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Mahindra Thar Roxx review, first drive. The Thar gets more practical now

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The Mahindra Thar has been a truly aspirational vehicle since its launch. The masculine looks and go-anywhere capability has been the biggest draw. Back in 2020, the Thar became a lot more sophisticated, but yet it was not exactly a family vehicle. With the new Thar Roxx, Mahindra is trying to offer the Thar the best of both worlds. So what has been done to achieve this?

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is substantially larger and is longer, wider and taller than the three-door version. The door handles are located on the C-pillar. The 19in wheels look good.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: Design details

The most important factor of the Thar Roxx remains to be its design. It is unmistakably the icon that it was, and even to this day one can link it to the original CJs. The front end is reminiscent of the three-door version, but look closely and you will notice new LED headlamps complete with C-shaped DRLs. The grille is new too and within the grille resides a small camera at the Mahindra Thar Roxx comes with Level 2 ADAS functionalities. The fender flares still house a light panel but this time it functions only as the indicators. In profile, the Thar Roxx reveals its real story. Quite obviously it is longer and now houses an additional door on each side that allows access to the rear seats. The Thar Roxx now rides on 19in alloys which is new too. The tyres are MRF Wanderers and the block patterns on it scream go-anywhere capability. Mahindra is also offering a side step for easier ingress/egress. At the back comes new LED tail lights and the large spare wheel sits on the two-part rear door. The Thar Roxx now comes with a metal hardtop which in this top-of-the-line dual-tone shade makes it look cool.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx comes with a new grille that houses a camera as the vehicle now gets Level 2 ADAS. The headlamps are LEDs now and also come with C-shaped LED DRLS.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: Chassis and Dimensions

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is based on Mahindra’s new Glyde platform. It is essentially the one used by the Mahindra Scorpio N but is heavily reworked to suit the needs of the Roxx. The new Roxx is 443mm longer, 50mm wider and 79mm taller than the existing Thar three-door. It also sports a rather long wheelbase which at 2850mm, is 400mm longer than the existing Thar. So quite clearly the Mahindra Thar Roxx is a completely different vehicle compared to the Thar three-door. But when it comes to off-road capability, things remain identical. The Thar Roxx features an approach angle of 41.7 degrees and a departure angle of 36.1 degrees, which is identical to the three-door. However, thanks to the longer wheelbase ramp over angle stands marginally different at 23.9 degrees. Water wading capabilities too remain at 650mm and in all, the Mahindra Thar Roxx proves to be as potent a machine as the Thar.

The dash looks premium and there is a 10.25in infotainment system. The SUV also gets an electric parking brake along with an Auto Hold function. Six airbags are standard on the Thar Roxx.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: Interior and features

The Thar Roxx comes with a completely revamped interior. However, it remains unmistakably a Thar. The dash comes with soft touchpads and the stitching on it adds to the premium feel. The plaque on the passenger side remains identical to the three-door and somehow it makes you feel good. The 10.25in infotainment system comes with a plethora of functionalities which include displaying off-road data which we love. The system is also linked to a rather brilliant nine-speaker Harman/Kardon audio. The instrument panel is an all-digital affair and also offers potloads of data. At the same time, it is rather easy to read and sift through. The front seats of the Thar Roxx are ventilated and the system works well. The driver’s perch is electrically adjustable too. The seats themselves offer good comfort and although the overall upholstery comes in white, Mahindra tells us it is easy to clean up. Additionally, the entire cabin comes with numerous grab handles which should come in handy off the road.

There is ample boot space and the Mahindra Thar Roxx also gets a 60:40 split rear seat.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: How is the back seat? Boot space

The rear doors open up to an angle of 90 degrees. Now this has been done for easier ingress/egress as the door aperture is rather small. The footrest section at the back is also small, but it sure aids in getting into the cabin. Adding to it is a strategically positioned grab handle. Once inside, the seats are comfortable and offer good space. They are adjustable for lean too and one can easily find a comfortable seating position. The massive panoramic sunroof helps give the interiors a sense of space and airiness. There is a centre armrest as well with twin cupholders. This comes in handy as the door pockets are rather small. The rear AC vent console also comes with a Type-C charging port. Overall then, the rear seat of the Mahindra Thar Roxx is sure spacious. Thanks to the rather large dimensions, the Thar Roxx comes with a substantially large 644-litre boot. It’s a large flat section which sure can hold quite a substantial bit of luggage. Adding to that is the 60:40 split seats offered.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx feels planted on the road at high speeds.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: How is it to drive?

We were driving the AX7L diesel automatic variant which comes with a 2.2-litre common rail diesel engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Power output stands at 175bhp and torque generated is 370Nm. This variant also features the 4wd system and comes with features like Brake Lock Differentials at both ends and even an Electric Locking Differential at the back.

Step into the cabin and one feels invincible. Visibility up front is good and one can surely feel king of the world. The NVH packaging too is top class and the diesel engine is barely audible within the cabin at any speed. The Mahindra Thar Roxx also takes off rather spiritedly and the speedo rapidly climbs up to 100kmph. Mahindra tells us that it can sprint to 60kmph 4.8 seconds. At high speeds, the Thar Roxx surely holds its ground well and is far better than the three-door version. Body roll is also well controlled and the suspension absorbs well. There sure is a sense of confidence at high speeds and one feels well in control. However, at slower speeds, the ride quality is a bit on the stiffer side and one sure feels the bumps on the road. While we did not get a chance to delve off the road, we drove through a dense forest section where the tarmac was rather broken. On these narrow roads and broken tarmac the suspension sure felt stiff and jolts were transferred within the cabin. But is it very harsh? Nope. But what sure is a game changer is the fact that the steering is rather light and offers good feedback too. Turning around such a large car is no big deal and easier to turn than many other smaller SUVs.

The interiors feel large and spacious. The seats are comfortable too.

Mahindra Thar Roxx: Verdict

Mahindra is positioning the Thar Roxx as a family vehicle and in many ways it offers all that a family needs. It gets features, comfort, space and also a good deal of sophistication in this avatar. The engine too feels rather good and driving it is no hard work. While Mahindra has launched the vehicle, it has released only prices of the RWD version. We believe that the 4wd versions will top out at Rs 21 lakh + and even at this price, the Mahindra Thar Roxx surely rocks.

Currently, Mahindra has announced prices for just the RWD variants.

2024 Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L 4WD

  • Engine – 2.2-litre, 4-cyl, common rail diesel
  • Power – 175bhp@3,500rpm
  • Max torque – 370Nm@1,500-3,000rpm
  • Gearbox – 6-speed auto
  • LxWxH(mm) – 4,428×1,870×1,923
  • Wheelbase(mm) – 2,850
  • 0-60kmph – 4.8 seconds
  • Price: Rs 21.00 lakh (estimated)

Published By:

Rahul Ghosh

Published On:

Aug 17, 2024

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