Rox 01

Available in three interior colour themes – Amber Orange, Jade White, and Pearl Black, the cabin of the Rox 01 is high on tech and features. The interior has a clean layout for the dashboard, which is dominated by the full-TFT rectangular screens – a 12.3-inch screen for the instrument console and a 15.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, besides a 15.6-inch rear-entertainment screen.

The upper-most layer of the dashboard and lower centre console has piano black garnishes, with the latter also housing the control panel for the tri-zone automatic climate control, a wireless charger, and cup holders.

With AC vents and USB charging ports in all three rows, the Rox 01 also has other new-age features like a four-way adjustable and heated multi-functional steering wheel, 256-colour ambient lighting, air purifier, front and a rear centre armrest with storage and lighting, LED cabin lighting, electrically-adjustable, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats with lumbar support and massage functions, dual-pane sunroofs and a high-end audio system. 

The overall boxy styling and upright stance of the Rox 01 seek a lot of inspiration from the Land Rover Defender, and it is evident from the moment you look at it. The front profile has T-shaped all-LED headlamps with dual-functioning LED DRLs, with a blacked-out fascia in the middle which has a blanked grille with honeycomb mesh inserts in its lower half. 

The side profile of the Rox 01 looks unmistakably like the Defender, with large and angular window panels, the trapezoidal front fender garnish, and the large 20-inch alloy wheels with wheel arch mouldings. However, the Rox 01 also gets the in-trend flush-type door handles.

At the back, the Defender inspiration strikes again with the tailgate-mounted spare wheel with a cover and side opening tailgate with a soft-close function. The Rox 01 also gets slim T-shaped LED tail lamps on the side edges of the boot lid. 

The Rox 01 has been equipped with double wishbone suspension at the front and an H-arm multi-link suspension at the rear, with both of them also getting all-aluminium sub-frames and continuous adaptive variable damping shock absorbers. This range-extender SUV also has a terrain response management system, which besides having a road mode, also has multiple terrain modes like snow, rock, mud, sand and wave.

The Rox 01 has a range-extender powertrain setup, which is a combination of two electric motors (one each at front and rear), a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, and a 56.01kWh ternary lithium battery. While the front motor generates 201 bhp and 340 Nm, the rear motor produces 268 bhp and 400 Nm. The combined power and torque outputs of the Rox 01 are 469 bhp and 740 Nm respectively.

The battery pack on offer can be charged externally via a GBT plug and delivers a range of 235 km (WLTC-certified). Rox Motors claims a full tank range of 1,115 km for the SUV, with the battery 100 per cent charged and a full tank of fuel.

With the help of an intelligent driving chip, five millimetre-wave radars, two front view cameras, four surround-view cameras, and six front and six rear ultrasonic radars, the ADAS system of Rox 01 has features like 360-degree panoramic camera, command lane change with lane merge assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear collision warning with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and door open warning. 

The other safety features on offer in the Rox 01 as standard are front, side, and curtain airbags, electronic stability program, ABS with EBD, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, rollover movement intervention, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic parking brake and trailer mode. 

The Rox 01 claims a lot on paper, with a fascinating design, a luxurious and feature-packed cabin and a powertrain which is high on tech and performance. However, with limited after-sales support and long-term reliability which is yet to be proven, the Rox 01 is a tough SUV to recommend, especially when one can get luxury SUVs from established premium carmakers at its asking price.