The 5 Door Mahindra Thar Roxx RWD Is The Lifestyle SUV Your Family Won’t Say No To

Conversations revolving around a focused off-roader SUV rarely ever include the needs of a family. It is a focused enthusiast vehicle after all dedicated to shine over rough terrain. But what about the enthusiastic family man who wants a capable SUV that can cater to family duties as well? The options aren’t plenty, but the newly launched  Mahindra Thar Roxx RWD fits the bill almost perfectly. You could never say the same for the standard 3-door Thar, but an argument can definitely be made for the Thar Roxx, which with its extra set of doors, added features and tough looks makes for a strong case for itself.

Tyres matter

First things first, on any SUV the tyres you are running matter the most, probably more so than even the electronics. It’s a no-brainer that off-road spec tyres would be ideal to extract all the performance, but they won’t be very friendly on tarmac. Now, the Thar Roxx comes with all-terrain tyres from the factory, which are par for the job, but there’s scope for improvement.  

This is where the Apollo Apterra AT2 265/60 R18 tyres come in; a set of premium tubeless tyres that can make your Thar Roxx RWD more capable. Not only are they wider (more contact patch means more grip), they also have ‘Herringbone Grooves’ with a wider tread that helps in a quicker steering response. Without getting into the technicalities, all you need to know is that this compound will give you great durability on all terrains and high levels of traction, especially on mud/sand. Moreover, the benefits of tubeless tyres are already well-known, including improved stability and ride comfort. Not only will you benefit from the superior off-road capabilities, you’ll also be able to enjoy the benefits of a tubeless tyre without compromising on your family's comfort. Here’s a look at the tyres in action:

Thar Roxx: a family off-roader?

Your family should be able to get into the back seat of a vehicle without any hurdles - something that was a bit of an inconvenience in the 3-door Thar, especially for the elderly. Having five doors certainly helps for easier ingress and egress, and the Thar Roxx gets exactly that. Sure, it still won’t be as easy as a regular vehicle, but you do get side steps and grab handles to make the task easier when hauling yourself inside.

Once inside, the Thar Roxx’s rear seat can be more accommodating than a few of the compact SUVs in our market. There’s ample space, even for tall passengers, and there’s no scarcity of comfort features with a recline function for the backrest, rear AC vents, a central armrest, Type-C charging ports and a huge panoramic sunroof above to let in plenty of light. The white theme might not be friendly for your off-road excursions, but opens up the sense of space massively. 

A family SUV surely can’t compromise on its boot, and with 447-litres of boot space (measured up to the back rest) available, there’s more than enough room for your weekend getaway. The 3-door Thar’s firm ride has also been honed with major tweaks to the suspension, borrowing advanced tech and mechanicals from the Scorpio N and XUV700 for a more settled ride. So while the Thar Roxx might not typically be a family’s first choice of vehicle, it definitely has what it takes to be one. 

Thar Roxx Rear-wheel Drive: Still plenty capable

The Thar Roxx is an inherently capable SUV, irrespective of its drivetrain option. Of course, four-wheel drive is superior for hardcore stuff, but the rear-wheel drive version holds its own across various light terrain.

With electronic aids like brake locking differential and terrain-specific driving modes, the RWD Thar Roxx has enough capabilities for all your farmhouse runs. And if you want more out of your RWD Thar Roxx, then you can always play around with the tools at your disposal. Tools can go a long way in making your SUV more capable, and in offroading… 

With all this in mind, the argument for the ‘Mahindra Thar Roxx being a family SUV with decent off-roading capabilities’ has not just been made, but also validated. A win for the family off-roader enthusiast!