We have had our Mahindra Thar ROXX Star Edition as a part of the xBhp Garage for a while now. It is one of the most regularly driven vehicles we have, and it was even part of the fleet that covered 7,000 km around India for #roadTripUnited2026. After spending a lot of time with a vehicle, one tends to get accustomed to the experience; it is inevitable. Yet, on some days, it feels like you are driving it for the first time and with the same kind of glee that a vehicle like the Thar can inspire. 

We recently had one of those days. Our region was receiving a decent amount of rain, and one fine day, with the sky overcast and rain pouring down, we decided to take our Thar ROXX Star Edition for a drive around the city. You see, the Thar is one of those cars that you love to drive whenever you can, but when the weather goes like this, it makes even more sense. 

First off, we’d like to bring your attention to the colour of the car. Ours is a Mahindra Thar ROXX Star Edition, and it gets the exclusive Citrine Yellow colourway. It is something that stands out even on a regular day. Throughout our 7,000 km roadtrip, it attracted a lot of attention. But on a cloud-covered day, it stood out even more. This particular colourway, with its piano-black grille, black roof and gloss-black alloys, looks simply fantastic. Even more so when it got muddied up a little. After all, it is a Thar, for heaven’s sake and with a little mud, dirt, and grime, it looks like it has done something to live up to the legendary name. 

Now, the Thar ROXX isn’t just a pretty thing on the outside. The cabin is a genuinely comfortable place to spend time when the traffic slows down, and the rain starts doing its thing. The bigger dimensions make a difference here. There is more space inside than the three-door Thar, the layout is well thought out, and the ventilated front seats are particularly welcome when you’re spending a long time behind the wheel.

Then there is that panoramic sunroof. Normally, it is one of those features you enjoy on a road trip when the weather is nice. In the ROXX, it also gives you a different way of experiencing bad weather. Watching raindrops sitting on it and sliding away as you start to move is almost hypnotic. Moreover, if the rain settles, gazing at the darkened sky from inside the cabin is something a lot of people would appreciate. Not all of us like the sun all the time. 

Then, there’s the performance. Our Thar ROXX is powered by the 2-litre mStallion Petrol engine. It is a tried and tested unit, and with its silken refinement and the automatic gearbox, it is a car that can take on the city and open roads with gusto. It has a lot of grunt, and rarely ever do you feel like the engine is stressed. Whether you are in the city or the outskirts, it feels at home wherever you may want to go. 

Another thing that we have come to appreciate about this car is the steering. Despite the size and the heft, it has surprisingly light steering. Whether you are navigating through traffic or dealing with a tight spot in parking, it does all that effortlessly. So, the Thar ROXX is very comfortable dealing with the urban jungle. But the real bit is when you go out of town to play a little. 

After #roadTripUnited2026, we became even more sure that the Thar ROXX can deal with nearly anything you can throw at it. We’ve driven everything from smooth highways to patchy backroads, broken roads and mountain stretches. The suspension has generally been one of the ROXX’s strengths. It glides over the bigger imperfections while retaining enough control when the road gets interesting. 

On top of all that, the Thar ROXX is rugged. It is Thar, so it is supposed to be, we know, but still, this is something that you fall in love with over and over again. Evident from the photos, that is why you see us throwing it around bad roads and splashing through puddles without caring about what that particular pothole is hiding under the meniscus. 

We know that we have waxed the Thar ROXX lyrical, but it is just that good a car. Even on a considerably wet city drive, it is difficult not to appreciate what the ROXX brings. Space, comfort, a wonderfully smooth engine, light steering and a suspension that is happy to deal with roads that aren’t particularly interested in being smooth. Sometimes, all you really want from a car on a rainy day is to get inside, turn up the Harman Kardon, watch the rain fall outside and enjoy the drive.

The ROXX does that rather well.