From Beast to Brute

Mahindra's Thar and Roxx are great SUVs, but in the hands of many young, rash and wannabe drivers in India, these vehicles are fast adopting a bestial persona

- RAJEEV NARAYAN

"Patience is something that you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one who is ahead of you." — Mac McCleary

Mahindra's Thar and five-door Roxx are great SUVs. I have owned the former and enjoyed its rugged charm and road presence. But a pattern is emerging. In the hands of some young, brash and wannabe drivers, these SUVs are adopting a bestial persona. Instances of Thar- and Roxx-owners menacing, attacking and deliberately running over road-users are increasing. This is not negligence, it is conscious cruelty. Social media is overflowing with videos of Thars running amok on India's streets, typically with a disastrous outcome for others. A Thar Roxx allegedly loaded with narcotics ran over pedestrians in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri recently, killing one and injuring another. A Thar deliberately reverse-ran an elderly scooterist in Jammu and sent him to the ICU. Yes, SUVs are fast becoming a symbol of terror.

I offer my apologies in advance to both Mahindra Auto and saner Thar-owners, lest they misconstrue my intentions. I am personally car-crazy, and the Thar and Roxx are great—robust, commanding and capable of conquering any terrain. The problem stems from rash owners and drivers, who fancy themselves to be as indestructible and gifted as the vehicles. The only fault we can perhaps lay at Mahindra's doorstep is that it has not realized yet that the average wannabe Indian is incapable of handling its built-tough SUVs. A jest parallel would be alcoholic beverage companies, which have never truly tried to get Indians to chug down beer or other spirits at sports events. It may be because alcobev firms realize that if they do, the shenanigans in the stands would overshadow the match-up on the playing ground. India is just not ready—not for good alcohol, and certainly not for good cars.

Descent Into Brutality