Test drove the new Mahindra Thar Roxx Diesel Manual AX7L: My thoughts

The SUV feels invincible, but well cushioned and silent bumps and vibrations do get into the cabin.

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Test drove. Officially the first person to test-drive at this showroom.

Only Diesel Manual AX7L was available for test-drive right now. While my interest was auto, manual was ok to have a feel never-the-less.

Seating and space:

Front: Reasonably comfortable, I was eventually able to find my driving position, which worked. (I'm 6.2+)

Rear: with my comfortable position, i was able to fit behind my own self, which means that for most other people, there is reasonable legroom. Getting in the rear seat was a bit of a hassle (or rather requires a practiced sequence) and maybe needs getting used to, specifically with the foot rest being mandatory to get into the rear, even for tall people.

Boot: Seems reasonable sized, specifically looking at its height, its still no Octavia, but very usable.

Drive
The RWD Diesel is only 150bhp, which felt quite capable but not a rocket.

Refinement: It was good with low NVH but I could still say my extinct Optra Magnum was a notch better. Thar however, felt better than the Toyotas! which people swear by.

Gearshifts: Clutch release point was deep and lever throw long, which meant little more work, but people who drive manuals regularly should add that to the feel of a SUV.

THE RIDE

I started in broken by-lanes, which gave a good mild offroad feel to start with.

The SUV feels invincible, but well cushioned and silent bumps and vibrations do get into the cabin. In contrast, I drove there is an Octavia, which was smoother and more composed, at the same time it did feel fragile on the same roads.

The jiggly ladder on frame feeling is very much there, so now I know when people say it'll not drive like a Creta!

On good roads, it rode like anything else, absolutely no complaints there.

Will passengers complain over bad roads, probably the ones who are used to monocoque will, but unlike monocoque, the car itself won't complain.

Will I buy it, well yes, but because I want to sit higher, and go anywhere and its not my only car.

Can someone consider this a C-SUV replacement, yes, but only if your heart is in the right place.

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