Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar is the country's most popular lifestyle off-roader. The first generation model was launched in 2010. Mahindra introduced the Thar SUV to celebrate the success of Mahindra Legend, which was based on the Mahindra MM540. The company launched the second generation Mahindra Thar in October 2020. 

It received an overwhelming response from buyers. At one point of time, the lifestyle off-roader commanded a waiting period of around 12-18 months. The SUV comes with attractive styling, proper off-roading credentials, and competitive pricing.

It is offered with two diesel and one petrol engine options. Both RWD and 4x4 versions are on sale in India. 

Mahindra Thar Price and Variants - Which One To Buy?

The Mahindra Thar lifestyle SUV is available broadly in two trim levels - AX and LX - and in total of 19 variants. The Thar price in India starts at Rs 11.35 lakh and goes up to Rs 17.60 lakh. All the prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. 

Expert Opinion - We suggest you go for the LX variant of the Mahindra Thar. The price difference between the AX Optional and LX variants are not much, but one gets more than enough to justify the incremental cost.

The LX trim also comes with automatic transmission options. Customers can also opt for the Thar 1.5 LX Hard Top variant, which costs Rs 12.85 lakh. It comes as a rear-wheel-drive SUV, while the more powerful versions with 2.2L engine gets 4x4 drivetrain.

Key Features

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Cruise control
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 50:50 Split Rear Seat

The Mahindra Thar AX (O) base variant gets manual air-conditioning, remote central locking, roll cage, 16-inch wheels, manual ORVMs, height adjustable driver seat and adjustable headrests.

Other features include tilt adjustable steering, day/night IRVM, two hooks, front power windows, etc. It lacks a music system, fog lamps, power mirrors, front armrest and steering mounted controls. 

The Thar LX has all the features that are accessible in the AX Optional variant. Additionally, the SUV gets front fog lamps, tyre pressure monitoring system, cruise control and steering-mounted controls.

The Thar LX variant also gets brake locking differential, 18-inch alloys, power ORVMs, Lumbar support and ESC. It also gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. 

Engine Specifications

The new Mahindra Thar lifestyle SUV is available in 3 engine options - a 1.5L 4-cylinder diesel, a 2.0L turbo petrol and a 2.2L turbo diesel. The entry-level diesel engine is capable of producing 117bhp and 300Nm of torque. This engine is only offered with RWD lower variants. It is coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. 

The 2.0L 4-cylinder mStallion 150 TGDi petrol engine churns out 150bhp and 300Nm of torque. For transmission duties, it gets either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque convertor automatic. It is only available in 4x4 drivetrain. 

The 2.2-litre, mHawk 130 CRDe diesel engine produces 130bhp and 300Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to all 4 wheels via 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. 

Mahindra Thar Mileage

The Mahindra Thar diesel automatic is claimed to offer an ARAI certified mileage 10kmpl, while the diesel manual is rated at 15.2kmpl. The petrol automatic and manual delivers 9kmpl and 15kmpl, respectively. In real conditions, the diesel Thar should offer a mileage of around 10-12kmpl. 

Exterior

The Mahindra Thar exterior design is an evolution of the original Willys Jeep. The SUV features a large front grille with vertical slats, traditional round-shaped headlamp and a large flat bonnet. The black chunky bumper houses round-shaped fog lamps on either side. 

The side profile shows boxy design with flat body panels and strong muscular lines. The SUV comes with squared off front wheel arches and cladding all around the body. The rear profile has a horizontal swiveling tailgate that features retro LED taillamps and a mounted spare wheel. 

Interior

The Mahindra Thar comes with a basic interior with limited features. However, it is still a huge upgrade when compared to the first generation model. The That's cabin layout is simple and functional.

There are a lot of rough surfaces all around the dashboard and on body panels. It gets a high-set dashboard, flat front windshield and narrow A-pillars. 

The lower variant lacks basic features, whereas the top-end variants of Thar gets some usable components. It is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, steering-mounted controls, power mirrors, height adjustable seats, lumbar support and cruise control.

Access to 2nd row seats in the 3-door Thar is difficult. The touchscreen unit displays roll and pitch angles, tyre position, a compass, G monitor, etc. Moreover, it gets a 6-speaker music system with roof mounted speakers and tweeters.

Dimensions and Boot Space

The new Mahindra Thar sits under 4 meters in length. It measures 3985mm in length, 1820mm in width and 1844mm in height. The SUV rides on a 2750mm long wheelbase. The new Thar lifestyle SUV ground clearance stands at 226mm.

The Mahindra Thar 3-door offers a boot space of 600-litres, which is more than sufficient to accommodate 6 cabin luggage. The boot space can be further increased by folding the second-row seats. 

Infotainment and Connectivity (Music System)

The new Thar lifestyle SUV is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, which allows user to connect phone using Bluetooth and AUX. The company offers a 4-speaker audio system as standard. Mahindra is also offering an option to upgrade to a 6-speaker system for a better audio experience. 

Safety Features

The new Mahindra Thar comes with an internal roll cage, three-point seatbelts and dual locks for the convertible & hardtop variants. The safety features include dual airbags, ESP, vehicle dynamics control, tyre pressure monitoring system, rollover mitigation, hill descent control, hill hold, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts. 

Warranty and Maintenance

Mahindra is offering a 3 years/unlimited kilometers warranty with the Thar lifestyle SUV. Customers can also opt for extended warranty by paying additional. Other services include Roadside assistance and pick and drop service. 

Competition

The Mahindra Thar 3-door lifestyle SUV directly rivals the Force Gurkha 3-door. 

Pros and Cons

Views by Industry Experts

Performance

The new generation Thar is available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.2-litre turbo diesel. While the former is good for 150PS and 320Nm/300Nm (AT/MT), the oil burner produces 130PS and 300Nm of torque.

A 4x4 drivetrain comes as standard. Moreover, the Thar RWD version is also on offer. It gets the 117bhp/300Nm, 1.5L turbocharged diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. 

The new diesel Thar is extremely smooth with limited vibrations. The steering is light, while the clutch operations are nicely tuned for every terrain usage. The gear shifts are smooth and slots in without much delay.

The torque availability at lower rpms make driving through traffic and on inclines easy. Customers won't have any issues with the automatic version as well. 

The turbo petrol motor is equally good. It is more refined and makes very little noise compared to the diesel model. However, there's some turbo lag. Good throttle response and rev happy engine makes driving easy in every condition.

For those looking to drive home an affordable & efficient Thar, there is a 1.5L diesel version with rear-wheel-drivetrain.

Comfort

The cabin of the new-gen Thar is a big step up when compared to the previous generation model. The cabin welcomes you with a great driving position, while the dashboard feels tough. The cabin is washable, as it has drain plugs. The interior is practical too with a storage area on the central console along with USB ports, an AUX port and a 12V socket, and two cup holders. 

The seatbelt is usable for all size occupants. Driver can easily control the air con, infotainment system and the transfer case lever. There is no space on the footwell to rest the left foot. Even the automatic variant has no dead pedal.

The interior space is decent and offers good headroom and kneeroom. It is a 4-seater lifestyle SUV with front-facing rear seats. One can access the second row by pushing forward the front seat and climb through the gap. This could be a problem for elderly occupants.