The most anticipated SUV, the Mahindra Thar Roxx, has finally made its debut. The 5-door SUV has the capability of a no-nonsense off-roader with all the modern convenience and safety features. It may end up cannibalizing the company’s best-seller, the Scorpio N, more so the Classic version. We take a look at the Thar Roxx’s features that set it apart from its ladder-on-frame competitors, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the Force Gurkha.
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Multiple engine options
The Thar remains the only SUV in its class to offer petrol and diesel engines. Mahindra is confident that the Thar Roxx will be the number one SUV in the Indian market, hence it is offering a plethora of powertrain options. The Thar Roxx is available with two engine choices: a 2-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel, each with two different power outputs. The base petrol engine delivers 159.5 bhp and 330 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The higher-end petrol variant generates 174 bhp and 380 Nm, coupled with a 6-speed automatic torque converter.
The more affordable diesel version offers a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic torque converter. This engine produces 150 bhp and 330 Nm. The premium diesel model, available solely with an automatic transmission, produces 172.4 bhp and 370 Nm.
The Jimny comes with one petrol engine trim, the 103 bhp 1.5-litre with 134.2 Nm and gets a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic torque converter. The Gurkha is only available in diesel and is powered by a 138 bhp 2.5-litre diesel with 320 Nm and has only a 5-speed manual transmission. Like the Thar, the Gurkha is available in both three-and-five door avatars.
| Mahindra Thar Roxx Specifications | |||||
| Engine | 2-litre petrol RWD | 2.2-litre diesel RWD / 4×4 | |||
| Power | 159.5 bhp at 5000 rpm | 174 bhp at 5000 rpm | 150 bhp at 3750 rpm | 150 bhp at 3750 rpm | 172.4 bhp at 3500 rpm |
| Torque | 330 Nm at 1500 – 3000 rpm | 380 Nm at 1750 – 3000 rpm | 330 Nm at 1500 – 3000 rpm | 330 Nm at 1500 – 3000 rpm | 370 Nm at 1500 – 3000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT | 6-speed AT | 6-speed MT | 6-speed AT | 6-speed AT |
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Drivetrains
The Thar Roxx is the only ladder-on frame-based SUV that offers options for urban conditions and off-roading trails. The new 5-door SUV is available in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. What is interesting to note is that, unlike the three-door Thar, the Roxx four-wheel-drive option only comes in diesel. On the other hand, the competition, the Jimny and Gurkha don’t offer a two-wheel-drive trim.Â
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Level 2 ADAS
The Thar Roxx takes safety features to the next level as it is equipped with Level 2 ADAS, which the Jimny and Gurkha lack. Mahindra has packed the Thar Roxx with ten features like adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, lane keep assist etc. The Thar Roxx becomes the third vehicle in the Mahindra lineup to get an ADAS suite after the XUV700 and 3X0.Â
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Electronic Locking Differential
The Thar Roxx is the first vehicle manufactured by an Indian OEM to be equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic locking differential. This feature ensures that the Thar Roxx gets the precise traction required for all four wheels reducing wheelspin to a minimum. This makes the SUV more capable to handle and get itself out of various challenging and extreme driving conditions.
Mahindra Thar Roxx: Additional features
As mentioned earlier, the Thar Rox is a modern SUV that gets top-notch tech and features that aren’t available in this segment like a panoramic sunroof, front ventilated seats, twin10.25-inch digital displays for the infotainment system and instrument cluster, a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, a 360-degree camera, auto-dimming rear view mirror and multiple drive modes.
