Mahindra Thar ROXX

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is a lot more than the Thar with rear doors. Launched in August 2024, it takes the Thar’s rugged off-road SUV formula and builds it into something more tech-loaded, more family-friendly and more universally appealing too. 

I have spent an extensive amount of time with the Thar Roxx, driven it off-road, compared it with other Mahindras and have even driven it across 4 states of India in a single day! Here’s the review of what it gets right and what it needs to do better.

The biggest positive point of the Thar that we love so much is its road presence. With the Thar Roxx, that has improved further. Yes, of course, this car is longer as is the wheelbase. However, even the width has increased and that adds a lot to its road presence.

While the Thar Roxx looks familiar, it’s surprisingly easy to tell apart, especially because of the different front grille and C-shaped LED DRLs. That aside you get LED projector headlamps, LED indicators and LED fog lamps as well.

The biggest change you will notice on the side are the alloy wheels. These are 19-inch alloys wrapped in big all-terrain tyres. This rear door is completely new and here too, the exposed hinges carry on. The biggest talking point of these doors are the door handles. If they were flush-fitting, then I would have liked it better. 

Another big convenience feature that has been added here (vs the 3-door) is the remote opening fuel filler cap, which can now be operated from inside the car. Quick note: If you were to remove the black roof portion of the car, you can imagine what it would look like as an open top jeep or convertible. Unfortunately, neither one of those are options.

The rear profile of this car looks quite different from the 3-door. That is because the top cladding has been changed a lot. Plus here you also get a high mounted stop lamp. This wheel is also the same full-size alloy 19-inch wheel which looks quite big mounted at the back. Of course, LED tail lamps and LED indicators are also available. 

The Thar Roxx has loads of old school appeal and has the right mix of modernities to make sure function matches form. We have given you a detailed real-world look at Thar Roxx’s design in our image gallery. For ones who prefer uniqueness, the Thar Roxx is also offered in a special Star Edition, that brings exclusive colour schemes and other visual tweaks.

My personal pick would have to be Battleship Grey when it comes to the colour options. Other options include Stealth Black, Tango Red, Nebula Blue, Everest White, Deep Forest and Burnt Sienna. If you want to take a look at all the colour options via real-life images, this report will be helpful.

Design & Quality

Similar but not the same. While the layout is similar to what you get in the 3-door Thar -- the materials and their quality have completely changed. This is the hint of the more urban family focused approach the Roxx takes. You now get soft leatherette material on the top of the entire dashboard with contrast stitching. You also get a soft leatherette cover on the steering wheel, door pads and elbow pads as well. The seats feel premium too. In fact, the Thar Roxx isn’t too far off from the XUV700 when it comes to interior quality and in some regards it does a notch better!

Front Seats

The driving position in the Roxx is good but will take some getting used to if you’ve driven only sedans or hatchbacks in the past. In fact, even if you’re used to compact SUVs like the Creta, this is a new experience. You sit high up, get a good view out and it offers confidence while driving. Just be mindful of the wide fenders especially while driving in traffic.

Now while the Thar Roxx is a large car, the front seats aren’t exceptionally spacious individually. Users up to 6ft in height will be comfortable but the seating space does feel narrow. If you’re very tall or have a hefty build, you will find the centre console and/or door grab handle rubbing against your leg.

The footwell will start to feel a bit cramped if you’re tall too. Also, because this steering wheel only adjusts for height and not reach, you will have to sit close to the footwell which makes for a slightly awkward driving position. 

In fact, we’d go so far as to say that if you’re a driver who is larger in size, you will find the seating space and seat comfort much better in the Scorpio-N than in the Thar Roxx.

Rear Seats

To get inside, you will have to use the side step. The good thing is that there is a very conveniently placed grab handle and the doors open 90 degrees. Younger members of the family won't face any issues -- but the elder members of the family won't like this very much. The door aperture is also slightly narrow which makes entering the rear seat very different vs a normal urban SUV.

Once inside, you get a lot of space. Even a 6-foot person will not have any issues with the leg, knee and headroom. Despite the panoramic sunroof, the space is very impressive. Furthermore, the underthigh support is good and the cushioning feels firm and supportive. To add to the comfort, you can even recline the rear seats (by quite a bit!) according to your preference.

Storage Options

Cabin practicality is good in the Roxx with door pockets that can accommodate a small bottle, a large wireless charger tray, two front cupholders, under armrest storage and a large glove box with cooling function (you can place several cold drink cans here). Furthermore, in the RWD, the 4x4 shifter makes way for a large storage pocket which is very practical.

Rear seat occupants get an armrest with two cupholders and seatback pockets with individual slots for mobile phones.

Charging Options

The charging options include a 65W Type C charger, a USB charger and a wireless charger. There is no 12V socket in the front which is surprising. Rear seat occupants get a type-C charge port along with a slot to place your phone/device next to it.

Boot Space

The boot offers 447 litres of space. On paper, this is more than the Hyundai Creta. And because there is no parcel shelf here, you have more freedom to stack luggage the way you want.

You can keep the big suitcases straight up here and even stack one on top of the other. You can stack these suitcases sideways as well because the boot floor is wide and flat. We managed to store the luggage of 4 people including 2-3 large speakers in the boot for a 1500km road trip from Kochi to Pune.

Loaded - that’s one word to describe the Thar Roxx’s features list. The driver side console now has all the power window switches, lock and unlock switches and ORVM controls in one place. Plus, you have automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, more steering controls, auto day/night IRVM, automatic climate control, front ventilated seats, a powered driver's seat, and a push button start stop. In terms of features, Mahindra has not cut any corners. 

The 10.25-inch touchscreen runs their latest AdrenoX software and gets wireless Android Auto along with some inbuilt apps. It also gets Apple CarPlay but the feature was activated a few months after the car went on sale. If your Thar Roxx (AX grade) isn’t running it yet, you can have it done via the service centre. The touchscreen is smooth to use but both many owners and I have experienced glitches at times where the screen doesn’t boot or hangs mid-operation. What is good, though, is the 9-speaker Harman Kardon sound system which sounds excellent. 

You also get a digital instrument cluster which is the same as the Scorpio N’s. The 10.25-inch screen has different layouts, with good graphics and can also show Google maps when using Android Auto. Also, the left and right camera show the blind spot view right here, but the camera processing quality could have been smoother. And the last feature that we all like very much is the panoramic sunroof that’s also plus-sized to match the stature of the car.

Right from the base variant you get 6 airbags, electronic stability program (ESP), 3 point seat belts for all passengers and a brake-locking differential. The higher variants get front parking sensors, a 360 degree camera and level 2 ADAS. 

Bharat NCAP crash tested the Thar Roxx and the SUV scored a 5/5-star crash safety rating for both adult and child occupant safety.

Engine Options And Performance

The Thar Roxx gets a 2-litre turbo petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel option. Both engines are offered with manual and automatic transmission options but only the diesel is available with the option of 4x4. Want to know which variant of the Thar Roxx comes with which engine option? Feel free to read this detailed report. 

2-litre Turbo-petrol

City Performance

Mahindra’s new age engines are easily class leading. The petrol engine is super smooth on startup and you need the lightest of throttle inputs to drive in the city. Keeping up with traffic and making overtakes takes just part-throttle inputs and the power delivery is smooth as well.

Gear changes are easy with the manual transmission and the clutch is light too, though, it does have a long travel. Given the choice we’d pick the 6-speed automatic as it’s smooth, predictable and responsive too. Fuel-efficiency is not a strong suit with this engine in any condition. Depending on traffic, you can get around 7-9kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

You’ll enjoy your highway drives with this engine. It offers a fun and exciting driving experience which is commendable considering how big, boxy and heavy the Thar Roxx is. Overtakes will be effortless and reaching triple digits is a quick experience. Even on the highways, we’d recommend you go for the automatic as the gear shifts are smooth and jerk free. Here you can get a fuel efficiency of around 10-12kmpl.

2.2-litre Turbo-Diesel

While diesel engines are a bit more sensitive to government regulations and their unpredictability, the diesel is not only my preferred engine, it’s also the one most Thar Roxx customers purchase.

Diesel City Performance

This engine makes its startup more apparent vs the petrol. You feel more vibrations and the engine noise is notably higher too. That being said, it isn’t crude and is still quite refined for a diesel. It has more than enough power for your city usage. Overtakes are effortless, you enjoy the easy low-rev torque delivery, and you can cruise in second or even third gear with ease. With the manual, you get a fairly light clutch, but if you drive in the city a lot, we’d recommend the automatic. It changes gears smoothly and downshifts whenever necessary (albeit with slight lag). With this engine, you can get a fuel economy of around 11-12kmpl in the city with the manual transmission. The automatic versions are likely to deliver around 8-10kmpl.

Diesel Highway Performance

Here too, you reap the benefits of strong performance at low revs and getting up to 100kmph or crossing it takes no effort. Sure, the petrol is a touch more rev happy but the diesel is plenty spirited and feels unburdened even with a full passenger and luggage load. Notably, if you want the punchier drive experience with the automatics, you’d have to opt for the AX automatic variants as they make more power and torque than the MX automatics; whether you get the AX 4x2 or AX 4x4.

As far as fuel efficiency goes, with this diesel unit you can expect around 16kmpl on the highways.

Off-Road Performance

The Thar's off-road credentials have always been praiseworthy. In the Roxx, Mahindra has further added an electronically locking rear differential while the brake locking rear differential comes as standard from the base variant. There is another new trick. When you are in 4-low and turn the car sharply, the rear inner wheel locks to give you a tighter turning radius (Intelli-turn). With its high ground clearance, good approach (41.7 degrees), rampover (23.9 degrees) and departure (36.1 degrees) angles, going off-road in this SUV will not be a challenge.Ride Comfort

On smooth roads, the Roxx is excellent. It loves well-paved tarmac highways and is a mile muncher. However, as soon as it encounters an expansion joint or a level change, the occupants get tossed around. Even in the city, slowly taking on broken sections of road will result in a fair bit of side-to-side tossing. Mahindra has given the Roxx a better suspension setup than the Thar 3-door and even the Scorpio-N but it does still feel like a big old school SUV over bad roads i.e. you need to drive through them quickly if you want to avoid feeling the surface changes in the cabin.

If Mahindra could have solved this one problem, then it would have been very difficult to criticise this SUV. But this is such a big problem that if the roads around your house are bad, then the Thar Roxx will feel very uncomfortable, especially for rear seat passengers. But if you are used to the ride quality of an offroader like the Thar 3-door, then this definitely is an upgrade. 

Handling

It may seem like an SUV of this size would be daunting to drive, but it isn't. The steering is light, as are the controls, so while you’re aware of its size, it doesn’t feel heavy to steer or maneuver. In fact, even the steering on a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara feels heavier. On the highway too, it feels comfortable to drive but bear in mind that it’s a big and tall SUV, so make sure you take curves and corners carefully.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is available in six broad variants: MX1, MX3, MX5, AX3L, AX5L and AX7L. Mahindra also offers a special Star Edition for buyers looking for a more distinctive version of the SUV.

Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1

• Gets both petrol and diesel engine options with a manual transmission.
• Exterior features include steel wheels, LED projector headlamps, LED tail lamps and a split tailgate.
• Cabin gets fabric upholstery, a semi-digital instrument cluster and manual AC.
• Features include a touchscreen infotainment system, four power windows, push-button start and steering-mounted controls.
• Safety kit comes with 6 airbags, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, traction control, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3

• This is the entry-level automatic variant for both petrol and diesel powertrains.
• Gets additional exterior features such as wheel covers and a rear wiper with washer.
• Additional features include cruise control, auto headlamps, auto wipers, electrically adjustable ORVMs, rear-view camera and an HD touchscreen.
• Safety kit adds an auto-dimming IRVM and rear parking camera.

Mahindra Thar Roxx MX5

• Except for the diesel 4x4 automatic, every engine and transmission option offered with the Thar Roxx is available in this variant.
• Exterior gets 18-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, LED projector fog lamps and a single-pane sunroof.
• Cabin gets leatherette upholstery, rear AC vents and a sliding front armrest.
• Additional features include wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, front parking sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Mahindra Thar Roxx AX3L

• Exterior changes are limited, but the cabin gets a more premium feel with leatherette dashboard and door trim inserts.
• Additional features include a 10.25-inch digital driver's display and automatic climate control.
• Safety kit gets Level 2 ADAS features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and high-beam assist.
• This variant is available only with a diesel-manual powertrain.

Mahindra Thar Roxx AX5L

• Available exclusively with the diesel automatic powertrain in both rear-wheel-drive and 4x4 forms.
• Combines the premium features of the MX5 with the technology and ADAS package of the AX3L.
• Also gets a panoramic sunroof, connected car technology, Alexa integration and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition

• Gets unique styling elements such as a piano-black grille, piano-black 19-inch alloy wheels and an exclusive Citrine Yellow exterior shade.
• Cabin gets an all-black leatherette theme with suede accents, replacing the lighter interior theme seen on the regular variants.
• Additional features include a Harman Kardon 9-speaker sound system, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, surround-view camera and connected car technology.
• Available only in rear-wheel drive form with Petrol AT, Diesel MT and Diesel AT powertrain options.

Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L

• Exterior gets 19-inch alloy wheels and the full suite of premium design elements.
• Cabin gets ventilated front seats, a powered driver's seat and premium interior materials.
• Additional features include a Harman Kardon sound system with Dolby Atmos, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera with blind-spot monitor and connected car technology.
• Safety kit adds the full Level 2 ADAS suite.
• Except for the petrol-manual combination, every engine and transmission option offered with the Thar Roxx is available in this variant.

CarDekho Recommends

• Pick the MX5 variant if you're looking for the best value-for-money Thar Roxx. It gets most of the features buyers expect in a modern SUV, including alloys, a sunroof, leatherette upholstery and wireless smartphone connectivity, without a significant jump in price.
• If you want a richer ownership experience, the AX5L is the sweet spot of the range. It combines premium features, ADAS technology and the convenience of an automatic gearbox while costing noticeably less than the fully-loaded AX7L.
• For buyers who want the most feature-packed Thar Roxx possible, the AX7L remains the variant to choose. And if you prefer a more distinctive look with an easier-to-maintain black interior, the Star Edition is worth considering.

While everyone expected the Thar Roxx to be just a bigger Thar, what surprised us is the magnitude of the difference vs the 3-door. The road presence has improved, cabin quality is impressive, feature list is excellent, cabin practicality has improved and even the space is good.. The boot space is better than even the Creta and Seltos. Overall if you look at it from the eyes of a family SUV, then the Roxx meets all the expectations. 

Just bear in mind that the ride quality may not be ideal for everyone’s usage. If you largely encounter smooth and well-built roads, the Roxx will keep you happy. But if you frequently face broken and badly built roads, passenger comfort will feel compromised vs urban SUVs like the Creta or Grand Vitara.

Other Options To Consider

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Reasons To Consider

• More comfortable for taller users

• Captain seat option available

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as feature-loaded 

• Not as capable off-road

Hyundai Creta

Reasons To Consider

• Better ride quality

• Easier to live with in the city

• More fuel-efficient

Reasons To Ignore

• Doesn’t have the same road presence

• Not as capable off-road

Tata Harrier

Reasons To Consider

• Better rear seat comfort

• Better ride quality

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as capable off-road

• No 4x4 or petrol engine option available