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Old 17th August 2024, 10:00   #1
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Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Mahindra Thar Roxx Review


Mahindra Thar Roxx Pros



• Handsome styling, brute character & tough build. Has an air of desirability around it
• Far more user-friendly and upmarket than the 3-door Thar, due to its superior interiors, amenities & the 2 rear doors
• Superbly equipped. Loaded with almost every possible feature we could think of (9-speaker Harman Kardon system, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cam, ventilated front seats…)!
• Very competent, refined and quick petrol / diesel engine range
• Butter-smooth 6-speed AT available with both engines
• Ride, handling and steering are much improved over the 3-door. Feels more Scorpio-N-like to drive than a Thar. Gets a light EPS (not heavy hydraulic steering like the 3-door Thar)
• 4x4 hardware, off-road capability & high GC. Get ready for slush, muck, deserts, jungles & the mountains!
• Practical cabin with seating for 5 and a fair amount of storage
• 447 litres of boot space is sufficient for holiday luggage
• Top-notch safety kit includes 6 airbags, Level 2 ADAS, ESP, hill descent control and more
• We feel the Thar Roxx is well-priced for the package on offer

Mahindra Thar Roxx Cons



• While the ride quality is significantly better than the 3-door Thar, it is not as plush as say, the XUV700 & other monocoque crossovers. The 19” wheels are a contributor too. Ride quality is liveable though and we’ll give it a 7/10 rating
• Some styling elements are either too polarising or too “busy”
• Light-coloured interiors with white seats (!!!) will get dirty easily. Keep the cleaning apparatus ready
• Ingress / egress to the rear is difficult, particularly for the elderly
• No 3rd row of seats, which the Scorpio-N & XUV700 offer
• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 174 BHP & torque-converter AT
• Inexplicably, 4x4 option just on the diesel. Petrol is available with RWD only. Mahindra needs to correct this ASAP
• No option of a convertible soft-top (like Thar) or removeable hard-top (like Wrangler) for those who love open-top motoring
• Some missing features such as reach-adjustable steering, keyless entry, rear window shades…
• Niggles are a given with a fresh new Mahindra model. Just ask owners of the 3-door Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_01.jpg

Jaggu and I got to spend some time with the Mahindra Thar Roxx during the media drive in Kochi. Here are our quick and brief observations:

• The Mahindra Thar has been the dominant off-roader in India for a very long time. Its competitors have found it very difficult to challenge it due to the strong overall package that it is. Whatever aspect it was found wanting, has been addressed by the Thar Roxx - the 5-door version of the Thar.

• The Thar Roxx is based on a modified version of the platform that underpins the Scorpio-N. Mahindra calls it the M_GLYDE platform. It has a mass of 179 kg, a bending frequency of 39.9 Hz and a torsional frequency of 34.3 Hz. Mahindra claims it is light and stiff. There have been changes made to the suspension and steering. The NVH levels have improved as well.

• The Thar Roxx has 5 doors, which means getting into the rear seat is much easier than before. It can now take on the Maruti Jimny and Force Gurkha 5-door on even terms. It gets a bench seat in the rear that can accommodate 3 passengers and a useable boot. Many features that were missing in the 3-door Thar have been included in the Roxx.

• The car is powered by the same petrol and diesel engines that are found in the Scorpio-N (albeit in different states of tune) with 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions and rear-wheel drive (petrol & diesel) and four-wheel drive (diesel only).
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_02.jpg

• Mahindra has equipped the Thar Roxx with 35+ safety features including 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts and seat-belt reminder for all seats along, ISOFIX child seat anchors, TPMS and tyre direction monitoring, ESP, brake locking differential, vehicle dynamics control, traction control, rollover mitigation and more. The car also comes with Level 2 ADAS with 10 features including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, smart pilot assist, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic signal recognition, high beam assist, 360-degree view system with blind view monitor and adaptive cruise control.

• The Roxx will be available in MX1, MX3, AX3L, MX5, AX5L and AX7L variants.

• The RWD variants are priced between Rs. 12.99 - 20.49 lakhs (ex-showroom). Test drives are scheduled to start on September 14, 2024. Bookings will open on October 3, 2024, while deliveries will start on Dussera (October 12, 2024).

Exterior


• While the overall shape of the front end hasn't been changed, there are some noteworthy changes - a redesigned radiator grille, LED headlamps with DRLs, LED turn-indicators, reworked bumper and LED fog lamps.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_03.jpg

• At the rear, there are new tail-lamps, a revised bumper and liftgate.
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• The biggest change to the side is the addition of a door. The Roxx measures 4,428 mm in length, 1,870 mm in width, and 1,923 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm. This makes it 443 mm longer, 15 mm wider and 3 mm taller than the Thar 3-door, while its wheelbase is longer by 400 mm. Approach, departure and ramp over angles are rated at 41.7, 36.1 and 23.9 degrees, respectively.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_05.jpg

• The Thar Roxx gets projector LED headlights with bright C-shaped LED DRLs around them. These add to the road presence of the car. Follow me home and lead me to car functions have been provided. Headlights are not set as deep into the radiator grille as the Thar 3-door.
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• LED turn indicators are placed on the front fenders.
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• Radiator grille gets vertical plastic slats with a honeycomb mesh grille behind. IMO, Mahindra just can't seem to get the grille design right. This design just looks odd on a butch off-roader like this. Notice the "Mahindra" lettering embossed at the top and the front camera just underneath it, nicely concealed in the grille. Yes, the Thar Roxx gets a 360-degree camera system.
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• The front bumper has been reworked and the brushed silver portion protrudes into the black portions on the sides. There is no "THAR" lettering on top of the bumper just below the radiator grille like you get in the 3-door. Fog lamps are LED projectors.
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• Sturdy skid plate provided at the front. The design is different from the Thar 3-door.
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• "THAR ROXX" badge is pasted on the front right panel. There is no engine badge anywhere on the car.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_11.jpg

• The ORVMs are electrically foldable. Cameras for the 360-degree camera system are located underneath the ORVMs.
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• The top variant comes with 19" diamond cut alloy wheels shod with 255/60 section MRF Wanderer A/T tyres. Ventilated disc brakes have been provided at the front.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_13.jpg

• Disc brakes have been provided at the rear as well.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_14.jpg

• The glass area is healthy. Notice the white section above the rear door which breaks the flow of the roof. The C-pillar thickens as you go downwards from the roof. While I hated some of these design elements, Jaggu made peace with them.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_15.jpg

• The rear door handle is located on the C-pillar.
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• The roof is metal and painted black. A large panoramic sunroof has been provided. The roof is ribbed at the rear. The liftgate is clad with FRP and houses the stop lamp at the top.
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• Triangular rear glasses come with camel and Thar Roxx markings.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_18.jpg

• The tail lamps get C-shaped LED position lights and LED turn indicators. The stop lamps and reversing lamps get halogen bulbs.
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• The reversing camera is neatly integrated into the spare wheel.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_20.jpg

• A well-concealed rear wiper+washer setup has been provided.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_21.jpg

• Rear bumper gets two parking sensors and reflectors.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_22.jpg

• Apart from the Everest White colour seen on our test car, the Thar Roxx comes in 6 shades - Battleship Grey...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_25.jpg

...Tango Red...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_26.jpg

...Stealth Black...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_27.jpg

...Burnt Sienna...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_28.jpg

...Deep Forest...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_29.jpg

...and Nebula Blue. All come with black roofs.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_30.jpg

Last edited by Aditya : 17th August 2024 at 15:57.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:00   #2
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Interior


• The interior features a dual-tone black and ivory (white) dashboard with leatherette inserts, and soft-touch materials. This is easily the best interior we have seen in any version of the Thar in both design and quality. The dashboard has a leatherette cladding with contrast stitching along with piano black and chrome inserts. While all this looks very plush, we couldn't help wondering about how soiled the light-coloured parts would get during off-roading or even daily use. Ambient lighting has been provided.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_01.jpg

• Chunky grab handle on the A-pillar is useful for hauling yourself into the cabin.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_02.jpg

• The Thar Roxx comes with a starter button. Pity there is still no keyless entry & go. You still need to use the buttons on the keyfob to lock / unlock the car.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_03.jpg

• Flat-bottom, leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver and piano black inserts and thumb contours is nice to hold. However, it is adjustable for height only.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_04.jpg

• The instrument cluster is fully digital. It comes with three view modes and a comprehensive MID.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_05.jpg

• Wiper and light stalks are taken from the Scorpio-N. The Thar Roxx gets rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_06.jpg

• The Thar Roxx, thankfully, gets a remote fuel lid release. Switches for the idling start-stop feature and driver aids are placed to the right of the steering wheel. The switch in the right bottom corner activates the IntelliTurn Assist feature (more on this later).
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_07.jpg

• The doorpads have leather inserts with contrast stitching. The tops are wide and comfortable to rest your arm. The power window switches have been shifted to the doorpads. They have a piano black console. A speaker and tweeter are housed on each of the front doorpads. The door pockets can hold a 1-litre bottle and a little more.
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• A wide footboard helps during ingress and egress.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_09.jpg

• The seats are draped in ivory leatherette upholstery with "Thar" embossing on the backrest and have prominent bolstering on the sides. They are comfortable and supportive. However, larger users might find them snug. The driver seat is electrically adjustable and seatbelts are adjustable for height. The front seats are ventilated - a boon in India.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_10.jpg

• As mentioned earlier, 6 airbags are standard across all variants of the Thar Roxx.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_11.jpg

• The pedals are aluminium with rubber inserts. A wide and useful dead pedal has been provided.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_12.jpg

• The ADAS sensor console is located behind the IRVM.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_20.jpg

• The IRVM is large enough to cover the rear windshield. Mahindra has provided an auto-dimming IRVM in the Thar Roxx. The all-round visibility is acceptable.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_13.jpg

• The centre fascia consists of a 10.25" touchscreen head unit at the top, a climate control system with a carbon filter, and a wireless phone charging pad at the bottom. Switches for the ventilated seats and Type-C & Type-A USB ports are located on the centre fascia. The climate control was effective on a hot and humid day in Kochi.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_14.jpg

• The touchscreen head unit is easy to use. It has a pretty good resolution and the response is adequately fast. It gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and connected car tech (Adrenox and Alexa). We like the fact that Mahindra has given physical buttons below the touchscreen which are very useful while driving. It's paired with a 9-speaker Harman Kardon Quantum Logic sound system. You can adjust the sound settings to your liking. Like before, Adventure statistics are displayed too.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_15.jpg

• Leather-wrapped gear shifter and transfer lever are carried over from the Thar 3-door.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_16.jpg

• Two cupholders are located next to the driver seat on the centre console. They have a chrome border and rubberised base. An electric parking brake along with auto-hold has been provided.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_17.jpg

• Centre armrest is leather-wrapped. The driver's armrest can be extended.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_18.jpg

• Under the centre armrest is a small storage bin.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_19.jpg

• The passenger side of the dashboard is leather-wrapped with contrast stitching and a grab handle. The glovebox gets a button to push and release the lid. It is fiddly to use and I could never open the lid at the first attempt throughout the drive. The lid has a damped opening action.
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• The glovebox is medium-sized. It gets a cooling vent but no illumination.
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• Both sun visors are wrapped in fabric and feel nice to touch. They get vanity mirrors with covers and illumination.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_38.jpg

• The sunroof (or skyroof as Mahindra calls it) is massive with a glass area measuring 1,450 x 900 mm. It lets a lot of light into the cabin. A 636 x 731 mm section opens to the sky.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_23.jpg

• The rear doors open wide. The doorpads have the same theme as the front units. There are no tweeters here though. The door pockets are smaller and can hold a 1-litre bottle at the most.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_24.jpg

• Useful grab handles have been provided on the B-pillars - useful while getting into a car that is so high off the ground.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_32.jpg

• The gap between the B-pillar and the rear seat base is adequate but not abundant. A very short portion of the footboard is available to step on while getting into the cabin. This, along with the height of the car makes ingress and egress into the rear not a very easy task, particularly for larger or elderly people.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_25.jpg

• A proper bench seat for 3 occupants has been provided. Leg room, head room, shoulder room and hip room are healthy at 930 mm, 985 mm, 1,434 mm and 1,343 mm respectively. Even so, 3 adults will find sitting here a squeeze.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_26.jpg

• Under-thigh support is adequate for most, but taller occupants find themselves sitting in a knees-up position. There is room under the front seats to slide your feet into.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_39.jpg

• 3-point seatbelts have been provided for all three occupants. The seat base and backrests are mildly contoured. ISOFIX child seat anchors have been provided on both sides.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_27.jpg

• Centre armrest is wide and soft and houses 2 cupholders.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_28.jpg

• The backrest has a 60:40 split and can be reclined with levers located on each side to find a comfortable seating position.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_29.jpg

• Each of the front seatbacks gets multiple pockets for the rear seat occupants to use.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_30.jpg

• Rear A/C vents have a chrome border. A Type-C USB port and slot to keep a smartphone have been provided below.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_31.jpg

• With the additional length over the Thar 3-door, the Thar Roxx gets a very useable boot. The luggage volume up to the backrest is rated at 447 litres. The luggage volume up to the roof is rated at 644 litres. A woofer is placed on the right along with a 12V power outlet. Cargo hooks have been provided in the corners. Tools are stowed away in a Styrofoam casing under the boot floor.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_33.jpg

• Folding the rear seats down gives you enormous cargo space.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_34.jpg

• The doorpad of the tailgate gets horizontal slats. I feel Mahindra could have provided a chrome door handle, just to keep it uniform with the other doors.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_35.jpg

• One speaker is mounted in the corner, at the top of each D-pillar.
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• Just when we thought a boot lamp was missing, we spotted it at an unusual location.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_interior_37.jpg

Last edited by Aditya : 23rd August 2024 at 09:57.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:00   #3
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Driving the Mahindra Thar Roxx 2.2L Diesel AT 4WD


• Powering the Mahindra Thar Roxx is a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder mHawk diesel engine that makes 173 BHP @ 3,500 rpm and 370 Nm @ 1,500 - 3,000 rpm. It has a 6-speed AISIN torque converter automatic transmission.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_engine_01.jpg

• There is some body shake experienced on start-up. NVH levels are good overall. At idle, the engine noise is heard in the cabin, but it's not bothersome. Faint vibrations are felt on the steering, pedals and the armrest.

• Shift to D, lift off the brake and the Thar Roxx gets off the line smoothly. It crawls at 9 km/h, which makes it easy to drive with just one pedal in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The engine feels city-friendly as you build up speed in a very linear manner and can keep up with traffic.

• Like other Mahindra cars, driving modes have been provided in the rear-wheel drive variants.

• The turbo kicks in pretty early and the lag is masked well by the automatic transmission. The throttle response is also good and you can drive smoothly without too many jerks or a sudden kick from the turbo. The linear power delivery helps in the overall driveability of the Thar Roxx.

• On the highway, the Thar Roxx builds up speed strongly. Mahindra claims that the turbo-diesel can hit 60 km/h from a standstill in 4.8 seconds (0.2 seconds quicker than the petrol). Before you know it, the car will reach triple-digit speeds. While it is not lightning-fast, it's quick enough. It is a heavy SUV and also the AT saps some of the power, which is why it is quick, but not fast.

• The mid-range has enough punch for getting you past slow-moving traffic with ease. Also, a neat trick that has always worked for the Thar is that when small cars see it in their rear view mirror, they give way.

• Floor the throttle in D mode and the engine revs till ~4,000 rpm before upshifting. In manual mode, you can push the engine revs till ~5,000 in M mode and the gearbox will hold on to the gear until you upshift.

• In terms of cruisability, the Thar Roxx can cruise calmly at 80 km/h with the rev-counter reading 1,500 rpm in 5th gear.

• The torque converter automatic is very smooth in its shifts. You won't notice the upshifts happening with a steady foot on the throttle.

• However, while driving with varying throttle inputs, the gearbox does get confused. It downshifts suddenly when you don't expect it to, which can get irritating at times. But overall, for everyday usage, there's not much to complain about as the gearbox does its job just fine.

• M mode isn't very intuitive if you are trying to push the car. It's better to just leave it in D. M mode is useful while off-roading.

• Wind noise starts to creep in at 90 km/h. Our test car was shod with MRF Wanderer A/T tyres. While the road noise was controlled on tar surfaces, it was very pronounced on paver blocks and concrete surfaces. Engine noise is never too loud, even at higher revs. At cruising speeds, all you hear is a hum.

• The diesel tank's capacity is 57 litres.

• We saw a fuel efficiency figure of 10.3 km/l on the MID. Do note that the car was put through hard acceleration & braking and was idling for a long time as well during the photo shoot. Better driving should see higher FE figures.

Suspension


• At the front, the Thar Roxx comes with an independent double-wishbone suspension with coil springs and at the rear, there's a rigid axle with coil springs and Watt's linkage. In cars with higher suspension travel like the Thar Roxx, the Watt's linkage works better in controlling the lateral movement under load. In simple terms, it offers better stability in corners.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_24.jpg

• Additionally, the dampers come with FDD and MTV-CL. FDD is just Mahindra's term for frequency selective damping, which varies the damping force according to the frequency of bumps. MTV-CL stands for Multi-Tune Valve with Concentric Land, which essentially further fine-tunes the damping force by controlling the fluid through piston valves. The rear suspension also gets an HRS (hydraulic rebound stopper).
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2024_mahindra_tharroxx_exterior_23.jpg

• The low-speed ride, particularly on bad roads, like most body-on-frame SUVs, is jiggly. However, compared to the Thar 3-door, the ride feels much smoother. The longer wheelbase helps here too. Body movement is a lot more controlled as well.

• Our test car was fitted with 19" wheels & 255/60 section tyres. Lower variants with 18" wheels and taller sidewalls should have a better ride.

• Potholes and bad roads are handled very well at higher speeds. As you would expect from a Mahindra, the suspension is very abuse friendly.

• At highway speeds, the ride becomes more composed. Expansion joints are handled nicely and the vertical movement is also well-controlled.

• Go around curves at speed and there's the obvious body roll given the height of the car. However, the body roll is much more controlled than the 3-door. The car feels a lot more sure-footed. Do note that in the interest of safety, we didn't push the car too hard on Kerala's narrow and winding country roads.

• The Thar Roxx gets electric power steering. At city speeds, the steering is very light, which makes manoeuvring this SUV pretty easy. The steering weighs up fairly well as the speed increases. The return to centre action is strong as well.

• Except for some lower variants, the Thar Roxx gets ventilated disc brakes all-round. They do a great job of stopping this SUV safely.

• When it comes to off-roading, the Thar Roxx comes with a proper four-wheel drive transfer case with 4H and 4L modes, 3 terrain modes - Snow, Sand and Mud. It has a water wading depth of 650 mm and an electronic locking differential. Mahindra has also equipped the Thar Roxx with a "CrawlSmart" feature which detects obstacles and automatically adjusts throttle response. Then there is the "IntelliTurn Assist" feature which can be engaged in 4L mode. It reduces the TCD by 15%. These, along with the impressive approach, departure and ramp over angles, make the Thar Roxx a potent off-roader. We were given a demonstration on a muddy off-road trail with multiple obstacles and the car managed to clear them without breaking a sweat.

Disclaimer: Mahindra invited Team-BHP for the Thar Roxx test drive. They covered all the travel expenses for this driving event.

Last edited by Aditya : 17th August 2024 at 21:58.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:00   #4
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

Last edited by Aditya : 17th August 2024 at 10:06.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:08   #5
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If there's a good SUV coming my way, the motto is "Pack your bags, let's go road-tripping"! Took the Thar Roxx out around MH (check out some of the previous editions like the Gurkha 4x4 & Safari Facelift road-trips):
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-0.jpg

23 Things I liked about the Mahindra Thar Roxx


1. A giant leap ahead of the 3-door Thar; the two SUVs are incomparable. This is NOT a stretched 3-door Thar

2. Ultimate looks + big on style + butch presence are now matched with family-friendly practicality

3. Robust abuse-friendly build which can take abuse and bad roads alike. Has that true Mahindra DNA

4. Loaded with tons more character & personality than the same price monocoque crossovers (e.g. Creta, Grand Vitara)

5. Great 4x4 & offroad credentials – get ready for FUN

6. Extremely modification-friendly; the aftermarket will give you a plethora of options to make your Thar Roxx one-of-a-kind

7. Mahindra’s track record of safe cars makes me confident of the Thar Roxx’s crash test rating & occupant protection levels

8. Comprehensive safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, rear disc brakes & more

9. ADAS can be switched off & remains disabled, even after restarting the car! This is a boon for those who prefer to drive without nannies like automatic emergency braking

10. Simply fantastic turbo-diesel & turbo-petrol engines; both motors are impressively refined & score well on driveability. Turbo-diesel will give you reasonable fuel economy

11. Ride quality is tolerable & livable (drop your tyre pressures to 30-32 PSI), ride will be better on the lower variants with R18 rims

12. Torque-converter Automatic gearbox is well-tuned + reliable + very smooth. Focus is on driveability, not economy

13. Light steering is effortless to operate in the city. Owners will love it

14. Expressway stability at 120 km/h is satisfactory (unlike the 3-door Thar which gets unstable at the same speed)

15. Interior ambience. Plus, the cabin is loaded to the bones with features & amenities

16. Tall & commanding driving position is very addictive. With top-class visibility for the driver, I found the ergonomics to be sorted (some BHPians have complained about the center console fouling with their left leg – I had no issues)

17. Gets lots of new goodies like the digital instrument cluster, a useable dead pedal, cooled seats

18. Air-con quickly cools the cabin

19. Good 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system (but not excellent) once you set up your smartphone’s equalizer and “high quality” streaming

20. Adequate boot space for holiday luggage

21. Enormous 226 mm of ground clearance means you never have to worry about speed bumps, broken roads or even no roads

22. Can now be the 1st car of the family (unlike the 3-door Thar which was suitable only as the 2nd or 3rd car of the house)

23. I find the Thar Roxx to be well-priced for what it offers

20 Things I didn't like about the Mahindra Thar Roxx


1. Busy ride quality on anything but perfect roads – this will be the biggest dealbreaker for those moving from (or cross-shopping with) monocoque Crossovers & SUVs

2. XUV700 is a far superior package as a family-friendly machine. The XUV700’s comfort levels, ride & handling are way ahead

3. The Scorpio-N too, has many advantages over the Thar Roxx

4. Turbo-petrol engine drinks like an addict (ask me, I own a Thar Petrol AT)

5. It’s a tall body-on-frame SUV, so you can’t hustle it around corners like the monocoque crossovers (Seltos & XUV700 will run rings around it)

6. Really cannot match the outright finesse & quality of many same-price crossovers

7. I don’t agree with the R19 wheel size. Big wheels & shorter sidewalls lead to a firmer ride and are more delicate. R18 is what I’d go with for the Thar Roxx

8. Although I love the front & rear styling, the side profile is “meh” to my eyes. Especially the rear door treatment & the C-Pillar’s weird design

9. Make sure your family “test-drives” the 2nd row before you bring one home. Rear legroom is adequate (not excessive), the ride can get jumpy, there is side-to-side movement on bad roads and ingress / egress isn’t easy

10. No 3rd-row of seats like the XUV700, Scorpio-N & Safari. They come in handy, even if just for kids on family outings

11. Inexplicably, 4x4 is currently offered only on the diesel! I’m sure Mahindra will correct this in the future for Delhi-NCR folks and petrol engine lovers

12. The driver’s seat under-thigh support is poor for long journeys, and there is no adjustable lumbar support that the 3-door Thar once offered. Those with a delicate back will miss this on long road trips

13. Getting into the Thar Roxx’s rear seat isn’t for the elderly; you have to “climb” in (which is a good & bad thing)

14. Light-coloured interiors will get dirty within a fortnight of ownership! Dark-coloured cabin is currently offered just on the 4x4 variant (will surely be extended to 4x2 in due time)

15. Auto-hold braking functionality (AT variant) isn’t smooth at all. Mahindra seriously needs to tune it further

16. Some missing features such as reach-adjustable steering, keyless entry, rear window shades, adjustable lumbar support (which the 3-door Thar once got)…

17. The front door pockets can barely hold a 1-liter bottle (if you squeeze it in). Rear door pockets aren’t accommodating either

18. No option of open-top cruising like the 3-door Thar for those who love it (like me & my family). Would’ve loved to see a removable hard-top like the Jeep Wrangler

19. Niggles are a given with a fresh new Mahindra model. My Thar has had 6-7 niggles in <2 years of ownership

20. Many of you are going to endure long waiting periods for the delivery of your Thar Roxx

Among the places we visited was my sister's holiday home:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-1.jpg

A blockbuster car + curvy roads + lake view sunset + great music + local food. What else does one need on a road-trip?
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-2.jpg

• As you know, the Thar Roxx has received over 1.76 lakh bookings within an hour of commencement and there are solid reasons for that. When you drive cars like these priced under 30 lakhs, you realise they give you style, they give you room for the family, they are loaded with amenities and have enough power on tap. Cars like the XUV700, Safari, Hycross etc., are all the car you really need, and the actual reason why the 50+ lakh car segments aren't growing. With Mahindras, you have the added bonus of robustness / toughness, which is such a boon on Indian roads.

• The 3-door Thar built the Thar's image, and the Thar Roxx is encashing that to the fullest extent. The lure of the "Thar" brand is evident by the fact that the 3-door Thar was doing over 5,000 sales a month consistently. It was previously unimaginable for any car with 2 passenger doors. Never in the history of India & frankly, won't ever happen again either.

• I was reading the posts on the Thar Roxx launch thread and have never seen any new car launch with so many BHPians saying "I want to buy it, I want to book it, I don't need it but I still want one". This SUV has an air of desirability around it. That being said, once you take a long test-drive at the showroom, you will know this SUV isn't for everyone. It has the typical body-on-frame SUV pros & cons.

• As a 3-door Thar owner, I can tell you that driving the 5-door Thar Roxx is a revelation. In terms of feel, it's more comparable to a Scorpio-N than the 3-door Thar. This is because Mahindra didn't merely elongate the 3-door Thar to make a family-friendly SUV with 4 passenger doors. This is NOT a stretched 3-door Thar & kudos to Mahindra for that. Requires commitment to invest hundreds of crores when you already have a Scorpio-N & XUV700 in the same price segment. This is a heavily reworked SUV that has more in common with the Scorpio-N than the 3-door Thar in terms of how it drives & how it feels. Other than aesthetic similarities at the front and interior parts (e.g. dashboard), there is hardly anything in common between the 3-door & 5-door Thars. They are completely different animals.

• The 2nd-gen 3-door Thar was a massive step ahead of the 1st-gen jugaad Thar in terms of user-friendliness, amenities etc., and that's why it became a runaway success. Well, the 5-door Thar takes that another 3 levels up. This car is so much more user-friendly now than even the 2nd-gen 3-door Thar.

• The XUV700, Scorpio-N & XUV300 scored the full 5 stars in the GNCAP crash tests, while the 3-door Thar impressively scored 4 stars, even without a metal roof. I have no doubt in my mind that the 5-door Thar Roxx will score 5 stars in the safety tests. Just hope its in the GNCAP as I find the BNCAP to be useless. Period.

• Really nothing like an affordable Mahindra SUV to get the world's attention. From Bombay to Pawna, from high society to rural areas, rich to poor and everyone in between....wherever you go, people are checking the Thar Roxx out. The caretaker of my sister's house in Pawna drives a Bolero; when we arrived in the Thar Roxx, his lower jaw dropped and he couldn't stop ogling at Mahindra's new SUV.

• We had a girl in an Innova slowdown on the expressway to check the 5-door Thar. We've had an Endeavour tail us for a couple of minutes to check the Roxx out. We've had villagers turning around & smiling at the Roxx. This is a car with incredibly wide appeal.

• Some cars are simply free of status. Just like the 3-door Thar, Innova, Fortuner & a few other models, the Thar Roxx will be right at home in a rich farmer's house in a remote village, as well as at a 40-crore bungalow in the posh Juhu lanes.

• Life really has its ways. The last time I came to this hotel property was in the Scorpio-N for a test drive in 2022. Somehow, this 2024 road trip plan too just fell in place effortlessly. We are coming back to the same property in the 5-door Thar Roxx, exactly 2 years since the last time I was here.

• One of the best parts about the Thar Roxx is how you can customise it. If you have the budget, please spend it passionately & personalise your Thar Roxx - customise it and make it uniquely yours. For reference & inspiration, here's how my 3-door Thar is modified - link to the thread. I love that car to bits, as much as my more expensive German sedans.

• Is there going to be cannibalisation between the 5-door Thar, Scorpio-N and XUV700? Hell yeah! Mahindra doesn't care as long as you stay within the Mahindra showroom. If you don't cannibalise yourself, someone else will gladly do it for you .

• Also keep in mind that Mahindra has smartly maintained some differentiators between its big SUVs. The XUV700 is a premium, car-like, soft & luxurious crossover. The Scorpio-N is carrying a 25-year brand legacy and has three rows of seats. The Thar is being positioned as a lifestyle SUV, carrying forward the brute off-road legacy created by the 3-door Thar. Unlike the Scorpio-N & XUV700, the Thar Roxx doesn't get a third row of seats. So, while there are a lot of similarities between Mahindra's 20-30 lakh SUVs, there are also many differences.

• Mahindra offers the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel across the Thar Roxx, Scorpio-N and XUV700 trims, albeit in different states of tune. Both engines are also paired with the same 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT transmissions. On the Thar Roxx, the petrol engine produces 160 BHP / 174 BHP, when paired with a 6-speed MT and AT gearbox, respectively. The diesel engine produces 150 BHP and 173 BHP when paired with the MT and AT transmissions. On the Scorpio-N, the petrol engine produces 200 BHP, while the diesel unit churns out 130 BHP / 172 BHP. On the XUV700, the petrol unit makes 197 BHP & the diesel engine offers 153 BHP / 182 BHP.

• 80% of Jeep Wrangler sales in the USA come from its 5-door version. In India too, we'll see similar patterns, with Mahindra predicting a 70/30 split in favour of the 5-door Thar Roxx. Approximately 10,000 Thars will be built each month, with 7,000 of them going to the 5-door version. The 3-door Thar will still have its followers due to its style (2-door sexiness is 2-door sexiness), cheaper starting price, a more fun nature, sportier and offers a convertible top, but the 3-door Thar's sales are going to be drastically affected. Even the resale value of the 3-door Thar just went out the window.

• The combination of style, practicality, features, great engine, smooth AT and sorted mechanicals is unbeatable, especially at this price point. The Thar Roxx demonstrates why Mahindra is the undisputed king of big-size body-on-frame SUVs.

• Surprisingly, Mahindra doesn't have a true direct competitor in this class of vehicle. Tata has long abandoned the body-on-frame SUV format. The Jimny is too small & underpowered, the Gurkha is backed by a weak parent, while the Fortuner is twice the price. There is some price overlap with the Innova Crysta, but it is a van.

• The Thar Roxx is a head-turner with quite a personality. This is even before an enthusiast like me starts modifying it! I like the front end of the Thar Roxx. I like the rear design too, including the naked spare wheel. However, I don't think too much of the side profile - it's rather "meh".

• I recently drove the 5-door Gurkha and with that SUV's styling, I prefer the 5-door over the 3-door. But here, in terms of the side profile and overall proportions, I like the 3-door Thar more than the 5-door Roxx (although both are great looking). One point that BHPians made is that you can get your Thar Roxx in a darker colour which makes the side profile look better and I kind of agree with that.

• The Thar Roxx stands tall and it is fun to "climb into" the vehicle. That being said, this isn't senior-citizen friendly, especially at the rear. As if in agreement, Mahindra has provided grab handles on all 4 doors.

• As you know, Mahindra has announced that Brown Interiors are coming to the Thar Roxx 4x4, and it's only a matter of time before a darker cabin is offered in the regular 4x2 variant as well. In fact, I believe at one point, Mahindra will also offer Black / Grey as an option.

• We have to realise that Mahindra knows these things better than we do. Yes, the light beige interiors will get soiled easily, yet it was a very smart move from the marketing department because, in the first look, the world got at the Thar Roxx - in reviews, pictures and videos - the light interiors made the cabin look more spacious and airy. This wouldn't have been the case if they had introduced the Thar Roxx, as an example, with black interiors. The light interiors were a marketing move and as you know, before the bookings opened on 3rd October, they'd already announced the Mocha Brown cabin.

• Mahindra has really gone all out with the interiors of the Thar Roxx & that's a big part of its appeal. For instance, the pedals get sporty aluminium covers! The interior ambience is a HUGE step up from the 3-door Thar. It's loaded with features, there's a panoramic sunroof, ADAS, ventilated seats, and a laundry list of goodies - a big contributor to the Thar Roxx's success without a doubt.

• The panoramic sunroof is big, although the placement seems to indicate it's more for rear passengers than the front occupants!! Starts more far back than usual.

• This is really attention to detail - put the turn indicators on and there's a beep...but not an annoying beep. Rather, a very soft, very low-volume, classy beep.

• Pathetic rear-door pockets can't even hold a bottle. Front-door pockets can hold just a 1-litre bottle if you squeeze it in. Mahindra really has to work on its cabin storage solutions.

• Why this step-motherly treatment to your mother? The front armrest is adjustable for length on the driver's side, but not on the passenger side.

• The sunvisor is a mix of attention to detail and the lack thereof. The good thing is it's illuminated and when you slide open the mirror cover, the light activates. The downside is that the sunvisor is way too big for this Jeep-like windscreen. As a driver, I put the sun visor down due to the bright afternoon sun, but it blocked too much of the windscreen. I had to fold it back in. In fact, the sun visor is so big that it covers approximately 1/3rd (or a little more) of the windscreen from the top!

• Despite the SUV being so loaded with features, Mahindra missed out on one useful feature. The 3-door Thar (for the initial years) got adjustable lumbar support. Mahindra should have provided that in the 5-door Thar Roxx, especially because lots of owners are going to use it as a tourer. The front seat's lower back support is average, and all those with a weak back will miss the additional support that would come from adjustable lumbar cushioning. Heck, if the 3-door Thar had it, there's no reason for the 5-door to not be equipped with it.

• There is no doubt that the driver's seat under-thigh support is poor. Won't bother you as much in the city. On long highway drives though, taller passengers will find it to be sorely lacking.

• Rear legroom is adequate and that's it (not excessive at all). The width of the bench is nice. Footroom is also just about enough, but those with big shoes will feel the vertical footroom (under the front seat) to be restrictive.

• All the doorpads have a wide top area, so rear passengers can actually use it as an armrest on the move.

• Sound quality from the Harmon Kardon system is good enough for a Mahindra OEM system, but that's it. The subwoofer brings much-needed bass. Overall sound quality is adequate, and most owners will be okay, although this is not an audio system that impresses with its SQ or outright finesse in dishing out your favourite songs. I test-drove the Tata Curvv right after & found its SQ to be far superior. In the Thar Roxx, I initially thought the audio experience to be very ordinary. Later, I tweaked the equaliser on my smartphone and started enjoying the sound quality some more. I'll give it a 6.5/10 rating overall. It's VERY important to have a good player on your phone and adjust its equaliser. In case you are streaming, then go to your YouTube Music or Spotify settings and choose the "highest quality always" setting. Then, enjoy the difference in SQ (these tips apply to all cars, but are more important in those with an ordinary audio setup).

• The 3-door Thar feels very tough, butch, and hardcore to drive. In comparison, the 5-door Thar Roxx is a family-friendly body-on-frame SUV. It's still nowhere as car-like as the XUV700, yet a family-friendly SUV nonetheless.

• 3-door Thar owners always wanted a dead pedal. The 5-door Thar not only gets a dead pedal, but it is also well-sized and at a good angle. Very practical to use in the city and on the highway in your Thar Roxx AT.

• Some old-school people like it this way = you can clearly see the bonnet while driving, unlike many other modern cars.

• The fact is, driving a body-on-frame SUV with this commanding driving position is very satisfying. People will love it. Entirely different kick versus the car-like crossovers.

• A Thar with a fast 172 BHP turbo-diesel, 174 BHP turbo-petrol, 6-speed automatic, electric seat adjustment, panoramic sunroof, sound system with sub-woofer and a planned production run of 10,000 / month. Mr. Behram Dhabhar must be rolling in laughter from the skies .

• With the new-gen turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines, Mahindra has nailed it. The lineup is way ahead of Tata which is only stuck with that old 2-litre Fiat diesel for its Harrier and Safari SUVs.

• The Thar petrol, of course, is so refined, sometimes you don't even know the engine is running. Even in this diesel, the engine is impressively refined and so darn smooth - while driving, it is vibe-free and sound levels are superbly controlled. The engine is more refined than some diesels sold in luxury cars costing 3-4 times as much (e.g. the BMW 2.0L Diesel). On the highway, even if you are revving it, engine noise never gets intrusive or too loud.

• Absolutely love the way Mahindra tunes its automatic gearboxes. The ATs are tuned for driveability, not economy. Throttle response is excellent. This is not a gearbox that upshifts unnecessarily or hesitates to downshift because of fuel economy.

• The tall seating, smooth AT, feather-light steering wheel, good low-end response, commanding visibility, and the fact no one cuts you make driving the Thar Roxx in the city such a breeze. I find it to be more fuss-free to drive than a smaller hatchback!

• Love how the gearbox doesn't freewheel, including when coming down slopes.

• You'll not even bother with manual mode in the AT. Manual mode is just there for ornamental value - you will never engage it. The single-use I see for manual shifting is in the 4x4 variant when you want to control the gear ratio at low speeds.

• Happy to update that ride quality is a massive improvement over the 3-door Thar: unhappy to report that it still has a jiggly ride at low speeds which is typical of a body-on-frame Mahindra. The suspension is always busy and on imperfect roads, it does get bumpy. You are always aware of the kind of tarmac below you. This will be the biggest deal-breaker for anyone cross-shopping the Thar Roxx with monocoque crossovers like the Creta, or someone moving up from say, a Honda City. I would recommend dropping the tyre pressures by 1-2 PSI for city use only (pump it back up for the highway).

• Let me put it another way = On anything other than perfect tarmac - the ride is busy and the suspension is busy. In comparison, the XUV700 rides so much superior. The Thar Roxx's ride quality is liveable, but it is not what I would call cushy from any angle. I'll give the suspension an overall rating of 6 out of 10. Before you buy a Thar Roxx, please ensure your family test-drives the back seat and gives you an OK.

• Surprisingly, I am driving on the expressway imperfections at speeds of 110 km/h and you sure feel all of them. Many body-on-frame SUVs & MPVs flatten the road at speeds. The 5-door Thar is not one of them. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is not a terribly bad road, yet you feel its ripples, expansion joints & imperfections even at 110 - 120 km/h.

• The lower variants of the 5-door Thar Roxx roll on R18 wheels, these will definitely ride better. I personally don't agree with the higher variant's R19 wheel size as, other than aesthetics, they offer no other advantage.

• Body roll is of course there. The Thar Roxx is a tall body-on-frame SUV, yet I'm pleased to report it's not excessive, scary or unnerving. Body roll is within acceptable limits for a tall BoF 4x4 SUV. Sure, you won't be able to attack mountain roads like you would in a Kia Seltos or even an XUV700, yet you'll be okay. Just stay sensible and keep its height & BoF structure in mind.

• Straight-line stability is satisfactory at 110-120 km/h and streets ahead of the 3-door Thar. Unlike the smaller Thar, you can comfortably cruise at 120 km/h in the 5-door Thar Roxx, it's a good highway mile muncher in that sense. The 3-door Thar gets dangerously unstable on highway dips & undulations taken at high speed - the Thar Roxx doesn't.

• What's really going to appeal to people from all walks of life - including the fairer sex - is that the Thar is very tough on the outside, and very soft on the inside (with ride quality being the sole exception). It's like a rugged tank that is easy to drive & has all the modern amenities.

• If I would buy a 5-door Thar, one of the first things I'd do is move to R18, if not R17. My 3-door Thar is running 285 tyres on R18 and that's probably the size that I'd go for.

• As with all Mahindras, being rough-road friendly is in the Thar Roxx's DNA. We took it to Pawna with rough roads, no roads, broken roads, crater-like potholes - no problem at all, she said. The car goes through them with zero fuss. That being said, it doesn't cacoon its occupants from bad roads.

• A lot of customers will be coming to the Thar Roxx from contemporary monocoque automobiles like the Honda City, Creta / Seltos, premium hatchbacks like the i20 / Polo etc. They will love the SUV's sheer presence, butch nature, tall seating, and style quotient. 50% of the sales of such models come from the looks. On the other hand, the biggest adjustments for them will be in terms of ride quality and handling. It's a steep learning curve for someone coming from a Brezza.

• ^^^ Further to the previous point, this is the kind of car that will win over a lot of customers when 'standing still' in the showroom. This is also the kind of car that will lose a lot of customers after they 'test-drive it for 10 km'.

• Among the million changes from the 3-door Thar is this crucial one = An electric power steering (instead of the 3-door Thar's hydraulic steering which just wouldn't cut it in a family car). Where the 3-door Thar's steering requires effort at parking speeds, the Thar Roxx's EPS is super light! Owners will enjoy using this steering in the city. On the highway @ 120 km/h, it firms up noticeably around the centre position, which is good as you don't want a light steering at highway speeds in a tall body-on-frame SUV.

• Especially in a car as well-loaded as this, Mahindra should have given a reach-adjustable steering wheel. As a driver with a tall, laidback driving position, I'd like to have pulled the steering a little more towards myself. Not cool, Mahindra!

• Proof that Mahindra cares about the user experience = the car remembers your ADAS preference, even after overnight parking & restart. I truly appreciate that the 'automatic emergency braking system' is off in my car. I hate how some cars automatically enable ADAS features on a restart and then, you have to jump through the different menus again to disable it. Not here to argue whether ADAS is useful or not in India...that will remain an endless 100-page thread debate. But clearly, opinions are divided & ADAS haters like me will appreciate how you have to disable it just once! In most cars, it's a royal pain to first remember that ADAS is activated, and then go through the long process of disabling ADAS features after every restart. Even in the XUV 3XO I recently drove, once you turn off ADAS features, they remain disabled.

• Modifications, modifications, modifications! The Thar Roxx is built to be modified. If the stock Thar Roxx looks so damn handsome, tasteful modifications will transform this SUV into a total head-turner. The best part about Mahindra SUVs is how customizable they are, and the level to which you can personalise your own ride. I say this again = For those unconstrained by budgets, keep 3-5 lakh rupees aside to make your Thar Roxx one of a kind. The aftermarket is going to be flooded with modifications & accessories for the Thar Roxx.

Straight-line stability @ expressway speeds is satisfactory, unlike the 3-door Thar which has terrible 120 km/h manners. Capturing this shot in front of the "Jeep" billboard isn't a coincidence:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-3.jpg

Body roll is of course very obvious in this tall BoF SUV, yet it is within acceptable limits. Just don't do anything silly around corners and you'll be okay:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-4.jpg

Our beautiful India:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-5.jpg

Have been around the world, but find none as satisfying to road-trip as India. I just love our India:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-5b.jpg

Women love the 3-door Thar & they will love the Thar Roxx even more! With its "tough on the outside, soft on the inside" package, I reckon we will be seeing many pretty girls driving this SUV. I foresee a lot of young couples buying this car:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-5c.jpg

Both are iconic brands in their own special way. A Thar Roxx (especially a well-modified one) can comfortably share garage space with luxury cars, as is the case with the 3-door Thar too. Here is a BHPian who went to pick up a Thar in his Lamborghini!
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-8.jpg

Another stunning property we took the Thar Roxx to:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-9.jpg

Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-10.jpg

Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-11.jpg

I always sneak in some quality Team-BHP time, even on vacations. When you love what you do, it isn't really work. It's living your passion:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-12.jpg

Open showers are really the in-thing at all these boutique hotels. Totally love them:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-13.jpg

Delicious farm-fresh meals:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-14b.jpg

Only EVs roaming around the property which has a total size of 300 acres!
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-15.jpg

The theme is peace & serenity...
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-17a.jpg

...boy, did they live up to it:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-17c.jpg

Took the Thar Roxx through village roads & found the headlights to be good enough (didn't do any highway driving at night, so will wait for ownership reviews for comments on that):
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-20241004_205516.jpg

Already planning the next road trip in a luxury electric SUV:
Mahindra Thar Roxx Review-photo-021024-3-24-26-pm.jpg

Last edited by Omkar : 30th October 2024 at 21:58.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:14   #6
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Fantastic review Addy and Jaggu and in super quick timelines too. Please do let me know when you get it in Mumbai - can’t wait to get an up close look and feel. I’ve been drooling over the images of the 5 door Thar and can’t wait to read this in more detail. That new grey color looks absolutely fantastic.

My only product planning gripes with the Roxx are - I wish they’d also offered a 4x4 variant on the petrol automatic. I feel they could have created two different top of line options for the petrol automatic variant. A “lux variant” 4x2 like the currently specc’d AX7 and a rough road “Trail” version which could have done without ADAS and sunroof, sported 4x4 capability and had a more dirt friendly interior. Now that would have been perfect!

There are enough petrol biased buyers who might want to daily a Thar during the week, have proper off road fun on the weekends and can’t afford or don’t require a 2 or 3 car garage. The 5 door Thar would have been properly versatile for such needs.

Anyway, these are minor minor gripes and honestly, I’m well and properly smitten, as are many others. Totally relate to the “I don’t need one but I still want one” sorta sentiment.

Last edited by Axe77 : 17th August 2024 at 11:34.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:20   #7
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Oh man! Wish features like ventilated seats and leather steering along with armrest could be retrofitted in 3 door version. Been driving 3 Door since the past two years, these features do make me drool, ngl!

I hope Mahindra has resolved the Android Auto disconnection issues and out of the blue DPF niggles in this version.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:29   #8
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Nice and crisp review !

From a long term strategy point of view, I don't see Mahindra continuing with the Thar 3 door for long now (at least the RWD version).

My personal opinion is that the 5 door version of the Thar would garner good response in terms of bookings and sales, and the cannibalization of the Thar 3 door would be so much that it would not make business sense to continue with it for long.

Consider this, a typical Thar 3 door buyer, when looks and feels the Thar 5 Door at the same showroom, is sure to be impressed, because he gets a bigger vehicle (the bigger the better in Indian context, as we all know), more seating capacity and cargo space and all the positives of the previous Thar's with the modern touches like the panoramic sunroof, ADAS, ventilated seats et al. Given the price difference is not so much between the 3D and 5D Thar, and the genre of customer base that the Thar 3D attracts, at least 8 out of 10 prospective Thar 3 door customers would instantly convert to the Thar 5 Door, and would not mind paying extra for the 5 Door.

Even from Mahindra's own cost of manufacturing point of view, given the fact that the Thar 5 door shares a lot of equipment with the other models in the stable like the steering, instrument console, music system, speakers etc from 3XO, Scorpio-N, XUV700, it makes much more economic sense to sell only the 5 door in the long term, and also to streamline the manufacturing costs.

Personally I feel Mahindra might discontinue the Thar 3 door RWD completely by Q1 2025, and eventually also the Thar 3 Door 4WD , till the niche demand for the 4WD ceases to exist and all stocks are offloaded.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:38   #9
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

With the present trims in the Thar 5D, Somehow I feel the 4WD petrol Thar 3D may become a VFM offering , pitted against the less powerful and diminutive Jimny.
PS- I find the name "Thar Roxx" very cheap, totally unbecoming of a marquee brand.

Last edited by fhdowntheline : 17th August 2024 at 10:40.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:45   #10
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Excellent review, which clears all doubts.

Many thanks to the team. Out in it's natural habitat: the grill, perpendicular door handle, second door horizontal strip*, and triangle shaped window, look less polarizing. Full justice to the vehicle. The cabin is seriously done really well. All feedback garnered and incorporated by M&M.

*seems to be a stressed member to hold the weight of the roof above. The Roxx does not seem to have a skeletal metal structure for the frame augmented to the original Thar.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:47   #11
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Excellent review and contrary to public opinion I really like the six pack grill which adds muscle to the car. The headlamps too are designed really well. Perfect all rounder but the name has ruined its appeal. Thar Armada would have been a killer of a name.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:57   #12
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Someone remind me, why should one buy the Fortuner over this?

Jokes aside, While the Fortuner has no direct competition (not counting Gloster), this one will definitely get some attention from potential Fortuner Buyers too, especially the ones who don't really need those last row seats.

Been drooling over the pictures and can't wait to get my hands on it

Not giving a 4x4 Petrol AT is a downer for the NCR folks, but I suspect Mahindra will address that soon. Heck, on the positive side it does give you the confidence to drive through the craters and rivulets that needs to forcefully navigate during the Monsoons

Add me to the I don't need it be I want it list please

Last edited by amit_2025 : 17th August 2024 at 11:08.
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Old 17th August 2024, 10:59   #13
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Great report by the TeamBHP team! This report, published just in 1 day or so, is quite comprehensive and covers all the important points and details. Loved reading it while the car launch is still so fresh. Awesome work!

Now coming to this car (ROXX name is still too awkward - even to type; I seriously wish it had a better name), almost everything is already said in the report and a few comments above. Nothing more to say. But still, let me state a couple of views from my side, which are of course my personal views.

1. The biggest bummer is no 4x4 in Petrol. That is a deal-breaker for someone like me, especially in the BS6 era where diesel engines are a huge headache. This was the biggest reason why Scorpio N was off my list (or someone like me who is now back to petrol forever, and still wants a 4X4), and sad that Thar 5D (can't type that actual name again!) has the same problem.

2. The design elements are way too odd and weird, especially at the rear. Mahindra tired to overdo the design and totally lost the simplicity and coolness of the 3D Thar design. Some parts of the car look straight out of an accessories shop!

3. However, I think the Black color hides the design quirks to a large extent, and in my personal view, this Thar 5D looks the best (relatively) in Black. The other colors, especially the brighter ones like White and Red only highlight the design issues in the rear.

4. As my personal summary, if someone could get past the weird looks, the weird name, and most importantly lack of 4x4 in Petrol, then this could be a great car for multi-purpose use in Indian driving conditions and for those long distance adventure drives!

Looking forward to a detailed Test Drive now at the earliest possible opportunity!
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Old 17th August 2024, 11:00   #14
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

One thing i have noticed is that mahindra cars often lack storage space, even the scorpioN gets a single cup holder! On the Roxx, the door bins are too small. Come on mahindra, this is a lifestyle vehicle, its owners are more likely to carry stuff and nicknacks.

I do like the interior though, looks very plush and upmarket. Wonder when these features and interior trims will make its way onto the xuv700 and the ScorpioN

Also, the centre armrest is already dirty!
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Old 17th August 2024, 11:00   #15
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Re: Mahindra Thar Roxx Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by DCEite View Post
Personally I feel Mahindra might discontinue the Thar 3 door RWD completely by Q1 2025, and eventually also the Thar 3 Door 4WD , till the niche demand for the 4WD ceases to exist and all stocks are offloaded.
Impossible.

- It is the 3-door Thar that built the Thar's image. It is a very important car to the brand perception.

- Mahindra has shown that it will build 3-door offroaders, even if demand is low. 1st-gen Thar did under 1000 units / month, yet was consistently on sale for a long time.

- Jeep too, internationally, builds the 3-door Wranger, even though its sales are poor compared to the 5-door. Land Rover keeps building the 3-door Defender.

- Mahindra knows the 3-door does offer lifestyle advantages that the 5-door doesn't (convertible, 2-door style, shorter wheelbase is more fun offroad, cheaper entry price).

- Mahindra has a long track record of building 2-door offroaders, even if the sales have been minuscule (going back to the CJ340 & Classic days). It's all for the branding & image, not the bottomline.
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