Stretch out, soften up

What do you get when you elongate the Thar and add two doors? An SUV that Roxx and gives city folks an off-road fav

- HORMAZD SORABJEE

When Mahindra initially conceived of the Roxx, they planned to stretch the existing (and popular) three-door Thar and add a pair of doors without making other changes. It was an obvious and cost effective idea. But quickly, Mahindra threw the rule book out the window. They saw the Roxx as an opportunity to develop an SUV that could deliver the Thar's hard-as-nails character and capability in a softer, more practical package.

And so, the Roxx is a generational leap ahead of the three-door Thar and closer to mainstream, midsize SUVs such as the Creta. It's a new fourth generation (4G) body-on-frame chassis, which is stiffer, lighter, with a revamped suspension.

There's no mistaking the Roxx for anything other than a five-door Thar. But there are some notable design changes. A new double-stacked six-slot grille replaces the Thar's signature seven-slot grille. Hints of a new design direction appear in the headlights.