Mahindra Thar

The Mahindra Thar is now bigger than before, with an increase in its wheelbase, width, and length. It does look fetching on the road, majorly due to its squat position, new grille, and the Jeep Wrangler-like resemblance. The tyres are bigger and chunkier while the hood adorns an upright and flat stance. The wheel arches are still asymmetric while the front has round halogen lamps and circular fog lamps, with rectangular daytime running lights (DRLs) added to the mix. There is an adventurous yet composed look that the Mahindra Thar now projects, making it more appealing not just to adventure lovers, but also regular SUV car lovers.

There is a two-door body style with a new Mahindra Gen 3 platform, which has been widened. The retro-panels are retained, although the bonnet line has been raised for adhering to new pedestrian safety guidelines. There are removable doors as well. The dual-tone bumper and three roof options make the Thar more attractive as well. Buyers can choose from hard-top, removable hard-top, and soft-top options. The Thar gets striking color options along with stylish alloy wheels and chunky tyres.

The new Thar has a 2 litre turbo-petrol engine that is paired to a 6-speed torque convertor, while there is also a 2.2 litre mHawk diesel engine that has been refined further. The mStallion petrol engine is a first for the Thar and dishes out handsome power and torque figures. The DOHC all-aluminum engine also gets a DLC-coated piston pin, variable displacement oil pump and exhaust manifold within the cylinder head for better performance and efficiency alike. The diesel engine has been revamped with higher drivability and 95% of torque availability from 1,250 RPM itself. The motor has a variable geometry turbocharger and an aluminum crankcase. There is also selective catalyst reduction or SCR along with the DPF or diesel particulate filter. The six-speed automatic torque converter comes from Aisin and is longitudinally mounted, pairing to both the engines. The six-speed manual gearbox comes from the Scorpio. The automatic option is only for the LX variants, while the AX trims get the manual transmission system instead.

The Mahindra Thar diesel-manual offers 15.2 kmpl while the petrol-manual version offers the same figures. The automatic petrol variant also has the same mileage figures to offer.

Here is a look at estimated city and highway mileage figures for the Mahindra Thar.

The Mahindra Thar offers more drivability than before and it drives smoothly on city streets. However, the low-speed driving experience is a little bouncy, even though the car can take potholes without an issue. The ride does not feel as settled and stable although it is not as uncomfortable as one would think. The Thar feels good on the highway, especially at higher speeds. There is a slight issue with the all-terrain tyres, which may feel blunt on regular roads. However, the brakes are better on the diesel-manual version as compared to the petrol-automatic counterpart.

The Mahindra Thar has a similar body-on-frame configuration, although it has a stiffer chassis and an independent double-wishbone suspension in front with a stabilizer bar and multi-link coil spring rear setup as well. The Thar offers 4WD with a transfer case for splitting the torque at a 50:50 ratio between two axles. There is also mechanical shift-on-the-fly with the 4WD knob positioned beside the gear shifter. The company has claimed that torque may be enhanced by 2.48 times with the low-ratio 4WD mechanism. The Thar comes with a crawl ratio of 42:1, which is quite impressive as well.

There is also the mechanical locking rear differential along with brake locking differentials for the rear and front axles. The front axle also de-links from the 4WD setup for enhancing efficiency in the two-wheel driving mode. To further augment its off-roading attributes, the Mahindra Thar comes with 226mm of ground clearance and optional 18-inch tyres as well. The car’s approach, departure and break over angles are great, when you put in the bigger tyres. The maximum depth for water wading stands at 650 mm with the ECU and other parts being positioned above this line.

The Mahindra Thar’s cabin feels more ergonomically positioned, with a revamped gear lever for more convenience. There are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity options available for the Thar while the interior is otherwise simple and fully-washable, which is a nice touch. The hard plastics on the dashboard are not the best that you may expect at this price point though.

The AX trim comes with 16-inch wheels along with a side-facing seat, roll cage, and a soft-top as well. The LX or Lifestyle trim comes with luxurious upholstery, 18-inch alloys, a 7-inch touch screen infotainment unit, and roof-mounted speakers. The interiors have a charming and retro look with geometric elements positioned throughout the cabin. The all-black theme is waterproof while the switches are safeguarded from water ingress, including those for the cruise control, power windows, and audio on the steering wheel. The Thar also comes with front-facing seats which are also washable along with good bolstering for keeping people well positioned while one is going off-road. There is good lumbar support for the front seats, while the rear has split-fold functionality alongside.

The door pad on the side of the driver is a little near the shoulder, while the footwell is narrower and the steering is only height-adjustable. However, the Thar otherwise does a good job inside with the seats. Yet, the cushioning leaves a little more to be desired, in terms of overall comfort. Getting to the rear seats is not an easy task however. There is a lack of space while folding down the front seats and trying to access the rear row. One will have to squeeze through to the back. Many people will find it easier to get into the back by coming between the seats in front. The rear is mainly for two people with adequate legroom, although the seat height is lower and this may hinder overall comfort. Yet, in comparison to the earlier model, the front-facing bench is a better option.

The hardtop makes the Thar more like a regular version and so does the removable soft-top. The latter may feel noisy when you cross 60 kmph and crossing 100 kmph leads to a flapping noise. Highway drives are better with the hard top. There is a permanently placed roll-over bar near the B-pillar where the rear speakers are positioned. Some other features include hill descent control, hill hold, and a tyre pressure monitoring setup.

The LX version comes with the 7 inch touch screen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are dual USB ports with voice control, navigation, and Bluetooth, in tandem with a six-speaker audio unit. This has four speakers mounted on the roof as well. The Adventure Statistics Display has data on off-roading shown on the screen, like engine speed, roll and pitch angles, gear position, 4WD mode, G-meter, compass heading, and more. There is an integrated calendar while the new 3.5 inch color MID is another helpful addition. Tyre pressure monitoring is also available in the Thar.

The Mahindra Thar has improved its safety quotient considerably. There is an internal roll cage, complete with three-point seatbelts and dual locks for the convertible and hardtop versions. There are dual airbags, along with ESP, vehicle dynamics control, rollover mitigation, tyre pressure monitoring, hill descent control, hill hold, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts.

The AX variant is more suitable for those into hardcore off-roading, while the LX variant is more premium with added features and comforts. There are 13 versions of the Thar with four engine and transmission combos, two variants, two rear seat choices, and three body styles. The LX variant gets a long feature list at a higher price, while the AX offers rugged off-roading abilities at a more reasonable price. The AX is only provided with a manual transmission system, while the LX version will have driver’s seat adjustability, infotainment, LED daytime running lights, dual-tone bumpers, ESP, fog lamps, tyre pressure monitoring, 18-inch alloy wheels, and of course, diesel-automatic, diesel-manual, and petrol-automatic choices along with convertible soft-top/hard options. The four-seater layout is a standard offering for the LX trims. This is the better choice if you are willing to spend a little more and want to use the Thar for your city commutes as well.

The Mahindra Thar has a notable rival in the Force Gurkha. The Gurkha is both taller and longer, while the Thar is wider, with wider rear and front tracks and a longer wheelbase as well. The Thar will thus offer higher stability although interior space will be more on the Gurkha due to its height and length. 
The Thar surpasses the Gurkha in terms of its off-roading abilities, taking its departure angle, approach angle, ground clearance, and break over angle into account. The Gurkha has higher water wading depth and a better turning circle, making it easy to maneuver. The Thar is also lighter than the Force Gurkha, while it has a more powerful diesel engine. The Thar also offers an automatic gearbox option and a petrol engine option, which are not available for the Force Gurkha. The Thar has an improved suspension setup as well. It could be the better choice at a similar price point.

The Mahindra Thar has a lot to offer, if you are into off-roading and taking on challenging terrains. It gets all the off-roading features and attributes that you would desire, along with a rugged body and appealing design. Its road presence is fantastic, while the engines are powerful and get the job done with ease. The controls and features are decent enough, although there are many features that have been skipped at this price point. Yet, getting into the rear is a challenge on a daily basis, while the ride may feel bouncy as well. The small boot is another issue, while the petrol engine is not good on mileage. Yet, if you take all these niggles aside, the Mahindra Thar now makes a better case for itself as a daily driver, and not just a weekend off-roading option.

Also, check out: New Mahindra Thar Review; SUV Tested Off-Road Too.