The Mahindra Thar Roxx distinguishes itself as the sole ladder-frame, rugged SUV with optional 4x4 among a sea of monocoque, front-wheel drive SUVs in the midsize segment. And, unlike the regular Thar, which limits practicality with just 2 doors, the Roxx could very well be the only SUV in your garage for all your needs. Does that make it the perfect midsize SUV then? Or are there any compromises compared to its monocoque rivals? If you have been considering purchasing the Thar Roxx, read on to know about three reasons why you should buy the SUV, and three reasons why you could consider something else. Let’s begin with the reasons to get one.
Strong and refined engine options
Both petrol and diesel engines have class-leading power figures.
There’s no dearth of powertrain options on the Roxx. You can choose from a combination of 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel, both of which come with automatic or manual transmissions; it's only the diesel that get a 4x4 option. In manual guise, the petrol engine produces 162hp and 330Nm, while in automatic guise, it produces 177hp and 380Nm. The diesel, meanwhile, produces 152hp and 330Nm in 4x2 guise and 175hp and 370Nm in 4x4 guise.
Not only are both petrol and diesel engines more powerful than class standards, they are also very refined units. The petrol engine’s performance is strong and linear, helping the Roxx gather speed briskly and smoothly. The diesel, too, is very impressive and hard to fault. It has a broad spread of torque and good grunt for off-roading and highway duties, but what really stands out about the diesel is its refinement. The 6-speed Aisin-sourced torque converter offered with both engines is also very smooth and is the gold standard for automatics in this category.
Image and features
Rugged appeal with premium features.
There’s no denying the road presence the Thar Roxx commands. The rugged image it carries, frankly, is reason enough for some people to get the Roxx. But that doesn’t come at the cost of premiumness or a lengthy equipment list. It’s equipped at par with most monocoque rivals, with top variants offering features like all-LED lighting, 19-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, 10.25-inch touchscreen, a digital driver’s display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, powered driver’s seat, 6-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control and 6 airbags. The interior is also built well and has soft-touch plastics, brushed metal and piano black finishes. It is a lot more premium than the 3-door Thar.
Offroad ability
Unmatched in this regard.
While most may never take the Roxx off-road, it’s at least good to know that your SUV is thoroughly capable of it. Even in 4x2 guise, which is what most buyers are likely to opt for, the Roxx’s robust build and high ground clearance will take you further than any monocoque soft-roader will. And in 4x4 guise, there’s little that intimidates the Thar. It is not just off-road ability, but the suspension setup also lends the Thar Roxx good ride comfort over rough patches of road; it tramples potholes like no monocoque SUV can. In fact, it’s such a capable all-rounder, it was the winner in our comparison test against similar off-road SUVs like the Maruti Jimny and Force Gurkha.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you may not want to consider the Thar Roxx.
Ride and handling not as good monocoque rivals
Body roll around corners, busy ride.
The downside of the ladder-frame construction is its lumpy ride at low speeds, and you can feel imperfections in the road, especially in the back seat. When cruising, too, the ride remains busy. It is not jarring or harsh as the big tyres nicely round-off sharp edges, but it is certainly not quite as good as its monocoque competitors. Also, this being a tall and heavy SUV, there’s a fair bit of body roll around corners and the front moves around a bit at high speeds. So, if ride and handling is a priority, you’d be better off with a monocoque SUV.
Fuel economy
Both petrol and diesel engines are thirsty.
The Roxx’s big and powerful engines means fuel economy was never going to be one of its strengths. Besides, Mahindra SUVs have never been known to be particularly fuel efficient. The diesel engine, in mixed city and highway driving conditions, returns just about 10-12kpl, while the petrol is a lot worse, returning fuel efficiency in single-digit units. If you are going to use the Thar as your only vehicle and for everyday commutes, it is going to be heavy on your pocket.
Practicality
Not enough storage spaces.
While the Roxx’s interior is well built, it doesn’t score very well in terms of practicality. There aren’t enough storage spaces in the centre console, the door bins can barely fit a 1-litre bottle and there’s not enough foot room on manual gearbox versions either. Plus, the high ground clearance means you must use the grab handle and the footstep to haul yourself into the cabin – not ideal for many.
