Thar Price :
The Mahindra Thar starts at a price of Rs 11.35 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base diesel manual rear-wheel drive model and goes up to Rs 17.60 lakh for the top-end diesel automatic 4×4 Earth Edition, which is a special-edition Thar based on the fully-loaded LX variant.
Thar Variants :
Mahindra offers the Thar in two broad variants: AX Option and LX. These variants can be had with a standard hard-top roof or a manually-folding soft-top roof (convertible) with choices of petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic transmissions.
The Mahindra Thar’s fully-loaded LX variant is its value for money variant. The base AX Option variant is cheaper but misses out on features like steering-mounted audio and phone controls, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with speakers, tyre pressure monitoring and enlectrically adjustable mirrors. For these added features, the LX commands a reasonable price premium of around Rs 50,000-60,000 and is worth spending more for.
Features of Thar :
The Mahindra Thar offers features like a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4 speakers with 2 tweeters, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ESP, ISOFIX, dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. It also gets tilt adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, rear defogger, manual AC, and front power windows.
Thar Comfort:
The Mahindra Thar is designed to seat 4 occupants only. Tall users will appreciate the amount of headroom available in both rows. The tall floor means you have to climb into the cabin like in an old school SUV but getting into the rear seat will be a little tricky, especially for tall adults or users with knee problems as you have to crouch behind the front seat to get inside. Also, the seating position for second-row is awkward because the rear wheel well juts into the cabin affecting how you rest your foot. With all the seats in use, there’s only enough boot space for 3-4 soft bags or 2 trolley bags. The rear seat backs to fold down for more luggage space but cannot be folded away completely.
Thar Engine & Transmission options :
The Mahindra Thar is offered with 3 engine options:
- 1.5-litre CRDe Diesel: This engine makes 119 PS/300 Nm offered exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission. This engine is shared with the Mahindra XUV3XO. It is only available with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) drivetrain.
- 2-2-litre mHawk Diesel: This diesel engine is offered with the Thar 4WD (4-wheel-drive) variants of the SUV. It makes 132 PS/300 Nm and is available with both either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. While the 1.5-litre diesel offers good performance, this bigger engine offers an extra bit of punch which makes overtakes a little easier and highway performance more enjoyable too.
- 2-litre mStallion TGDi (Turbo Petrol With Direct Injection) Petrol: The turbo-petrol engine makes 152 PS and 300 Nm (MT)/320 Nm (AT). It is available with both 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. It delivers brisk performance and responsiveness while still being smooth to drive but this engine does not score high on fuel-efficiency.
About Mileage of Mahindra Thar :
In real-world conditions, the Mahindra Thar diesel delivers a fuel-efficiency of between 11-12.5kmpl while the petrol Mahindra Thar delivers between 7-9kmpl.
Thar Safety :
The Mahindra Thar comes equipped with safety features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill-hold control, hill-descent control and rear parking sensors. In Global NCAP’s crash tests, it has also received 4/5 stars for both adult and child occupant protection.
Colour options of Thar :
The Mahindra Thar is available in 6 colour options. These include: Red Rage, Deep Grey, Stealth Black, Everest White, Deep Forest and Desert Fury.
We especially like:
- Desert Fury, a colour rarely offered with any car and a good option for those who like a standout paint job
- Stealth Black, if you like understated colours that complement the muscular looks of a boxy SUV
Should you buy the 3-Door Thar?
The Mahindra Thar is an off-road SUV and is a great choice for people who want a capable lifestyle vehicle that’s reasonably comfortable to live with. For those who just want the Thar for its old school design and rugged appeal, the Thar rear-wheel drive offers the benefits of good ground clearance and a chassis built to tackle rough terrain while those who want to enjoy the art of off-roading should get the 4×4 even if the use is occasional. However, bear in mind that road-focused SUVs available at the same price offer more comfort, better and more practical interiors, easier handling and more features too.
About Alternatives of Thar?
The Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Force Gurkha are off-road SUVs that you can buy for a similar price as the Mahindra Thar. If you just want the style and higher seating position of an SUV but don’t intend to drive much off-road, the MG Astor, Honda Elevate, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are available in a similar price range.