The Mahindra Thar Roxx, launched earlier this month, has emerged as the most popular SUV of 2024. It is creating a buzz as a versatile SUV, blending urban style with off-road capability. It competes with the 5-door Force Gurkha, Maruti Jimny, and the 3-door Mahindra Thar. The car’s popularity is due to its macho design, feature-rich, premium cabin, powerful engine options and strong fan base. Thar Roxx also stands out for RWD and 4WD flexibility and superior features. It is positioned as a strong competitor in the SUV segment and is sought after for its size, performance, and competitive pricing.
What sets Thar Roxx apart from others:
- Aggressive new grille design with a front camera, hinting at a 360-degree setup.
- LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs replacing halogen lights.
- Extended wheelbase allows for extra doors and more legroom.
- 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and squared-off wheel arches.
- LED tail lights featuring an inverted ‘C’ design.
- Expected beige-coloured interior with advanced features like a 10.25-inch display, panoramic sunroof, and ADAS.
- The same engines as the standard Thar with potential improvements are available in RWD and 4WD configurations.
What’s the mileage?
The Mahindra Thar Roxx with the 2.0-litre diesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission achieved a real-world fuel efficiency of 10.82 kmpl in city driving and 15.44 kmpl on the highway. This compares to the ARAI-claimed mileage of 15.20 kmpl for the diesel engine and 12.40 kmpl for the petrol variant.
Mahindra Thar Roxx & its rivals
In the realm of Indian lifestyle SUVs, where aesthetic appeal and road presence often take precedence over hardcore off-roading capabilities, the Mahindra Thar Roxx stands out as a compelling choice. Priced from Rs 12.99 lakh for the RWD variant, it offers notable value, especially when contrasted with rivals like the Jimny. At Rs 12.75 lakh, Jimny fails to capitalise on the B-Segment tax benefits due to its sub-4m size, making it less attractive in this context. Ultimately, while the Thar Roxx may not be the cheapest option, its pricing reflects a balanced perspective on value and performance, reinforcing its position as a top contender in this segment.
The Mahindra Thar Roxx stands out in the lifestyle SUV segment with its powerful 174 hp engine and versatile drivetrain options, including both RWD and 4WD. It offers superior performance compared to the Jimny’s 1.5L petrol engine with a 5-speed manual and the Gurkha’s 2.6L diesel with a 5-speed manual.
The Thar Roxx excels in approach angle and features an electronic rear locking differential, while the Jimny excels in departure and rampover angles, and the Gurkha leads in water wading and ground clearance. In terms of size, the Thar Roxx is the largest, with the greatest wheelbase and boot capacity.
The Thar Roxx also boasts a comprehensive feature set, including Level-2 ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated seats. While the Gurkha offers unique features like a snorkel and the Jimny includes headlight washers, the Thar Roxx presents the best value overall, with a superior mix of performance, features, and size.
The Thar Roxx’s popularity is driven by its bold design, feature-rich interior, and powerful engine options, supported by a strong fan base. The 3-door Thar can be said to be the second most popular choice, while the utilitarian Force Gurkha follows closely. Despite its off-road capabilities, features, and Suzuki badge, the Maruti Jimny has not gained as much traction in the Indian market, largely due to its higher pricing.
Important dates to keep in mind:
Mahindra will begin accepting bookings for the Thar Roxx on October 3, 2024, both at dealerships and online. Test drives will be available from September 14, 2024. Deliveries are scheduled to start from October 12, 2024, with details on whether they will be phased or for all variants to be confirmed soon. The prices for the 4×4 variants will also be announced on October 3, 2024.
