Mahindra Thar Roxx : The Mahindra Thar’s new generation was a game changer when it arrived – it definitely showed us what an affordable off-roader could look and feel like in India.
Then, for those who craved even more drama, presence and, well, street (or trail) cred, there was Mahindra, which has now thrown a spanner into proceedings in the form of the Thar Roxx edition.
It’s not a subtle update, not a minor trim, this new variant. The Thar Roxx is all about turning heads, kicking sand and standing tall – literally and figuratively.
If the normal Thar is a mountain goat, the Roxx is the thar that’s been given war paint.
Now, let’s delve deeper into what goes into making the Mahindra Thar Roxx a head turner, trail hunter of a beast.
Mahindra Thar Roxx Design: Making Strength an Art
The Roxx edition takes the tough base which is already the Thar and adds several notches of aggression to it. It includes a factory-fit metal off-road bumper, rock slders, tailgate-mounted jerr can holder and a roof-mounted LED auxilliary lightbar. The quality tells in the styling – this is a production machine.
To heighten the aggression further, Mahindra has opted for blacked-out alloy wheels, chonk all-terrain tyres and Roxx-branded decals on the body. It features red tow hooks, as well as subtle red accents, making it look more posh as well as menacing.
This is, in spirit, the Thar, just that bit more bold and bloody-minded.
Cabin Technically Basic, but Plenty to Like
Inside, the Thar still feels very much like a Thar, if you’ve been in the current one. It continues to prioritize function over form with plenty of hard plastics and water-resistant upholstery that are built to take a beating.
The Roxx does receive a couple of cosmetic enhancements, though, as it comes with custom seat covers featuring Roxx-branded red stitching and new all-weather floor mats.
The dashboard design is clean and simple. For the discerning customer, the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and manual air conditioning, cruise control and steering-mounted controls should take care of most creature comforts. But make no mistake — this is still more a command center than a luxury lounge.
Performance and Drivability: The core of Thar
For what it’s worth, there are no mechanical changes beneath the surface — and frankly, that’s a good thing. The Thar will keep its trusty powertrains: Oh no change there as well when it comes to the Thar RoxxE and the Roxx depending on their top-o’the-stand-off configuration.
2.0L turbo petrol (150 PS, 320 Nm)
2.2L diesel (130 PS, 300 Nm)
Engines are paired to either a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic and both are fitted with a 4×4 low-range gearbox as standard. Then this combo provides the ideal balance of brute torque and mechanical assurance.
It is a little bit heavy and bouncy over patchy roads on the city. The steering is light, but feels rather numb at triple-digit speeds. But get off the beaten path — and the Roxx comes into its own.
It can plod through water, climb over boulders and skim across sand as if it were designed for the task.
Ride and Handling: Off-Road First, Everything Else Second
The suspension is set up for off-road articulation, not plush highway float. Every bump in the road is going to be felt, but that’s the price you pay for real off-roading performance. High-speed cornering? Not its strong suit. Scaling a hill or wading across a stream? Absolutely.
The Roxx isn’t for the faint of heart, rather for those who live for dirt trails and mountain climbs.
Features and Safety
Feature wise, you get the basics:
Dual airbags
ABS with EBD
ESP with rollover mitigation
Hill-hold and hill-descent control
ISOFIX child seat mounts
Rear parking sensors
It may not go toe-to-toe with feature-laden crossovers, but it does the basics well.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Word class road presence and aggressive styling
from the factory features advertising Factory-off-road-accessories
Proven 4×4 drivetrain
Petrol and diesel engines to choose from
Ready to rock and roll at the dealer.
Approach/departure and high water-wading angles
Cons:
Firm ride on paved roads.
Fuel efficiency isn’t great
Limited boot space
Back seats not comfortable for long trips
Lacking with modern technology such as 360-degree camera or ADAS
Still a two-door making it impractical
Mahindra Thar Roxx Final Verdict
The Thar Roxx is not a car for everyone—and that’s the best thing about it. It is daring, it is unabashed and for those who delight in adrenaline and challenging terrains.
It might not be your daily urban runabout, but on the off-road, and to hell with driver aids, it will steal your heart in a matter of minutes.
Whether you are serious about your off-roading or you’re simply looking for a car that matches your unruly streak, the Thar Roxx is probably not just a fine option, but it may in fact be the only one that meets the… well, requirements, shall we say?