Mahindra Thar Roxx: Observations after a 2 hour-long test drive

The ride gets better with speed on rough roads. Also, the brakes of the 4x4 SUV perform great even on muddy patches.

BHPian anilp recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I finally got to test drive the 4WD AX7L auto version in Mumbai and came away mighty impressed. The dealership said they had only the 2WD versions for Test Drives, so it took a few calls to get hold of the 4WD version.

From the offset itself, the benchmark is the 3-door gen 2 Thar that I've driven before. This is a huge leap. Except for the white interiors, I really couldn't find fault with anything during the almost two-hour test drive we took.

The route taken included the kacha warehouse roads in the Bombay Port Trust area as well as heavy traffic in and around the P D'mello road. We (my wife and I) also tried out 4WD High briefly on some muddy patches in the truck yards there. Didn't get the chance to try out 4WD low or the diff lock. Couldn't go above 80 kph either due to peak traffic/bad roads, so no comments on these aspects.

Observations:

1. Wife approved and certified, unlike the case of poor Jimny where she dismissed it after seeing it in real life - even before the test drive started.
2. Also, the first test drive we took in the last decade was where the better half wanted a photo with the car after the drive. I think no convincing is needed further.
3. Car is huge. Awes local people, nakabandi cops, and security personnel, with people stopping by to ask questions and admire.
4. Full-on 'Moses' feeling of the seas parting in front of you, even those pesky mini carrier vans.
5. The ride gets better with speed on rough roads.
6. Tried out going over some of the really huge truck-focused speed breakers on P. D'mello Road. Thar 5D handles it easily on its stride.
7. Steering is easy to manage in traffic, even though I felt it is a bit too over servoed (hope that's the right term). My wife is happy with it, so I'm not going to think further.
8. Great brakes, even in muddy patches.
9. Rear seat comfort is far superior in its class. Not Creta/Seltos/Grand Vitara level, but I'm not interested in buying those anyway.
10. 360 camera is nice, especially the front one which lets you see obstacles. The side ones are handy to see pesky bikers cutting in suddenly in traffic.
11. Repeating everyone's grouse, those white interiors are not for India.
12. Only AX7L variant has folding mirrors. Why Mahindra? We are in 2024, right?

I'm working towards booking one once I get to check the AX5L variant as well. The 4WD automatic in Mocha interior variant.

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