Complete Guide to Buying a Mahindra Thar Roxx

Some cars are popular, some are iconic and some seem to ride on a wave of fresh attention. But away from all the limelight, lies a space that is dominated by cults. Ruling over prestigious legacies that span over decades, these are names that redefine segments, evolving over time, and standing tall against all competitors, without the need for any extra attention. The Mahindra Thar is one such cult that needs no introduction. The crown jewel of the go-anywhere SUVs, the Mahindra Thar in all its glory was and continues to be one of India’s most wanted lifestyle off-roaders since 2010. 

In 2024, Mahindra has yet again worked hard to take the Thar up a notch, meticulously improving its shortcomings, including the lack of rear space, and overall lifestyle elements with the Mahindra Thar Roxx. The capabilities of the Thar blended into a lifestyle SUV that is luxurious, spacious, eye-catching and practical, the Mahindra Thar Roxx elevates the iconic Thar legacy into something that caters not just to off-road enthusiasts but also to those who seek a feature-rich SUV for the entire family. With a whole new architecture giving the Roxx enhanced comfort, better safety and more space, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is the evolution the Thar always needed. With the launch of the Mahindra Thar Roxx, the Thar badge is now even bigger and much more diverse. So if you are wondering whether the Roxx is for you, then here’s a complete buying guide for the Mahindra Thar Roxx to help you analyse every little thing about the SUV, including specifications, variant lineup, and after-sales experience.

Mahindra Thar Roxx Specification

Taking the Thar legacy to the mid-size SUV segment for the first time, the Mahindra Thar Roxx directly locks horns with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, Tata Safari and some of its siblings including the XUV700, Scorpio Classic and the Scorpio N. Nonetheless, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is hands down one of the most refreshing options in the segment that offers go-anywhere capabilities onboard a package that is luxurious and premium. The Mahindra Thar Roxx, with its aggressive price tag and power-packed engines, is all set to emerge as one of the best-selling SUVs in India. Here’s what the Thar Roxx packs in:

Why you should consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx

While there might be several options in the midsize SUV segment, the Mahindra Thar Roxx still manages to stand out from the crowd with several advantages that are focused towards providing its consumers with an unmatched experience. If you are curious to know what makes the Thar Roxx a refreshing option, here are a few reasons why you should consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx over other competitors in the same price bracket.

Astonishing Looks and Superior Practicality

When it comes to looks, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is astonishing from every angle. With an assertive, muscular and aggressive presence, the Roxx has its own elegant angles that give the SUV a premium feel. The entire 5-door silhouette of the Thar Roxx speaks volumes about Mahindra’s design approach that has truly enhanced what the Thar has always stood for. When compared to competitors like the Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier, and Kia Seltos, the Thar Roxx brings a design that does not try hard to be too contemporary. The Thar Roxx is modern but does not attempt to go overboard with it. 

The Thar Roxx retains the classic muscular SUV characteristics in addition to subtle modern additions that make it premium yet capable. This gives the SUV a look that resonates with the Roxx’s go-anywhere approach while at the same time showcasing the evolution Mahindra intelligently incorporated. When compared to rivals such as the Jimny and Gurkha, the Thar Roxx shines bright with elements such as C-shaped LED DRLs, a panoramic sunroof, a wide aggressive grille and customisable tops. When compared head-on, the Thar Roxx’s striking appearance looks stunning over and above what the Thar offers. 

Loaded with Features

One of the biggest shortcomings of the Mahindra Thar was its lack of premium features. Well, with the Mahindra Thar Roxx, much like several other shortcomings, even this has been taken care of. The Mahindra Thar Roxx, being the carmaker’s latest offering, is one of the most feature-rich SUVs in its segment. When compared to its off-road rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the Force Gurkha, the Thar Roxx seems miles ahead with several modern-day features such as a panoramic sunroof, premium audio, digital cockpit and much more that the two simply misses out on. 

Comparing the Roxx with mid-sized SUV giants like the Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier and Kia Seltos, the lifestyle SUV from Mahindra shines with its highly spacious and premium interiors that offer all contemporary features that competitors offer including the likes of ventilated seats, twin 10.24-inch digital screens, 360-degree camera, Level-2 ADAS, connected car tech and much more. Other noteworthy features of the Thar Roxx include best-in-segment NVH levels, 650 mm water wading capacity, smart terrain modes and drive options, electronic locking differential and much more. With so much offered, the Thar Roxx is truly one of the most loaded SUVs in the market and a great value for your money. Not to forget, the SUV also offers the largest-in-segment wheelbase, thanks to its new chassis architecture. 

Unmatched Off-Road and All-terrain Capabilities

The ace up the Mahindra Thar Roxx’s sleeve is surely its unmatched off-road capabilities. For decades, the Thar badge has delivered nothing but sheer excellence when it comes to off-road capabilities. The Roxx is no exception as it carries forward the Thar’s undisputed off-road legacy in a package that is much more advanced and evolved. Even the 4×2 trims are equipped with versatile terrain modes, brake lock differential, 650 mm of water wading capacity along with Snow, Mud and Sand terrain modes that help the SUV ease its way through tough terrains.

The A-Game however, is offered by the 4×4 trims that truly take off-roading to a whole new level. With an Electronic Locking Differential the Thar Roxx lets you maximise traction and minimise wheel spin even on the toughest of terrains. The Roxx also offers an intelligent Crawl Smart system that automatically detects obstacles to adjust throttle response to offer optimum output. All that coupled with the SUV’s new suspension architecture and segment-first advanced hydraulic rebound stop shock absorbers helps the Roxx deliver excellent body control on undulated roads.

Why you should not consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx

Despite its advantages, the Mahindra Thar Roxx has its own set of shortcomings which is quite natural. While the Thar Roxx definitely offers some great advantages over its competitors, there still are a few compromises that must be considered before you make a decision, especially when the competition is diverse and the market is filled with some great options. Here’s where the Thar Roxx disappoints:

A Premium Price Point

While there is no doubt that the Mahindra Thar Roxx is a major leap from the Thar both in terms of utility as well as the premium approach, the price point at which the Roxx plays could be rather disappointing for some, especially for the upper-mid and top-end trims that offer the best of what the Roxx has up its sleeve. With a price that overlaps with competitors like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier and even the Mahindra Scorpio N, the Mahindra Thar does not offer much value, especially to those who are not avid off-road enthusiasts and are looking for a lifestyle SUV for city and highway runs. For the average SUV user, the Thar Roxx might be a refreshing option, but its price-to-feature ratio could be a disappointment considering that options like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are still far more suited as premium and modern lifestyle SUVs.

Boxy look and classic SUV styling

With the Thar badge officially entering the mid-size SUV segment, the Roxx now locks horns with some of the most iconic SUV options like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. When compared, the Thar Roxx, despite offering a muscular and aggressive stance, lacks the contemporary and conventional design that a majority of premium lifestyle SUV buyers now look for. While there is no doubt that the Roxx’s design is a good refresh to the Thar’s identity, the lack of curves and rather simple profiles might disappoint many. For those seeking the true-blue SUV feel and performance, the similarly priced Scorpio N seems to better deliver upon the premium yet true-blue SUV feel. The Thar Roxx lands somewhere between a rugged off-roader and a new-age lifestyle SUV, struggling to find balance. Nonetheless, looks still are subjective and that is the beauty of it.

Mahindra Thar Roxx Variants

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is offered in two broad trims: the MX and AX trims. Both trims offer three variants each with MX offering the MX1, MX3 and MX5 while the AX offers the AX3L, AX5L and AX7L. The cheapest Thar Roxx variant is the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1 which has a price tag of Rs. 12.99 Lakh, while the most expensive variant of the Thar Roxx (RWD) is the Thar Roxx AX7L RWD which comes with a price tag of Rs. 20.49 Lakh. Here’s the complete variant and price lineup of the SUV revealed till now:

Best Mahindra Thar Roxx Variant to Buy

While the Mahindra Thar Roxx is well equipped in terms of features and safety, straight from the base model, there still is quite a long list of variants to choose from, with each offering a little more than the other. However, when pitched against each other, the Thar Roxx MX5 seems to be the best pick for both petrol and diesel lovers as it offers both manual and automatic trims as well as both RWD and AWD options. The MX5 is the most diverse variant when it comes to powertrain and transmission options.

Mahindra Thar Roxx Warranty and Service Costs

In its journey towards becoming a pan-Indian OEM, Mahindra’s commitment towards a hassle-free sales and service experience is truly commendable. Being a Mahindra product, the Thar Roxx comes with a 3-year/unlimited kilometres warranty and 24/7 roadside assistance. In terms of maintenance, the Thar Roxx offering both a petrol and diesel option will demand an annual service cost of about Rs. 8 to 10 thousand for the Diesel trims, while for the Petrol ones, the cost will be around 6 to 8 thousand. This makes the Thar Roxx’s 5-year maintenance cost fall anywhere between Rs. 40 to 50 thousand.

Summary

With a great legacy to carry forward, the Mahindra Thar Roxx has a lot to deliver. And from the looks of it, it seems as if the Roxx is ready. A near-perfect blend of premium luxury, muscular styling, superior comfort and great performance, the Mahindra Thar Roxx has all it takes to take the Thar badge to the next level. In its practical 5-door avatar, the Thar Roxx is the bridge that connects adventurous all-terrain capabilities with sophisticated lifestyle elements. A great pick for the entire family, the Roxx serves several purposes. A refreshing vibe amidst highly fierce competition, the Thar Roxx is one of the most promising lifestyle SUVs that is capable enough to take on every challenge. A strategic addition to not only the Thar lineup but also to the brand’s inventory, the Roxx truly delivers.

FAQs about Mahindra Thar Roxx