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Spotlight Wire

If you grew up doodling box-shaped 4x4s in the margins of your notebook, chances are a Mahindra Thar poster now hangs somewhere in your home. The name has become shorthand for “weekend adventure” in India, and 2025 brings buyers an interesting fork in the trail: stick with the classic three-door Thar or go for the brand-new, five-door Mahindra Thar Roxx. Both have the same iconic look, but serve very different lifestyles. Here’s a guide to help you decide your pick.Size and everyday useThink of the standard Mahindra Thar as a backpacker’s rucksack: compact, purposeful and easy to live with in tight spaces. At 3,985 mm long and available only as a three-door, it squeezes through narrow city lanes, slips into mall parking slots, and still carries four adults. In contrast, the Mahindra Thar Roxx stretches to 4,428 mm and has two full-size rear doors. The extra length means a roomier cabin, proper rear-seat legroom, and luggage space that no longer forces your friends to hold their overnight bags on their laps. If your daily life involves school runs, elderly parents or a big grocery haul, the Roxx will simply fit better.Engines and how they feel on the roadBoth SUVs share Mahindra’s familiar mHawk diesel and mStallion turbo-petrol motors, so outright power is not the big differentiator. The three-door Thar’s diesel makes 300 nm of torque from just 1,600 rpm, enough grunt to idle up a rutted hillside in first gear. The Roxx offers 380 nm of maximum torque and combines it with CrawlSmart, an electronic companion that meters out throttle for you at rock-crawling speeds. Live EventsIn the real world, the difference is subtle: the classic Thar feels raw and mechanical, while the Roxx smooths things over with electronics. Purists may enjoy rowing their own gears in the older SUV, but folks who’d rather let the computer worry about wheelspin will appreciate the Roxx.Ride comfort and suspension trickeryMahindra has steadily tamed the Thar’s once-bouncy ride, yet its short wheelbase still results in the occasional head-bob over potholes. The Mahindra Thar Roxx counters that with a new M_GLYDE platform, Watt’s-link rear suspension, and Advanced Hydraulic Rebound Stops. If you drive a lot on highways or badly-patched roads, the Thar Roxx’s longer wheelbase and trick shocks will leave you less fatigued.The Thar Roxx takes a more premium turn with a large 10.25-inch HD infotainment display, a fully digital instrument cluster, Harman Kardon surround sound with nine speakers and a sub-woofer, wireless charging and a panoramic skyroof that floods the cabin with light. If you love gizmos or spend long hours in traffic, the Roxx will delight you; if you view mud as a badge of honour, the simpler Thar cabin will be easier to keep spotless.Safety for loved onesThe three-door Thar already packs dual front airbags, a roll cage, ESP with roll-over mitigation, and ISOFIX mounts. It earned respectable scores in independent crash tests, making it one of the safest lifestyle SUVs under ₹20 lakh. The Thar Roxx, however, ups the ante with six standard airbags, an upgraded ESP 9.3 suite, automatic emergency braking, 360-degree cameras, blind-view monitoring and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold. If your passengers include toddlers, new drivers, or anyone who values every possible safety net, the Roxx wins this round.Off-road ability: Raw vs. refinedThe offering is similar: ladder-frame chassis, low-range transfer case, and locking differentials. The three-door Thar’s lighter weight, shorter body, and massive 226 mm ground clearance let it pivot around hairpins and squeeze between rocks where longer SUVs fear to tread. It’s the one you want for narrow forest trails, dune bashing, or tight off-road parks. The Roxx, while still trail-ready, is heavier and longer; its ace cards are selectable drive modes (snow, sand, mud) and electronic aids like CrawlSmart. It turns the unknown into push-button familiarity but may feel more SUV, less jeep, in truly cramped terrain.Who should sign on the dotted line for the Mahindra Thar?Solo travellers and couples who treat the city as a launch pad for weekend escapades.Hardcore off-road hobbyists who want a short, nimble wheelbase and are comfortable with diesel and dust.Buyers on a tighter budget who’d rather spend on camping gear or fuel than on sunroofs and surround sound.Anyone who loves the idea of hosing out the interior on a Monday morning and starting the week fresh.Who is the ideal Thar Roxx owner?Families that need real rear doors for child seats, ageing parents, or a more comfortable ride.Road-trip addicts who rack up big kilometres and want a smoother ride, quieter cabin, and concert-grade audio.Tech enthusiasts who equate cars with gadgets and won’t say no to a 360-camera, wireless charger, and wearable-tech integration.Safety-first buyers who tick every airbag and electronic aid availableCorporate professionals who want a Thar without compromising on comfort.The bottom lineWhichever SUV you choose, you’ll own a modern slice of an Indian icon. The only question is: do you prioritise the call of the wild or the comfort of the commute? Test drive both, bring the family along, and let your lifestyle pick the winner.Disclaimer – The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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