Mahindra Thar ROXX – Road Test Review – Real Big Daddy of SUV’s?
The Thar does not need any introduction, it has become a brand itself with it the Mahindra lineup. The brute SUV has found a huge number of fans, buyers, aspirants for it over the period of time. The Thar has also been termed as the budget version or a reincarnation of the Jeep Wrangler. Now the Indian car maker takes the Thar to the next level with the Thar ROXX which is the 5-door version of the original 3-door one. But wait, that’s not just it the ROXX also get a lot more to the Thar making it more desirable for the masses, for someone who always wanted to get the Thar but didn’t as it was a 3-door model and because it lacked the tech, comfort and safety features that the segment players were offering. We head to the spice capital of India to Kochi to experience the Mahindra Thar ROXX for this detailed review for you.
Food for Thought
Mahindra introduced the Thar in 2010 for its first generation which replaced the MM530. In 2020 the 2nd generation of the Thar was introduced, in 2018 Mahindra also introduced the Thar as the Roxor in the USA which was assembled from CKD kits in Michigan. The latest generation Thar Roxx was launched on the 15th of August and it shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Scorpio N. The Thar has been a favorite with off roading enthusiasts and real brute SUV fans alike.
Exteriors
In terms of dimensions the Thar Roxx stands at 4428mm in length, 1870mm wide, 1923mm in height and a wheelbase of 2850mm. If you compare this to the 3-door Thar well the Roxx is 443mm longer, 50mm wider, 68mm taller and 400mm more of wheelbase. The 3-door Thar always had a lot of road presence and the Roxx just multiplies this in a big way. In terms of design the basic Thar style language is very much present but with lots of changes. In the front the Roxx comes with a brand new grille with 6-box design finished in glossy black. Chunky MAHINDRA branding finds its place on the grille along with grooves meant to aid in opening the bonnet lid.
Headlamps retain their round design language but now come with C Shaped LED DRL and also get the white LES Projector light treatment. This brand new headlight unit makes up for the striking face of the SUV along with the new 6-Pack design grille. The bumper gets finished in black unpaired finish with the middle area getting some silver color treatment. The new bumper also houses the round white LED fog lamps while LED turn lamps are mounted on the flared fenders in typical Thar fashion.
The side profile is what tells you with more proof that this is not the regular Thar but the ROXX. Here the extended wheelbase and the extra length of the SUV is very easily seen. Also visible is the 226mm of ground clearance that makes the ROXX look more mighty. The flared fibre wheel arch inserts also house LED turn indicator’s. The hinges on the doors and the bonnet etc are left exposed in typical Thar style enhancing the brute appeal.
You get the Thar ROXX badging in chrome on the right fender while the wheel come with 19 inch tyres a brand brand new dual tone alloy design. The extended side profile also gets a heavy duty step board that can take a lot of abuse. Wing mirrors get electric adjust and auto fold feature while they also sport the Thar branding proudly. The left side fender gets a radio antenna again in typical Jeep/Thar fashion.
The roof gets blacked out and is of fixed type, this also houses a panoramic electric sunroof that is a first for a Thar. The rear doors are also a first for a Thar and that’s what makes this a ROXX, the door handles here are mounted on the Door frame around the C- Pillar giving a rather different look. There also is a unique angular body line that runs down towards the rear housing a fixed quarter glass. The fuel lid also now can be opened using the knob beside the drivers seat unlike earlier where you had to open it using the key getting out of the Older Thar.
The rear profile is also reworked fully on the ROXX, you get all new design C shape LED stop lamps along with integrated turn indicators in them. The center mounted spare wheel gives the side opening boot lid and the rear profile its true SUV character. The rear glass opens upwards again on typical Thar style, this glass gets defogger and also a wiper for it. The rear bumper is also all new housing stop reflectors on it.
Interiors
Step into the Thar ROXX and you will notice the complete transformation that the new cabin has actually received. The all new dashboard gets soft tough faux leather wrapping, round AC vents retain their design along with slim chrome inserts. You now also get grab handles on both the sides to aid easy entry, also another grab handle on the crash pad area. The key highlight of the new dashboard are the twin 10.25 inch displays, one is the touchscreen AVN system and the other is the digital drivers screen. The AVN system gets all the connectivity options which include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, FM, AM and this crisp clear display also doubles up as the screen for the 360Degree camera. You get mobile charge ports and also a wireless mobile charge pad.
Speaking of the audio system the Thar ROXX comes with a 560W 9-speaker with subwoofer premium audio system that plays audio through 12 channels with speakers mounted in the doors and also in the roof for that surround theatre effect.
The lower part of the dashboard is finished in light ivory color while you also get a special metal badge which states its model, serial number and also reads as Proudly Made By Mahindra. The drivers display screen is crisp to read and reads out all the telltale status and warning notifications.
The steering wheel is a three spike design with leather wrapping and all the MFD buttons on it, you get height adjust only on this steering and the adjust for reach is sorely missed. The glovebox gets soft touch opening and also cooled feature.
The Thar Roxx also gets a single zone climate control unit. The cabin lights in all get white LED treatment, the roof liner too is finished in light ivory color along with the seats. The center console houses the gear shifter and the 4×4 manual shifter to give that raw SUV feel. Behind the shifter are a pair of bottle holder space and also an adjustable twin armrest along with storage space under it.
Speaking of the front seats the driver seat now gets full electric adjust while both the front seats get the seat ventilation feature. Front Seats get good amount of cushioning and offer some nice bird eyes view of the road ahead. Loads of light enters into the cabin with the Roxx now coming with a large sized panoramic sun roof.
Rear seats get two adjustable head rests along with a folding arm rest with bottle holders. Rear seats also get 40:60 split feature that extends the Passengers here also get two grab handles and map pockets along with inbuilt mobile holders. Headroom, knee room, shoulder room and under thigh support is pretty neat with the cabin area having loads of space all over.
The Thar Roxx comes with a boot capacity of 644 litres which is more than good for much more than your weekend trips.
Engine – Performance – Suspension
The Thar ROXX comes with two engine options, you get the 2.0L turbo Petrol and also the 2.2L Diesel unit to choose from. The Petrol option makes 177PS and 380Nm of torque while the Diesel engine comes in two tunes – one with 150PS with 330Nm and other with 175PS of power with 370Nm. Transmission options include the 6-Speed manual and the 6-speed automatic options. You get Rear Wheel Drive options for the trim while you also can opt for the 4×4 option along with the manual transmission on the diesel option for now.
How does the Thar Roxx drive?
Lot has changed in terms of the drive feel and overall performance of the Thar Roxx if you compare it to the 3-door version. Firstly the cabin feels a lot more silent even when you rev the engine, next is the in cabin comfort level that has shot up drastically due to a host of improvements in terms of cabin insulation and the use of superior materials. The steering now gets an electric assistance making it a lot lighter but it does have some good much needed feedback. The clutch is also a lot lighter now along with medium travel on it.
Gear shifts are positive while the Thar ROXX drives in a more mature fashion even at high speeds. There is some amount of body roll evident but then that is very less if you compare it to the 3-door version. Power buildup is quick and the Thar ROXX feels rather agile even after being of large proportions and weight. If you an an off road enthusiast the ROXX 4×4 system can handle anything and take you anywhere you want it to with a smile on its face. Well you also get a water wading capacity of 650mm and an approach angle of 41.7 degree with a departure angle of 35.1 degree and a ramp over angle of 23.9 degree making this a all in all brute off-road ready beast.
Safety
The Thar ROXX becomes the first Thar model to gets 6-airbags, 3-point seatbelt for all seats, ISOFIX seat anchors, front row seat belt height adjust as standard. Apart from this you get ADAS Level 2 safety suite which includes more than 20 safety features that work in tandem with the radars sensors and the 360 degree cameras
Verdict
Mahindra Thar 3-door was an instant hit and still sells in huge number, some buyers did stay away from it being 3-door and a bit low on features but now the car maker has got over all of those stoppages with the Thar ROXX that offers not only 5-door comfort but also makes the Thar lots plusher and loaded with tech, comfort and safety features all of this keeping the iconic Thar DNA intact.
Well if you are out there wanting a true blue SUV that comes with all the goodies and more but can also be a brute off roader as and when demanded this the Mahindra Thar ROXX if just perfect for you. Prices for the Thar ROXX start at a mouth watering ₹12.99 Lakh and go up to ₹20.49 Lakh. If you were waiting for the Thar to get civilized then your time has come now with the Thar ROXX.
