We have been motorcycle people for as long as we can remember. But when the new Mahindra Thar was launched, something changed. It seemed like a perfect car for bikers. Its capability and presence both made a statement of freedom. The kind of freedom that motorcyclists take pride in. Or wait. A statement is too polite. The Thar made a chest-thumping announcement, and it instantly became an icon. It was like everyone wanted one. But some people just could not because of some practicality concerns. Notice we said ‘could not’. They still wanted something. In comes the Mahindra Thar ROXX to change that. 

We got the 3-door Thar too when it was launched. It was inducted in the xBhp Garage almost as soon as it was launched. It accompanied us on a few #roadTripUnited rides too. But when the Thar ROXX was announced, we immediately knew that this was the car for xBhp. Considering the length and duration of our rides, it made more sense. This is not to say that the Thar was suddenly a bad car. It is just that the Thar ROXX made more sense. And so, when it was launched, it became a part of the xBhp Garage. 

With the Thar ROXX, the idea was to retain the Thar’s presence and Panache and make it even grander. And it worked. Just like the Thar, the Thar ROXX too took the market by storm. Also, the one that we got was the Thar ROXX Star Edition. We have had it in the garage for a while now, but we finally feel equipped and aware enough to talk about it. Especially after seeing it in action for 7,000 km during the #roadTripUnited2026. So, without further ado, here are our thoughts. 

First off, the Thar ROXX Star Edition sits just below the top-spec AX7L trim. Compared to that one, the Star Edition is missing advanced ADAS, among a few other things. The benefit to that is, of course, a significantly lower price point. This is a Thar, of course, so it has a very recognisable face. But Mahindra made sure that special attention was paid to the proportions. It could have been like ‘we just have to add a row’, but it wasn’t. The Thar ROXX looks like a new car. And to quite an extent, it is a new car. But it continues to have that dominant road presence that made the original so popular. 

Our engine oil of choice, no matter the car, Castrol EDGE, has proven itself over and over again through many of our pan-India roadtrips.

In terms of bits exclusive to the Star Edition, the first thing is the colour- the Citrine Yellow colour is exclusive to the Star Edition. It also gets a piano-black front grille, a blacked-out roof, and custom 19” gloss black alloy wheels. It also has badging to go with these exclusive bits. There’s a Star Edition emblem on the rear pillars. Overall, when it comes to the design, it continues to be an attractive car that draws a lot of attention. 

Changes continue on the inside as well, in a similar vein as the exterior. We now have blacked-out seats with suede-finish accents. Most of the features from the top variant are also carried over. There are two 10.25”-inch screens that house the infotainment and the digital cluster. One of the highlights is the panoramic sunroof that allows one to enjoy all sorts of weather and scenery on a roadtrip this big. There’s a 36-degree surround camera system, and the list is topped off by a premium Harman Kardon sound system complete with a subwoofer. 

While impressive, the real fun bit of the Mahindra Thar ROXX Star Edition is the driving experience. We will start with the engine. The Star Edition is available in 2 variants. There’s the 2.0L mStallion Turbo Petrol or 2.2L mHawk Diesel. Both of them are stellar engines, as we have already seen. Ours is the Petrol variant paired with an automatic transmission. Even though the diesel variant is really good, the petrol one is simply impeccable. It is silky smooth and has tons of grunt. 

After driving it for a long time, the refinement becomes even more prominent. The performance from the engine is sublime. Triple-digit speeds come effortlessly, and long days on the highway feel like a breeze. There is not a hint of stress from the engine. In fact, sometimes it feels too peppy. What makes this even better is the gearbox. It is an absolute joy. Overall, we never had a complaint about this engine and that continues to be the case. 

With years of experience at the highest level on the global motorsport stage, Castrol brings us all of that prowess in the form of Castrol EDGE. Performance and protection- it has it all.

Another aspect we loved about the Thar ROXX is the steering. It is very light. Considering the added dimensions and heft, we were wondering if it would still retain that feather-like feeling of the steering from the Thar 3-door. Thankfully, it does. It feels effortless. The bigger dimensions also bring about a change in the cabin. It feels more spacious, more comfortable, and overall Mahindra has done a great job with the layout as well. Everything is where it should be, and while it may feel like something natural, you will be surprised to know how many cars get this wrong. Another plus over long distances is the ventilated front seats. 

Now, we have to talk about the ride quality. Over these 7,000 km, we dealt with nearly all sorts of road conditions. Smooth highways, patchy backroads, city traffic, winding mountain roads, broken roads, and so on. The Thar ROXX excels everywhere. The suspension is set up very well. It glides over broken roads and is taut enough for the occasions where you want to have some fun. The only thing that is a bit of a gripe is the initial stroke of the suspension. It does not absorb the smaller imperfections, which makes it move around a bit. It is not a deal breaker, but it is something we noticed. 

Finally, we need to talk about the boot space. While the Thar ROXX has a lot of room inside the cabin, the boot space has not grown a lot. It is still enough for a lot of stuff, but it misses the mark when it comes to the expectations that come with the size of this car. Also, the split rear door is a classic touch, but it takes some getting used to. Another thing we would like to point out is that the Star Edition is offered exclusively as RWD. So keep that in mind. If you want the full 4×4 action on the ROXX, you will have to opt out of the Star Edition experience. 

Overall, we have always loved the Mahindra Thar, and that is why it has been a part of nearly every #roadTripUnited we have done post its arrival in the market. While the OG 3-door Thar somewhat limits its reach, the addition of Thar ROXX to the lineup is going to open up the Thar experience to an even broader audience.