Mahindra Thar Roxx Gets Aftermarket CNG: The Economics Behind It
Mahindra is one of the biggest SUV manufacturers in India. They have SUVs like the XUV 7XO, 3XO, Scorpio Classic, and Scorpio N in their lineup. They even offer lifestyle SUVs like the Mahindra Thar and Thar Roxx. Both the Thar and Thar Roxx are quite popular among buyers as they offer a butch and rugged look on the road. However, people who buy the Mahindra Thar and Roxx are often seen complaining about the fuel efficiency of these vehicles. Here we have a video where a Thar Roxx owner has found a solution to that issue, as he decided to go with an aftermarket CNG kit.
The video has been shared by Expert CNG Center on their Instagram page. In this video, we see a white-coloured Mahindra Thar Roxx with custom-painted bumpers waiting for its turn at a CNG filling station.
The staff at the pump opens the fuel lid and, instead of inserting the petrol nozzle, inserts the CNG nozzle into the port right next to the petrol cap. The person recording the video shows the CNG being filled in the car and, just to prove that this is not a prank, he even opens the tailgate and shows not one but two massive CNG cylinders in the boot.
This is an aftermarket job, as Mahindra does not offer CNG with any of their passenger cars in India. The SUV is customised by the owner, and we see silver alloy wheels, a split spoiler on the roof, a custom-painted black roof, and we expect that the front grille and lights on this SUV are also customised.
The answer to this question is very simple: fuel efficiency. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is available with petrol and diesel engine options. The diesel engine of the SUV is suitable for those who want efficiency. However, if you are a person from the Delhi-NCR region, a diesel car does not make sense, as you have to pay a premium over the petrol vehicle and the life of the vehicle will only be 10 years.
Because of this issue, people half-heartedly buy the petrol variant. There are also people who are worried about DPF issues and opt for petrol variants. The Mahindra Thar Roxx petrol is powered by a 2.0-litre mStallion turbocharged petrol engine that generates 174 bhp and 380 Nm of peak torque.
People often like the refinement of the petrol engine and buy the petrol Thar and Roxx. However, it is only after using it or living with it that they realise these engines are powerful but not at all efficient.
Mahindra doesn’t offer a CNG kit from the factory, and people who bought the petrol versions of the Thar Roxx or any big Mahindra SUV are put in a position where they either have to deal with the poor efficiency or do something about it.
It is here that aftermarket CNG kits come into the picture. There are many RTO-approved kits available in the market that can now be paired even with turbo petrol engines. The performance of the SUV takes a toll, and additional weight is also added to the vehicle, which affects the life of the suspension as well. However, people who install CNG in cars already know about the compromises and still choose to get it done. In the end, they get a Mahindra Thar Roxx that offers better fuel efficiency.
It should be noted that if you install an aftermarket CNG kit on a new vehicle, the warranty of the vehicle gets void. It should also be noted that you should always go for a branded, RTO-approved CNG kit. Also, make sure that you take your vehicle to a workshop with experienced mechanics, as there are many things that can go wrong during the installation process.