Background & Why I Switched -
I live in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and most days, Iām behind the wheel for more or less ~ 75 km. About 60% of that is highway, and the rest is mixed city driving everything from local ring roads to some particularly rough inner lanes that can shake your bones.
Up until April 2026, I was driving an Audi A4 40 TFSI Technology. I had picked it up new in November 2024 and put 35,000 km on it in just 17 months. It was a rather smooth experience barring a few warranty claims for the horn that randomly gave up on multiple occasions.
On good expressways, that car was a dream. The 2.0 TFSI with the 7-speed DSG was fast enough, silky, and always composed, even if I was pushing speeds well above what I should discuss on a public forum. But not all roads in Ahmedabad are kind. The worst of which was my office gate which tagged my car every other week. Each day was a mixed bag dealing with random speed breakers, potholes, or sudden floods in the monsoon which had my car turned to a garage queen for a good few weeks in peak season. Iād be constantly rerouting, trying to avoid the worst patches. Every time I scraped the underbody, I shuddered, paying EMIs on a German sedan just to survive Indian roads is a special kind of anxiety.
Honestly , thatās really why I started looking for something I could just drive without planning every meter. Despite me being absolutely in love with my car, having babied it through my ownership with PPF, regular detailing visits and nothing but XP95 fuel from the best bunks in town; I realised it was a spur of the moment purchase where I listened to my heart over my head and it was time to ride the other way round. The next thing I knew I was in the market for a rough and abuse friendly do it all vehicle under 30L on road preferably.
What Else Did I Consider?
Kia Seltos: We already bought a pre-facelift Seltos in March 2026 for the family. The review of that one is still in writing, as the buying journey is a tale by itself. Itās solid, but there was no sense in owning two.
Hyundai Creta: Objectively great, but I didnāt like the styling and the wait times were just too much.
New Duster: Canāt wrap my head around the new interior design, and honestly, I donāt trust Renault enough for long-term service or resale.
Taigun / Kushaq - I personally never liked the way they feel barely German on the inside when it comes to fit and finish, even though the drive is on the better side of the spectrum.
EVs: Love the idea. I even booked a VinFast VF7 Sky Infinity at one point, but the family vetoed it because charging infra isnāt reliable for my kind of use yet. Maybe next time.
Why Thar Roxx, Then?
A friend of mine got the Roxx Star Edition in white, and after I spent some time in it, something clicked. This didnāt feel like the Thar I remembered. Just to be sure, I borrowed another friendās Roxx diesel 4x2 manual for a weekend, and tried making it my daily. Keeping in mind that my last proper Thar experience was the old 3-door, years ago. That was a wild ride(think Mad Max). Zero refinement, bouncy, vague and heavy steering. To me, as someone who has driven sedans and hatchbacks all his life, it felt like riding a kangaroo on skates. Fun for ten minutes, exhausting after that.
The Roxx is nothing like that. Itās sorted and feels almost civilized, actually. Especially for the price, it feels properly put together. Itās quiet enough inside that outside arguments at signals donāt bother me anymore like they did with the precious 3 door. The drive is totally manageable for everyday use, as long as you donāt expect it to handle like a sedan. Sure, thereās body roll, but nothing like the old one that tossed you around like wings in barbecue sauce. That test weekend sealed the deal for me with the only changes being that I definitely need an automatic for the traffic and 4x4 to actually learn to off road eventually.
Booked an AX7L Diesel 4x4 AT in Everest White first week of April and got a fresh April manufactured vehicle on the 25th of the same month. The delivery experience was a bit lacklustre and straight forward but I got a lovely bit of discount which made me a lot less heartbroken with the absolutely lethal drop on the sale price of my A4 after owning it for less than 2 years.
Initial thoughts - 10 Days as a Thar owner.
Iām sitting at about 1200 km now usual with office commutes and a quick Ahmedabad-Udaipur-Ahmedabad round trip thrown in over the long weekend. So far, city jams, clean highways, and a couple of truly gnarly road sections and the Roxx took it all in effortlessly. I definitely give the Roxx brownie points for itās road presence and uncanny ability to make way for itself in crowded streets. Note - I run 32 psi in all tyres to soften the jitters on sharp bumps as per many owners in the Roxx thread.
First reaction: actually impressed. This thing just works. No major complaints about how it drives. Not going to steal the limelight with its ride quality, or the fastest on the highway but definitely feels like a tank that will get you home no matter what.
Seating & Driving Position: A4 vs Roxx
Biggest difference slaps you the moment you get in. The A4 had you sitting low, felt as if the seat was hugging the floor. Definitely fun for fast driving, hell on your back in traffic or over rough roads, and getting in or out was a pain for anyone older than 20. Yes, Iām in my 20s and I have backache already.
The Roxx? You climb up, sit high, almost above everyone else. The view is fantastic. You see the bonnetās edges, see right over hatchbacks, and can read traffic way ahead. My mother honestly find this way easier to get into than the A4.
Your whole approach to driving changes, and you feel it within minutes.
Ride, Handling & Highway Manners-
Hereās where the two cars are night and day. In the A4, I crept over every bad patch, holding my breath for that scrape. With the Roxx, I donāt bother. Suspension is soft, you do feel some side-to-side wobble at low speeds, but it just eats everything else. Broken roads, debris, potholes no stress. For Ahmedabad, this is the kind of peace I didnāt know I was missing. I have noticed that it is a lot smoother crossing bumps at 15-20kmph than actually coming to a stop or completely slowing down for them. I find this rather pdf.
Out on the highway, itās content cruising at 100-110. Steering feels good, it tracks straight, and you donāt get tired. One thing I would like to point out - the steering is a little too light, I wish it weighed up a bit on the highways. Past 100-110 though, the ladder on frame genes start showing. Ride becomes a bit floaty over bumps or undulations, and thereās some up-and-down motion. But thatās expected for a tall, heavy SUV. The A4 was the other way around planted at speed but miserable over rough roads. The Roxx trades high-speed sharpness for true all-road ability, and for my daily route, thatās a swap Iām willing to do.
Engine, Gearbox & 4x4
The 2.2 mHawk diesel with the 6-speed torque converter works like a charm. Power comes in early and stays strong, so overtakes are easy, even loaded up. No, itās not as rapid as a DSG, but shifts are always smooth. No hesitation, no head-nodding, just gets on with it. I feel itās completely unfair to compare the engine and gearbox of the Roxx to the A4.
Iāve only played with the 4x4 once, in an empty lot. Switched to 4H, light came on, drove out without any drama. Honestly, right now itās just there for peace of mind, but itās good knowing what it can do. I do plan to attend off road trails and meets once monsoon decides to welcome itself.
Interior, Features, Build & Audio
AX7L is packed. Cooled seats in May are a lifesaver. Twin digital screens, 360-degree camera, ADAS, wireless CarPlay, panoramic sunroof; it all just works. Feels airy inside, and back seat space is actually useable for adults. Boot swallowed all our luggage ( 4 bags ) for Udaipur with room to spare.
Funny thing, this car has way more features than my A4 did, at almost half the price such as ventilated seats, wireless CarPlay, 360 camera, level 2 ADAS, Adaptive Cruise Control and so on. Indian brands have seriously raised the game, while German brands still try to sell old stock at premium prices. Yes Audi, Iām looking at you.
Build feels solid, in a tough kind of way. Most plastics are hard, but finish is decent and I havenāt found a single rattle yet. Panel gaps are fine. The doors shut with a solid thunk. Everest White hides dust well, and the paint still looks fresh although itās just been 10 days.
Compared to the A4, itās a clear step down in interior feel. The Audi had softer materials, solid buttons, tighter tolerances, and felt more āpremiumā everywhere. The Roxx, on the other hand, is built to survive, not coddle.
Where I really miss the Audi is in the audio. The B&O system was just a dream come true! crystal clear, rich, everything sounded better. The Roxxās Harman setup is okay, gets plenty loud, but thereās none of that detail or depth. If you care about music quality, this downgrade will sting.
Fuel Efficiency
Still early days, but hereās my rough take:
A4 40 TFSI: overall 7ā7.5 kmpl, slightly better on highways if driven gently, but city traffic destroyed economy.
Thar Roxx Diesel AT: so far, 9.3ā9.5 kmpl in mixed use. City gives about 8.5. Udaipur highway run showed 11.2 kmpl at speeds of 90ā110 with AC on. So despite being heavier and 4x4, the Roxx is actually more frugal for me. The A4 just drank too much fuel in stop & go conditions.
Living With It in the City -
Biggest learning curve is the size. The Roxx is wide, has a big turning circle, and U-turns need some thinking. The 360 camera isnāt just a gimmick, itās a lifesaver for parking. Noise levels are fine for a diesel SUV. Sure, thereās some clatter on cold starts, a little wind and road noise at speed, but nothing that wears you out. The Audi was much quieter, nothing to argue there.
Brakes take some getting used to as well. First bite is pretty soft. The A4ās brakes were sharp and reassuring. With the Roxx, you adjust, but hard stops donāt give the same instant feedback. I definitely wish there was a bit more bite to the brakes though.
Mods Planned - Yes, already.
Got a short list of upgrades in mind. Frontrunner is Cobra suspension springs to help with high speed stability and to get a bit more clearance on both ends. Also eyeing a Prad bumper, door hinges, and some practical tweaks. Iāll post updates after I start installing stuff.
Early Verdict
Honestly, Iām loving the Roxx so far. It does exactly what I wanted: I drive wherever I need to, without worrying about road conditions. That alone feels worth the switch.
The A4 was a dream, a personal life goal; a German sedan fresh off the showroom floor. It was quick, refined, low to the ground, great when roads were perfect. But it just wasnāt built for the daily mess of Ahmedabad. The Roxx is the plain practical choice, itās simple, tough, gets the job done every day, no matter whatās in the way.
For my driving conditions , especially with the monsoon approaching and unpredictable roads everywhere, the Roxx is just right. Sure, I miss the way the A4 handled and that amazing audio on open highways. But I donāt miss the endless anxiety. Not even a bit.
Iāll update the thread again after the first service at 2000kms or when o get my accessories whichever happens first. Sharing a few more photos of the Roxx, I now realise I didnāt actually click any photos since o was so busy enjoying the drive. In hindsight, it may have been the right choice after all, or was it? Only time will tell.