Key highlights
- 2.0-litre turbo-petrol with 6-speed AT makes 380 Nm of torque.
- Fantastic refinement and NVH levels; effortless city and highway manners.
- Big on road presence, comfort, and features, but fuel efficiency hovers around 8–10 kmpl.
Design and Road Presence
Let’s get one thing out of the way first, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is an attention magnet. Much like the three-door Thar, this five-door version is impossible to miss. Its squared-off stance, tall body, and iconic proportions are instantly recognisable, but the added practicality of a proper rear cabin makes it more appealing to families who always admired the Thar but couldn’t justify living with just two doors.
It still isn’t the perfect family SUV, ingress and egress remain a challenge for the elderly but, it is far more usable than its three-door sibling.
Engine and Performance
Under the bonnet is Mahindra’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol mStallion engine. In the six-speed torque converter automatic we drove, it produces 130 kW (174 hp) and 380 Nm of torque, sent to the rear wheels only. That’s an important detail—unlike the diesel, which offers 4×4 hardware, this petrol version is strictly RWD.
On the move, refinement is the standout quality. At idle, it barely makes a sound. At city speeds, it’s whisper quiet. Even at triple-digit highway speeds, there’s little engine, wind, or tyre noise inside. This is not something you could ever say about the older Thar.
Performance is strong. In Sport (Zoom) mode, the Roxx launches hard, surges past 100 km/h quickly, and keeps pulling with confidence. The automatic gearbox is smooth, shifts without jerks, and doesn’t disturb passengers even when driven aggressively. Manual mode is available, though shifts aren’t lightning quick—there’s about a second’s lag. Still, for spirited driving, the engine-gearbox package is enjoyable and surprisingly polished.
Ride and Handling
This is a body-on-frame SUV, so some compromises are expected. The suspension is tuned for comfort, but there’s always a degree of bounce and movement, especially on broken city roads. That said, it rarely crashes into potholes or unsettles passengers. Over highways, it feels planted, stable, and safe even beyond 120 km/h—something the old Thar could never claim.
Steering is light, which makes city driving easy despite the Roxx’s size. It doesn’t feel like a heavy SUV from behind the wheel. Body roll is present when you push it around corners, but not excessive. Emergency lane changes don’t unsettle it, and ADAS features (lane-keep assist, blind spot cameras) add an extra layer of confidence.
Braking is progressive, with some nose dive under hard braking, but nothing alarming for a tall SUV.
Cabin and Comfort
Step inside, and the Roxx immediately feels more premium than any Thar before it. You get a large panoramic sunroof, a digital instrument cluster with multiple layouts, ventilated front seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The seats are wide, supportive, and comfortable for long drives. Even tall passengers will find ample headroom, and Mahindra has thoughtfully added grab handles for easier entry. That said, the height of the cabin still makes ingress tricky for senior citizens.
NVH deserves a special mention again—the cabin is remarkably insulated, letting you enjoy music, conversation, or simply the silence on a long highway run.
Fuel Efficiency
Here comes the catch—the Thar Roxx Petrol AT is thirsty. In city driving with some idling, the reviewer achieved around 8–9.6 km/l, and on the highway, figures may stretch to 10–12 km/l if driven gently. With a 57-litre tank, expect a range of about 400–450 km in mixed use.
Mahindra does offer idle start-stop to save fuel, but the real-world efficiency gap between the petrol and diesel is significant. If you crave longer range and fewer fuel stops, the diesel makes more sense.
Verdict
The Mahindra Thar Roxx Petrol Automatic is not the most logical choice if you’re looking purely at efficiency or value. But it makes a strong case for itself with refinement, effortless drivability, features, and that unmatched Thar image.
It’s smooth, comfortable enough for daily use, and powerful enough to keep you smiling on open roads. More importantly, it has matured into a vehicle that you can genuinely consider as your family’s second (or even first) SUV, provided fuel bills don’t scare you.
For buyers torn between a Scorpio-N, XUV700, Tata Harrier, or Safari, the Thar Roxx offers something none of them can—character. You don’t buy it with your head, you buy it with your heart.
