Mahindra Thar ROXX Review: Prices, Specs, 5-Star BNCAP Safety & Real-World Reasons To Buy

Mahindra Thar ROXX: The Short Story

• Price range (ex-showroom): ₹12.99L – ₹23.39L. 

• Engines: 2.0L turbo-petrol (up to 130 kW/380 Nm) and 2.2L diesel (up to 128.6 kW/370 Nm); manual & automatic options; RWD and 4WD. 

• Off-road hardware: Low-range transfer case, electronic locking differential (ELD), terrain modes (Snow/Mud/Sand), water-wading depth of 650 mm, approach/departure angles up to 41.7°/36.1°. 

• Safety: 5-star BNCAP with 31.09/32 (AOP) & 45/49 (COP); first body-on-frame SUV to do so under Bharat-NCAP. 

• Cabin tech & comfort: Panoramic Skyroof™, twin 26.03 cm screens, Harman Kardon 9-speaker system, ventilated seats, 644-litre boot. 

Design & Road Presence

Big, squared-off and purposefully premium

Thar ROXX keeps the upright, muscular stance enthusiasts expect, but stretches the body for real family practicality. You get five doors, a wider cabin, short overhangs and chunky 19-inch alloys on higher variants. It looks like an off-roader first, but the detailing (LED lighting, tasteful trim, and a leather-wrapped dash on top trims) adds daily-driver polish. 

Dimensions that matter every day

At 4,428 mm long, 1,870 mm wide and 1,923 mm tall with a 2,850 mm wheelbase, ROXX sits squarely in the “mid-size, big-inside” sweet spot. Couple distance, headroom and legroom figures are generous, and the boot is a segment-leading 644 litres (to roof)—a big win over typical lifestyle SUVs. Translation: proper luggage for a week away, not just backpacks. 

Platform, Suspension & Ride

Built on a tough ladder frame, tuned to glide

ROXX uses Mahindra’s updated body-on-frame architecture with M-GLYDE dynamics, penta-link rear with Watt’s link, frequency-dependent damping, and MTV-CL shock tech. In plain English: you get the durability off-roaders demand with the kind of bump isolation that keeps families happy on broken city streets and long highways. 

City example: Speed breakers and patchy monsoon roads are taken in stride; occupants don’t bob around as much as older-gen ladder-frame SUVs.
Trail example: Rock steps and washboard tracks feel controlled thanks to the suspension geometry and damping trickery; you maintain traction without feeling thumpy.

Engines, Gearboxes & Drivetrains

Petrol & Diesel with real shove

• 2.0 Turbo-Petrol: up to 130 kW (≈174 PS) and 380 Nm.

• 2.2 Diesel: up to 128.6 kW (≈172 PS) and 370 Nm.
  Both pair with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic; you can choose RWD for lighter, more affordable variants or 4WD for full trail duty. 

Real off-road hardware, not just a sticker

ROXX’s 4XPLOR system brings a low-range transfer case, electronic locking differential, and terrain modes (Snow/Mud/Sand). A 650 mm water-wading figure and aggressive approach/departure angles up to 41.7°/36.1° clinch its “go there” credentials. Features like CrawlSmart and IntelliTurn (on AT 4x4 variants) add finesse for tricky situations. 

Example – slushy trail: Engage “Mud” mode, let CrawlSmart meter torque, and the ELD clamps down as needed. You focus on steering lines, not throttle juggling. 

Cabin, Features & Everyday Usability

Space and materials

Inside, top trims get an ivory ambience, leatherette trims, soft-touch dash, ambient lighting, and clever storage (large door pockets, console bins, cupholders). Seats are supportive; ventilated fronts help in peak summer; the rear bench and wide doors make family ingress easy. 

Screens, sound & connectivity

Two 26.03 cm HD displays (digital cluster + infotainment) headline the dash. The Harman Kardon 9-speaker system with QuantumLogic surround and a 6-mode amplifier stands out in this class. You also get Adrenox connected features (80+ functions, Alexa integration), wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, and 65W USB-C fast charging. 

Comfort & convenience

A panoramic Skyroof™ floods the cabin with light, while fully automatic climate control, auto-dimming IRVM, rear camera, front/rear parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring reduce daily hassle. Follow-me home lighting and useful luggage net hooks are the kind of small touches you appreciate after ownership begins. 

Safety: Numbers that actually mean something

• 5-Star Bharat-NCAP with 31.09/32 (Adult) and 45/49 (Child). ROXX is the first body-on-frame SUV to achieve this under Bharat-NCAP and among the highest overall scores by any ICE vehicle in the programme. 

• The rating applies across variants; AX5L and MX3 units were tested. Standard kit includes 6 airbags, ESC, seat-belt reminders, and more; higher trims add Level-2 ADAS, 360° camera, blind-spot view, etc. 

Why it matters: BNCAP is India’s official protocol; these results are widely referenced by insurers and safety-conscious buyers, so you’re not just looking at a spec-sheet badge. 

Variants, Pricing & What Each Trim Adds

Ex-showroom price band: ₹12.99L – ₹23.39L (India). Top 4x4 diesel AT luxury trims sit at the upper end. 

Variant walk-through (highlights, simplified):

• MX1 (RWD): ESP with brake-locking diff, 6 airbags, 26.03 cm touchscreen, power features, height-adjust driver seat, and basic convenience essentials. Great starter. 

• MX3 (RWD/4x4): Adds wireless AA/CarPlay, cruise control, auto-dimming IRVM, wireless charger, rear camera, electric-fold ORVMs, and selectable terrain modes (RWD gets terrain assist, 4x4 adds proper hardware). 

• MX5 (adds on MX3): Single-pane sunroof, ELD (4x4 variants), acoustic windshield, leather-wrapped steering, TPM, fog lamps, footwell lighting, front sensors. 

• AX3L (adds on MX3): Level-2 ADAS, electric park brake with auto-hold, twin HD 26.03 cm screens, Adrenox with Alexa, fully automatic temperature control. 

• AX5L (adds on MX5): As above plus Level-2 ADAS, EPB with auto-hold, twin screens, fully auto climate, connected features. (4x4 AT variants also get CrawlSmart.)

• AX7L (top): Panoramic Skyroof™, R19 alloys, Harman Kardon audio, powered & ventilated driver seat, IntelliTurn (4x4 AT), and the full safety/ADAS suite. 

Sample on-road thinking:

• City-heavy user, tight budget: MX3 Petrol AT (RWD) – smooth power, easy parking tech, fewer off-road bits to pay for.

• Tourer with occasional trails: AX5L Diesel AT (4x4) – torque, long legs, ADAS, and 4XPLOR when you need it.

• All-in family/adventure rig: AX7L Diesel AT (4x4) – the luxury kit plus full capability makes it the only car many households will need. 

Off-Road Numbers You’ll Actually Use

• Water wading: 650 mm – useful in monsoons and shallow riverbeds.

• Angles: Approach 41.7°, Departure 36.1°, Ramp-over 23.9° – helps clear ledges and crests without drama.

• Aids: CrawlSmart (auto throttle/brake over obstacles), IntelliTurn (tight U-turns on trails), Adventure Statistics display for real-time off-road metrics. 

How It Compares (quick context, not a takedown)

In the small 4x4 space, ROXX’s angles and wading stack up very well, and the cabin/tech mix is simply more family-friendly than traditional three-door rivals. That, plus the 5-star BNCAP score, makes it a rare “tough yet safe” proposition in its price class. 

Real-World Pros & Cons

What you’ll love

• Safety benchmark: 5-star BNCAP with top-tier scores.

• Genuine 4x4 credentials: low-range + ELD + terrain modes + 650 mm wading. 

• Family-first practicality: five doors, wide rear bench, 644-litre boot. 

• Comfort & tech: ventilated seat, Skyroof™, twin screens, Harman Kardon sound, connected features. 

• Ride tuning: ladder-frame toughness with M-GLYDE and Watt’s link calmness. 

Where you’ll compromise

• Size in the city: the stance you love is also what makes tight basements… tight.

• Enthusiast nitpicks: purists may still prefer a shorter wheelbase for hardcore trails.

• Top-trim price: the full-fat 4x4 luxury spec touches the upper end of the segment. 

Buying Tips & Ownership Examples

1) Daily commute + weekend getaways (mostly roads):
Go petrol AT RWD (MX3/AX3L). It’s smoother in traffic, still powerful for expressways, and you save money/weight by skipping heavy 4x4 hardware. 

2) Highway touring + occasional off-road:
Pick diesel AT 4x4 (AX5L). You get torque, ADAS, and the 4XPLOR toolkit when the route gets gnarly. 

3) Adventure-first lifestyle, family-approved:
AX7L Diesel AT 4x4. Skyroof, Harman Kardon audio, powered & ventilated seat, IntelliTurn/CrawlSmart—everything in one. 

Verdict: Should You Buy the Thar ROXX?

If you want a single SUV that can do office runs, long-haul road trips, and credible off-road play without feeling compromised inside, Mahindra Thar ROXX is one of the easiest recommendations in India right now. It’s safer than ever (with verified crash-test numbers), more comfortable than you’d expect from a ladder-frame SUV, and meaningfully more practical than the three-door Thar. The price walk is wide enough to fit different use-cases; the capability is real; the cabin finally feels premium. For many buyers, this is the Thar to get.