within two minutes.

This is a pure personal choice and very minor audience, I had vehicles with soft top for many years, never ever have I ever unfolded it. Only person I know who prefers it is our GTO. None of my friends including offroad folks prefer a soft top.

whereas Thar is the cousin who got into crime. It too is capable and fearless, but not in the dignified way. It's way more brutish.

This is exactly what audience wants. With this pricing the 4x2 is going to make lot of manufacturers scramble for killing competition.

All of that aside, I wonder how Mr. Behram Dhabar would have felt about this.

He always wanted Jeep to be made more user friendly and popular while maintaining its capabilities, I am sure he would be sending his blessings.

Originally Posted by coldice4u

Not sure about the cries on the forum about the "THAR" brand getting diluted.

This was a major goof up by the event organisers, no one will write about capability if they are not allowed to experience it first hand. I sat as a passenger, while we were lucky to have a friendly bhpian explaining in detail and could pick up lot of tech stuff. I still can't vouch for what I saw. Same with other media houses.

Mahindra is well aware about brand dilution and they will NOT let that happen. You can take my word for that

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Lumbar support is not bad at all, the top end models electric seat adjustments takes care of driver fitting to a T, not best but adequate for city.

How does powered seat aid in better seating position/support? (unless they have included something additional to seats in the powered version)

General understanding is, that powered seats just offer the same level of adjustment as the manual seats but electronically instead of mechanical lever, which feels cool and maybe convenient but does it also provide any additional seating comfort?

[84.monsoon]

The ScorpioN Diesel 4x4 and the Thar Roxx Diesel 4x4 have so many similarities - being based on very similar body-on-frame platforms, offering a high level of off-road capability, decent economy for the size and space, and unstressed power from big diesel engines and are both very feature-rich for the price at which they are offered.

For someone in the market for a Diesel 4x4 SUV with Automatic Transmission, good space, power, creature-comforts and off-road capability, the Thar Roxx AX7L Diesel AT 4X4 and the ScorpioN Z8L Diesel AT 4X4 offer two very strong alternatives, which are priced reasonably close to each other. They bring significantly better value than any other offering in the market today, such as the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster etc. However, choosing between these two can put one in a quandary, as Mahindra has not offered much in terms of price differentiation or positioning differentiation (in terms of customer personas that each SUV may be more suitable for). This means, the customer has to wrack their brain, trying to compare features, price, size and other aspects to decide for themselves which one to go for.

I decided to do a side-by-side comparison of these two SUV variants to see the relative pros and cons of each. This may be helpful for those in a similar dilemma as I am in, on which of these to buy to replace my 3-door Thar in the coming year or so, as practicality for everyday use is starting to feel limited with my current car. Green shaded cells against each criteria highlight the winner on that particular aspect.