Mahindra Thar Roxx Review: It's Unfair

Mahindra was listening. Everytime we journalists complained about the Thar, they were listening. Everytime an owner got frustrated with the Thar, they were listening. And now, the Thar is back - bigger, better and bolder than before.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is the long anticipated Thar 5-door SUV that finally gives as much importance to the family, as it did to the driver. Prices for the RWD variants start from Rs 12.99 lakh and go up to Rs 20.49 lakh (ex-showroom). While it has no direct rival, it will compete with the likes of the Mahindra Scorpio N, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier and the Maruti Jimny. 

Looks

The biggest positive point of Thar that we loved so much was its road presence. And with Thar Roxx, that thing has improved even more. Yes, of course, this car is longer than before, the wheelbase is also longer. However, even width has increased and that adds a lot to its road presence.

But not only that, Mahindra has also changed a few things from the 3-door and added a lot of premium elements here.The biggest change is this grill, which has become thinner than before. Apart from the grille, you now get new LED DRLs, LED projector headlamps, LED indicators and LED fog lamps.

The biggest change you will notice on the side is that of these alloy wheels. These are 19-inch alloys on which these big all-terrain tires are wrapped. This rear door is completely new and here too these 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 is the remote opening fuel filler cap, which can now be operated from inside the car. 

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. Lighting elements, of course, LED tail lamps, LED indicators are also available. Another good thing is that now you are getting a rear camera from the factory. So you don't have to get it from the dealership. 

Boot Space

The boot is much better than the 3-door. If we talk about the official rating, then it gets 447 litres of space. Which, on paper, 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. 

Interiors

The driving position in the Roxx is better, but not very tall driver friendly. If you are under 6 feet tall, then you won't feel uncomfortable. You sit high up, get a good vision out and it offers confidence while driving. But if you are taller, the footwell will start to feel a bit cramped. Also, because this steering wheel only adjusts for height and not reach, you will have to sit close to the footwell which makes for an awkward driving position. 

Fit, Finish and Quality

To say that the Roxx shares its interiors with the 3-door Thar will be a unfair. While the layout is the same to a large extent -- the materials and their quality have completely changed. 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 too feel premium. Never thought that a Thar can look and feel so premium from the inside.

Features

Features too have seen a big improvement. The driver side console now has all the power window switches, lock and lock switches and ORVM controls in one place. Plus, you have automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, more steering controls, auto day/night IRVM, automatic climate control, ventilated seats, 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 Adrenox software and gets wireless Android Auto along with some inbuilt apps. It is smooth to use but there are still some issues with this infotainment system. Apple CarPlay is not working and the wireless Android Auto connection keeps breaking. These things should be fixed with an update. But Mahindra's record regarding these updates is not very good. What’s good though is the A 9-speaker Harman Kardon sound system which has a lot of customization options and sounds excellent. 

You also get a digital instrument cluster which is the same as the Scorpio N. 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 quality could have been smoother and better. And the last feature that we all like very much. That is this panoramic sunroof. 

Safety

In Thar Roxx, you are not only getting improved features, but better safety features as well. Right from the base variant you get 6 airbags, electronic stability program, 3 point seat belt for all passengers and a brake-locking differential. The higher variant get front parking sensors, a 360 degree camera and level 2 ADAS. 

Cabin Practicality 

Cabin practicality is also better in the Roxx with better door pockets that can accommodate a small bottle, a large wireless charger tray, cupholders, under armrest storage and a mucch better glove box with cooling function. Furthermore, in the RWD, the 4x4 shifter makes way for a large storage pocket which is very practical. The charging options include a 65W Type C charger, a USB charger and a wireless charger. There is no 12V socket in the front. 

Rear Seat Experience

This Thar Roxx will have to excel here if you want to impress you. TO get inside, you will have to use the side step. 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. 

Once inside, you get surprising space. Even a 6-foot person will not 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 according to your need. 

Not just the space, but the features are also good. You get a centre armrest with 2 cup holders, seat back pockets have a dedicated wallet and phone storage, rear AC vents, rear phone charger sockets and tiny door pockets. 

Engine And performance

There is one thing common, and one thing is uncommon between 5D Thar and the 3D Thar. While the engine options are common - you still get a 2.0-litre turbo petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel option. The uncommon thing is that both the engines are working on a higher tune. That means you get more power and torque in this SUV. 

The added power and torque are here to compensate for the added weight. The turbo-petrol is the pick for the city. The drive is effortless and overtakes are easy. The outright acceleration is impressive and the Thar rapidly picks up speeds. The refinement is excellent and the cabin noise is also in control. 

There is no lack of power in the diesel engine either. Overtakes are easy in the city and even the high speed overtakes on highways are done with ease - even with a full load. While it won't let you feel the lack of performance, it is not as urgent with power as the petrol. However, if you want a 4x4, then you will get the diesel only. The good thing is that if you take the diesel engine option - then you will save some money in the running cost. Expect a mileage of 10-12kmpl for the diesel and 8-10kmpl for the petrol.

Ride Comfort

The Thar’s biggest challenge is ride comfort over bad roads. Full credit to Mahindra that have completely revised the suspension setup with frequency selective dampers and new linkages. But despite that, the difference is not that significant with the Thar 3D. 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 leval change, the occupants get tossed around. Even in the city in a small pit -- the car starts moving side by side and the occupants are shaken up. 

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 to the rear seat passengers. But if you are used to the ride quality of an offroader or the Thar 3D, then this definitely feels an upgrade. 

Off-Road

The Thar's off-road credentials have always been very sorted. 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 try to turn the car sharply, the rear inner wheel locks ato give you a tighter turning radius. With its high ground clearance, good approach and departure angles, going off-road in this SUV should not be a challenge. 

Verdict

We knew that the Thar Roxx was going to be better than 3D Thar. However, what surprised us was the magnitude of the difference. The road presence has improved, cabin quality is impressive, feature list is excellent, cabin practicality has improved and even the space is good for people up to 6 feet. 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. Except one. 

The ride quality. If you are used to driving the Seltos and Creta, you will not feel comfortable in the Thar Roxx. And the rear passengers will feel that even more. It's unfair that an SUV this good, has this one flaw which is potentially a deal breaker for many.