Got a chance to check out the Mahindra Thar Roxx at a dealership

Overall, I feel that the Thar 3 door has a better design and the Mahindra XUV700 has superior white leather seats.

BHPian SithDefender recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I had a chance to see this desi Wrangler the other day. The dealership was crammed with people all jostling to check out and take selfies. It was so busy that I hardly got a few minutes, and did not test ride it.

It was the first time I had ever seen one on the road, and this black beauty looked sinister and stunning. This is the top-end AX7L test drive vehicle.

I think it looks just fantastic in black, isn't it? It even takes your eye off the odd triangular glass near the D pillar or the roof ridge.

I don't really like the white grille. They could have kept the grille black, not body-colored. This display car is the AX5L.

However white does give a much larger appearance though the design imbalances are also more pronounced. The Thar 3 door suffers from no such issues, as it is simply the better design IMHO.

Also, one thing that I did not expect was that the rear passenger windows are split into two parts. As seen here, a third of the window is fixed glass and you cannot open it. That just feels a bit off. I do like the way the boot swings out in true Jeep style, though you do need to ensure you have enough space to open it like this in tight parking spaces.

The steering wheel felt beautiful and the twin peaks logo looks really premium. I like the big XL Thar a/c vents too, as well as the toggle-style controls.

The graphics looked sweet, as is typical of most modern Mahindra's.

I felt the central screen could have been a tad larger though it was crisp and smooth. Niggles are to be expected in any new Mahindra, especially with the electronics, so it is good to wait for some time for the issues to be sorted out.

The bonnet was quite heavy.

The roof shape and window shape look a little mismatched, but then the Roxx does have an undeniable charisma all of its own!

The roof liner felt nice though you can already see how dirty it gets.

Getting into the rear was a "climb-up". Once inside, you have a really generous amount of space. It also feels quite airy with the white theme, though - yes - it will get dirty very quickly. The XUV7OO has superior white leather seats which stay better for longer. That is not the case with these seats. I also felt like Mahindra could have given a/c vents on the roof or on the B-pillars instead of this small unit. The sunroof is a single pane in this AX5L. Given how far back the sunroof actually starts, I don't think the driver is going to enjoy it whether on this single-pane or panoramic version.

Very nice chrome door handles.

The gearshift looks somewhat ordinary compared to some of the other SUVs.

The rear doors cannot hold 1L water bottles. In our case, we carry at least 4 bottles (one for each door) and an extra one, so this is disappointing.

Finally, a touch of luxury - the electronic parking brake. It frees up considerable space in the central tunnel and feels great too. I do wish more manufacturers offer this on smaller vehicles as well.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.