Comparison: Maruti Suzuki Jimny vs Mahindra Thar RWD

The Thar is one of the most successful and best-selling cars in India despite being a lifestyle offering with just two doors. Most of its success is down to its macho looks and the increasing desirability for a weekend toy these days. But, the Thar’s dominance might be at stake since Maruti Suzuki will be launching the Jimny soon. In an attempt to answer that, Mahindra has launched the more-affordable Thar 2WD which comes at a really interesting price. 

Although the Jimny and Thar are not direct competitors in terms of size and position, the Jimny 5-door and the Thar RWD will likely be priced similarly making them rivals in terms of pricing. Moreover, both these cars will be aspirational products with a rich legacy that dates back to the last century. Well, here is how they compare, strictly on paper:

Jimny vs Thar RWD: Dimensions

Quite obviously, the Thar is a much bigger SUV despite being a 3-door. The Jimny is more like a mini SUV in contrast to the Thar and even the 5-door Jimny is smaller than the Thar. This shows how they are not direct rivals per se. And the numbers are looking good for Thar, be it height, width, or the massive 226mm ground clearance. Boot space details of the Thar with the seats up are not available but it does offer a cavernous 900 litres with the seats folded down. Mahindra is also readying a 5-door Thar which will be another segment above the Jimny in terms of size and price when launched.

Jimny vs Thar RWD: Engine & Transmission

The Thar comes with two engine options, both petrol, and diesel while the Jimny offers just one petrol engine. Both the engines in the Thar develop much more power at 117bhp and 150bhp as opposed to the 103bhp of the Jimny. The Thar also develops more torque and offers a better 6-speed manual and automatic transmission. The Thar is clearly the faster SUV of both and will deliver a better driving experience owing to more power and a better powertrain setup.

However, we should factor in the fact that the Jimny is a 4×4 while the Thar is a 2WD. The Jimny is also the lighter car here by a good margin, which helps it achieve a good fuel economy of 17.2kmpl.

Jimny vs Thar RWD: Features & Comfort

As far as features go, both these SUVs offer what you expect these days. There’s a big enough touchscreen infotainment system with a good music system and the works. But looking closer at the spec sheet, it is evident that both these SUVs are nearly equally matched when it comes to features on offer. Of course, the Thar has some interesting features such as the removable soft-top option and the newly added connected car features. Whereas, the Jimny offers climate control and headlamp washers which are absent in the Thar. 

Jimny vs Thar RWD: Safety Features

When it comes to safety rating, the Jimny 5-door is yet to be tested anywhere. But we do know the 3-door scored 3-stars in the stringent EuroNCAP. Meanwhile, the Thar has been tested by GNCAP with a 4-star score. However, we cannot come to a definitive conclusion until a 5-door Jimny is tested. That said, both these cars look safe, especially the Thar with 4 stars. The 3-stars for the Jimny is also a decent score considering it was tested by the EuroNCAP.

Coming to the safety kit on board, the Jimny seems to have an edge with 6 airbags over the 2 airbags in the Thar. The Jimny also offers automatic headlamps over the Thar. The Thar fights back some ground by offering a traction control system. Apart from this, both SUVs are closely matched when it comes to other safety kits and assistance tech.

Jimny vs Thar RWD: Price Comparison

Maruti Suzuki debuted the Jimny at the Auto Expo 2023. The homegrown carmaker is yet to reveal the pricing of the SUV although we do know there will be two variants on offer – Zeta and Alpha. Rumours suggest that Maruti Suzuki will price the Jimny between Rs 10 and Rs 15 lakhs. If that is the case, the Jimny 5-door will compete with the Thar RWD in terms of pricing. But at this point, we can only speculate until Maruti Suzuki releases the pricing, something that is expected to happen soon. 

Summary

Until Jimny’s prices are officially out, we cannot arrive at a definite conclusion in this comparison. However, assuming both cars are priced similarly, we think the Thar edges ahead of the Jimny in terms of size and cabin space. If you want a big SUV with not much off-road cred, the Thar RWD might be your answer. The Thar is also your only choice if a diesel engine is a requirement for you. If budget permits, the Thar AWD is the best 4×4 you can buy today!

But, if you want an unintimidating urban SUV that can go off-road with ease, the Jimny sounds like it. It will offer more fuel economy and will also be easier to drive due to its smaller footprint. The Jimny will also come with Maruti Suzuki’s vast sales and aftersales support system making a strong case for it. Moreover, even if it lacks in sheer size, it is still a safe car with a decent safety rating and 6 airbags on offer as standard.

FAQ