More Affordable Mahindra Thar ROXX In The Works

Mahindra will launch a lower cost version of the Thar ROXX SUV in the near future. The Indian utility vehicle giant will outfit the cheaper version of the Thar ROXX with a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that’s already on offer in the rear wheel drive version of the 3-door Thar. The reason Mahindra hasn’t already launched this cut price Thar ROXX variant is to ensure that the 3-door version of the Thar maintains its appeal among those who want an affordable ‘Jeep’ shaped SUV.

Circling back to the 1.5 diesel, the same engine is offered with two more vehicles sold by Mahindra – the 3XO sub-4 meter compact SUV and the Marazzo 7 seat MPV. On the Thar ROXX, the 1.5 liter turbo diesel motor is expected to come with a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard. This engine is yet to be made available with a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox. On the XUV 3XO, this diesel engine is paired with an automated manual transmission.

On the 3 door Thar and the XUV 3XO, the 1.5 liter turbo diesel engine makes 115 Bhp of peak power and 300 Nm of peak torque. A similar state of tune is expected to be offered on the Thar ROXX as well. While the engine may not be a scorcher given the Thar ROXX’s near 1.8 ton kerb weight, it’s likely to appeal to those looking at a more affordable version of the 5 door SUV that’s aimed at a wide set of buyers. Also, it’ll be more powerful than the diesel engines offered by competition – read Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta.

Petrol 4X4 Thar ROXX will be launched later

While Mahindra did have overheating issues with the petrol 4X4 variants of the 3-door Thar, they were fixed with a new radiator design. From launch though, the 3 door model did get a four wheel drive layout on the top end trims. On the Thar ROXX though, the automaker has refrained from introducing the 4 wheel drive option on the 2 liter petrol engined models.

The automaker will introduce a 4X4 option on the Thar ROXX at a later date. This will be quite important for Mahindra as the Delhi NCR is a big market for the Thar ROXX, and not having a petrol 4X4 option could hurt sales here.

Petrol cars and SUVs can be used in the Delhi NCR for 15 years while diesels can be operated only for 10 years. So, it’s imperative that Mahindra launches the petrol 4X4 version on the Thar ROXX at least for the Delhi NCR market at the earliest.

Rajesh Jejurikar, the Group CEO of Mahindra’s Auto Division had this to say during a press interaction,