The Mahindra Thar has always been associated with adventure, rugged styling and off-road capability. But the original three-door Thar was never the easiest SUV to live with as a family car. Getting into the rear seats could be awkward, luggage space was limited and the ride could be demanding for passengers.

The Mahindra Thar ROXX changes that formula significantly.

With five doors, a longer wheelbase, a proper five-seat cabin and a larger luggage area, the ROXX is clearly designed to make the Thar concept more usable every day. It also gets features such as a panoramic sunroof, larger infotainment screens, automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera and, on higher variants, Level 2 ADAS.

But does that make the Thar ROXX a genuinely practical family SUV?

For most families, the answer is yes — with a few important compromises.

Let's take a closer look.

Thar ROXX vs the 3-Door Thar: A Major Practicality Upgrade

The biggest change is obvious: the Thar ROXX gets two additional doors.

That sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference in everyday family use. Parents don't have to fold the front seat forward every time someone needs to sit in the back, while children can get in and out considerably more easily.

The ROXX also has a much longer 2,850mm wheelbase, which creates considerably more room for rear passengers. Reviews have noted generous rear legroom, useful thigh support and reclining rear seatbacks.

Family practicality at a glance

Is the Rear Seat Comfortable for a Family?

This is one of the areas where the Thar ROXX makes the biggest improvement.

The rear bench is much more usable than the cramped rear arrangement of the three-door Thar. There is plenty of legroom, decent under-thigh support and enough width for three average-sized adults. The rear backrest can also be reclined, which is useful during long journeys.

For a family with children, the extra doors are particularly useful.

Parents can place a child in the rear seat without having to squeeze through the front-door opening. The wider cabin also makes it easier to manage bags, passengers and child seats.

However, the ROXX is still a tall, rugged SUV. Getting into the cabin requires climbing up rather than simply stepping inside like you would in a lower monocoque SUV. This may be less convenient for elderly family members.

The rear ride can also feel busier than that of a conventional urban SUV, particularly over broken roads and at lower speeds.

Verdict on rear-seat comfort

Good for adults and children, but elderly passengers may prefer a lower SUV with easier ingress and egress.

What About Boot Space?

The three-door Thar's luggage capacity was one of its biggest weaknesses.

The ROXX addresses that problem with a much more useful luggage compartment. Its quoted boot capacity is 447 litres, and the rear seats can be split 60:40 to create additional carrying flexibility.

For a normal family weekend trip, this should be sufficient for suitcases, backpacks and smaller bags.

A long-term test also demonstrated that the boot could accommodate several boxes, a large duffle bag, a backpack and other luggage.

However, the shape of the boot means that packing efficiently is important. The rear-mounted spare wheel and split-opening tailgate also give it a more rugged arrangement than the conventional hatch-style tailgates found on many family SUVs.

For a family of four

For two adults and two children, the boot should generally be practical enough for everyday shopping and weekend travel.

For a five-person family travelling with multiple large suitcases, however, some planning may be required.

Is the Thar ROXX Comfortable on Long Drives?

This is where the answer becomes more nuanced.

The ROXX is considerably more refined than the original three-door Thar. Its newer body-on-frame platform, longer wheelbase and revised rear suspension help make it more settled on the road. The electric power steering also makes the vehicle easier to manage in everyday driving.

At highway speeds, the ROXX can be a strong long-distance cruiser. The powerful petrol and diesel engines provide plenty of performance, while the cabin has good insulation for a ladder-frame SUV.

But it isn't completely free from the characteristics of its rugged construction.

At low speeds and over broken surfaces, passengers — especially those in the rear — can feel some of the road movement. Long-term testing has highlighted the low-speed ride as one of the areas where the ROXX still has room for improvement.

So, if your family regularly travels on smooth highways, the ROXX can be comfortable. If most of your driving involves poorly surfaced urban roads, speed breakers and rough patches, a conventional monocoque SUV may deliver a more settled ride.

Is It Easy to Use in the City?

The Thar ROXX is easier to live with than the three-door Thar, but it isn't a small SUV.

Its large dimensions, high driving position and rugged body give it an imposing road presence. The high seating position provides good visibility, while features such as a 360-degree camera on higher variants can make parking easier.

However, narrow lanes, crowded parking areas and tight urban spaces still require more attention than they would in a compact SUV.

The high ground clearance is a major advantage on India's uneven roads. Potholes, broken roads and rough patches are less intimidating than they are in many low-slung urban SUVs.

What About Safety?

Safety is another important consideration for family buyers.

The Thar ROXX is equipped with features including six airbags, ABS and electronic stability control, while higher variants add technologies such as a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring and Level 2 ADAS.

The exact equipment varies by variant, so buyers should check the feature list of the specific version they are considering.

For family use, the availability of modern driver-assistance and parking technologies can make the ROXX more convenient, particularly given its size.

Family-Friendly Features That Make a Difference

The ROXX isn't just about its rugged exterior. Mahindra has added several features aimed at making the SUV more comfortable for everyday use.

Some notable features include:

• Large touchscreen infotainment system
• Digital driver's display
• Panoramic sunroof
• Automatic climate control
• Rear AC vents
• Wireless charging
• 360-degree camera
• Ventilated front seats on higher variants
• Electrically adjustable driver's seat on higher variants
• Level 2 ADAS on higher variants
• Reclining rear seats
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats

These features give the ROXX a considerably more premium and family-oriented character than the traditional Thar.

Where Does the Thar ROXX Still Fall Short?

Despite the improvements, the ROXX isn't perfect as a family SUV.

1. Ride quality isn't class-leading

Its ladder-frame construction and rugged suspension setup mean the ride can feel busy, particularly at lower speeds and over uneven surfaces.

2. Cabin storage could be better

The vehicle is large on the outside, but some of the smaller storage areas inside are surprisingly limited. Long-term testing has also highlighted the small door pockets.

3. Fuel economy isn't its strongest point

The powerful petrol and diesel engines, combined with the vehicle's size and weight, mean fuel efficiency isn't a major selling point. Real-world testing has shown that running costs can be higher than those of more conventional family SUVs.

4. Getting in and out isn't as effortless as a regular SUV

The high ride height looks great and works well on rough roads, but shorter passengers and elderly family members may find the step-up inconvenient.

5. It's still an off-road-focused SUV

This is perhaps the most important point.

If your family mainly drives in the city and on highways, a monocoque SUV can offer a more relaxed ride and easier everyday usability. The ROXX makes more sense when its rugged ability is actually useful — whether that's bad roads, mountain routes, rural travel or off-road adventures.

Thar ROXX for Different Types of Families

So, Is the Mahindra Thar ROXX a Good Family Car?

The Mahindra Thar ROXX is significantly more practical for family use than the three-door Thar.

The additional doors, spacious rear seat, larger boot, better ride, improved cabin and extensive equipment have transformed the Thar formula into something that can genuinely work as a family vehicle.

But it isn't trying to be a conventional urban crossover.

Its body-on-frame construction, high ground clearance and rugged suspension give it capabilities that many family SUVs don't have — but those same characteristics can result in a busier ride, higher running costs and a less effortless experience in some everyday situations.

For a family that wants one SUV that can handle daily commuting, highway trips, bad roads and weekend adventures, the Thar ROXX offers a compelling combination of practicality and capability.

For buyers who primarily want maximum comfort, easy city driving and excellent fuel efficiency, a conventional monocoque SUV may make more sen