Mahindra Thar Roxx: The Mahindra Thar has long held a special place in the hearts of Indian automotive enthusiasts as a symbol of rugged capability and adventurous spirit.
With the introduction of the Thar Roxx, Mahindra has taken a bold step forward in the evolution of this beloved nameplate, expanding its appeal while maintaining the core DNA that made the original so iconic.
This five-door iteration represents a significant milestone not just for the model but for India’s growing automotive ambitions on the global stage.
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Heritage and Evolution
The Thar’s lineage traces back to India’s manufacturing of Willys Jeeps under license beginning in the 1950s.
For decades, these utilitarian vehicles served primarily as workhorses in rural areas, agricultural settings, and for military applications.
The first modern Thar, launched in 2010, represented Mahindra’s attempt to transform this purely functional vehicle into something more consumer-friendly while maintaining its off-road capabilities.
The second-generation Thar, unveiled in 2020, marked a quantum leap in refinement and appeal. While retaining its hardcore off-road credentials, it introduced modern amenities, improved safety features, and considerably better on-road manners.
This version dramatically expanded the model’s appeal beyond enthusiasts to include lifestyle buyers seeking something distinctive in an increasingly homogenized SUV market.
The Thar Roxx builds upon this foundation by addressing the primary limitation of the standard model – its two-door configuration and limited interior space.
By extending the wheelbase approximately 300mm and adding rear doors, Mahindra has created a more practical proposition without compromising the model’s essential character.
Design Philosophy: Authentic Evolution
The Thar Roxx demonstrates the challenges and opportunities in evolving an iconic design.
Mahindra’s designers have successfully maintained key Thar design elements – the upright stance, circular headlamps, vertical-slat grille, and squared-off wheel arches – while adapting them to the extended five-door format.
The additional length has been integrated harmoniously, maintaining proportional balance despite the increased dimensions.
The rear doors blend seamlessly into the design language, with the distinctive shoulder line continuing uninterrupted across the extended profile.
The roofline maintains its practical height while incorporating a slight slope toward the rear for a more dynamic appearance.
Design details specific to the Roxx include redesigned LED headlamps with distinctive daytime running light signatures, slightly more pronounced fender flares, and a revised rear section with improved glass area for better visibility.
Roof options continue to include hard-top, soft-top, and convertible configurations, maintaining the open-air experience that distinguishes the Thar from conventional SUVs.
The color palette extends beyond traditional off-road tones to include more contemporary options, appealing to urban buyers while heritage-inspired hues like Olive Green maintain connections to the model’s military roots.
Interior: Practicality Meets Premium
The most dramatic transformation evident in the Thar Roxx is its interior, which represents a substantial departure from the utilitarian cabins of early Thars.
The five-door configuration fundamentally changes the user experience, with rear seats that offer genuine comfort for adult passengers and significantly improved accessibility.
The dashboard design retains the horizontal emphasis and rugged character of the standard Thar but executes it with higher-quality materials and improved integration of technology.
The centerpiece is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless smartphone connectivity and an array of vehicle functions.
This is complemented by a digital instrument cluster that can be configured to display different information sets depending on driving conditions.
Material quality shows marked improvement, with soft-touch surfaces at key contact points, leatherette upholstery options with contrast stitching, and thoughtful details like embossed logos and metallic accents.
However, surfaces remain practical and somewhat washable – acknowledging that owners may still subject the vehicle to muddy adventures.
The rear seating area benefits tremendously from the extended wheelbase, with legroom that compares favorably to conventional SUVs in this size class.
The more upright seating position maximizes headroom, while wider rear doors facilitate easy entry and exit.
The rear seats split and fold to expand the cargo area, addressing one of the key practical limitations of the three-door model.
Storage solutions throughout the cabin reflect real-world usage patterns, with multiple cup holders, a cooled center console, door pockets sized for water bottles, and clever small-item storage options.
Charging ports for both front and rear passengers recognize the modern need for device connectivity during adventures.
Climate control incorporates dual-zone functionality on higher trims, with dedicated rear vents ensuring passenger comfort in India’s varied climate conditions.
Premium features like ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and a high-fidelity audio system further distance the Roxx from its utilitarian ancestry.
Mechanical Architecture: Balancing Capability and Comfort
Beneath its evolved exterior, the Thar Roxx maintains serious off-road credentials through a body-on-frame construction and a proper four-wheel-drive system with low-range transfer case.
This traditional approach ensures that the increased size and weight don’t compromise the model’s ability to tackle challenging terrain.
The suspension system represents a careful recalibration to balance off-road articulation with on-road comfort.
The front independent suspension uses double wishbones, while the rear employs a multi-link arrangement with coil springs – a significant advancement from the leaf springs of earlier generations.
This setup allows for impressive wheel articulation off-road while delivering a more composed and comfortable ride on pavement.
Ground clearance exceeds 200mm, with approach, breakover, and departure angles optimized to maintain capability despite the longer wheelbase.
A water wading depth of approximately 650mm ensures confidence when crossing streams or navigating flooded roads during monsoon season.
Powertrain options include both petrol and diesel offerings carried over from the standard Thar but optimized for the Roxx’s different weight and aerodynamic characteristics.
The 2.0-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine produces approximately 150 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque, while the 2.2-liter mHawk diesel generates similar horsepower with 370 Nm of torque. Both engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The four-wheel-drive system features electronically selectable 2H, 4H, and 4L modes, allowing drivers to optimize traction for different conditions.
Mechanical locking differentials enhance capability in extreme off-road situations, while brake-based traction control systems provide additional assistance when needed.
Technology Integration: Connected and Capable
The technology suite in the Thar Roxx reflects contemporary expectations while incorporating features specific to its adventure orientation.
The AdrenoX connected car platform enables remote monitoring and control of various vehicle functions through a smartphone app, including location tracking, geofencing, and remote climate control activation.
The infotainment system incorporates an off-road information display that shows critical data like incline angle, compass direction, wheel articulation, and drivetrain status – valuable information during technical off-road driving. This feature acknowledges the vehicle’s dual purpose as both family transport and adventure machine.
Driver assistance features include six airbags, electronic stability control, hill descent control, and hill start assist.
A 360-degree camera system helps navigate tight trails and urban parking spaces with equal confidence, while tire pressure monitoring helps prevent issues before they become problems on remote trails.
The audio system delivers impressive sound quality despite the challenging acoustics of the boxy cabin. USB, Bluetooth, and wireless charging capabilities ensure modern connectivity options are readily available.
Market Positioning and Target Audience
The Thar Roxx represents a strategic expansion of the Thar product family, positioned to appeal to buyers who appreciate the model’s authentic character but require greater practicality than the three-door model provides.
This positioning allows Mahindra to compete more directly with conventional SUVs while offering a distinctive alternative rooted in genuine capability rather than mere styling cues.
The primary target audience includes adventure-oriented families, outdoor enthusiasts who need to transport gear and companions, and those seeking a vehicle with authentic character in a market increasingly populated by similar-looking crossovers.
The expanded interior space and additional features also make it viable as a primary family vehicle rather than a recreational second car – significantly expanding its potential market.
Pricing positions the Thar Roxx between the standard Thar and Mahindra’s more premium SUV offerings like the XUV700, creating a logical progression through the brand’s lineup.
This strategy allows customers to choose the level of refinement and practicality they require while still accessing the Thar’s distinctive character and capability.
Mahindra Thar Roxx
The Mahindra Thar Roxx represents a thoughtful evolution of an iconic Indian vehicle, successfully preserving its distinctive character and capability while addressing the practical limitations that restricted its appeal to a broader audience.
By adding rear doors, interior space, and contemporary features without compromising its fundamental design philosophy or off-road credentials, Mahindra has created a vehicle that can serve as both family transportation and adventure machine.
This evolution reflects broader trends in the global SUV market, where consumers increasingly seek authentic experiences and distinctive character but are unwilling to compromise on practicality and refinement.
The Thar Roxx navigates this challenging balance more successfully than many competitors, offering genuine capability rather than merely adventure-themed styling.
For Mahindra, the Thar Roxx represents not just a product expansion but a statement of the company’s maturity as an automaker capable of preserving heritage while embracing modernity.
In a global automotive landscape increasingly dominated by electrification and autonomy conversations, the Thar Roxx proudly embraces the emotional connection between driver, machine, and environment that has always been at the heart of the Thar experience – now available to a broader audience than ever before.