Positives:
- The 2.2-litre 4x4 mHawk diesel gets two power outputs – 150bhp/330Nm with the six-speed manual and 172bhp/370Nm with the six-speed torque converter automatic.
- It has Crawl Smart for automatic throttle responses over obstacles and IntelliTurn to perform tight U-turns or tricky off-road trails.
- It gets 650mm of water-wading depth, 36.1-degree departure and 41.7-degree approach angles and 4XPLOR terrain modes such as Snow, Mud, and Sand.
- It feels smooth and exciting to drive, whether from a standstill or when overtaking; just push the accelerator and it flies past almost all other motorists.
- We like this automatic gearbox as it is smooth-shifting and surprisingly quick and alert for a torque converter.
- It can easily reach and cruise at higher triple-digit speeds, this diesel engine auto combo makes for a good highway SUV and is most efficient when cruising between 95-100kmph.
- The light and quick steering of the Thar 5 door makes city driving chores such as parking and performing U-turns effortless.
- Its visibility is decent, the ride quality is flat as speeds increase, and the straight-line stability is quite impressive.
- The brakes are confidence-inspiring; it has a strong bite and is feelsome owing to the progressive nature of the braking.
Negatives:
- The steering feels dead and needlessly heavy around the centre at three-digit highway speeds and needs constant corrections to drive in a straight line.
- It shakes and feels harsh over bumpy and pothole-ridden roads.
- It constantly bounces over undulating sections of the road at higher speeds.
- The brake pedal has quite a lot of travel before the braking effect begins to kick in.
- The automatic Thar Roxx does not get paddle shifters.
- There is lots of wind noise inside the cabin once you cross 100kmph.
- Constant driving over 100kmph will cause the FE figures to drop substantially.
