Complete Guide to Buying a Mahindra Thar

While great comfort, high practicality, impressive utility and dynamic performance are the traits of almost all modern SUVs, only a few can go beyond the ordinary, offering a package that can go the distance both on and off the road. Despite the market being filled with a plethora of SUVs in all shapes and sizes, when it comes to taking on tough terrains, the Mahindra Thar is a name that truly shines. First launched in 2010, the Mahindra Thar has been one of India’s most rugged and reliable off-road vehicles, commanding immense popularity from consumers across all ages. A cult in its own sense, the Thar has come a long way since its introduction to the Indian market, constantly evolving to offer the best in terms of all-terrain performance.

Entering its second generation in 2020, the Thar has since managed to sell over 1 lakh units, a testament to the SUV’s ever-growing popularity. Month after month, the Mahindra Thar proudly makes its way to the bestselling charts with its exceptional package that is in many ways better than all its off-road competitors. So if you are in the market looking to bring home a go-anywhere SUV, then buying the Thar makes perfect sense. So here’s a complete buying guide for the Mahindra Thar to help you analyse every little thing about the SUV, including specifications, variant lineup, and after-sales experience.

Mahindra Thar Specification

Designed to be a tough, rugged, reliable and affordable SUV, the Mahindra Thar has since then evolved as one of India’s most favourite off-road SUVs. Locking horns with long-term rival Force Gurkha as well as new-age competitors like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, what makes the Mahindra Thar a class apart is its unmatched performance, glorious legacy and massive popularity. Despite the segment’s aggressive competition, the Thar with its affordable price tag manages to win the hearts of both off-road and lifestyle SUV lovers. Here’s what the Thar packs in:

Why you should consider the Mahindra Thar

While it is true that there aren’t many off-road SUVs out there, it is also true that the Mahindra Thar isn’t just a hardcore off-roader. It is also a capable lifestyle SUV that is even offered with affordable rear-wheel drive trims, offering a little something for everyone. This is what makes the Mahindra Thar a true leader in every sense. Offering its buyers a holistic ownership experience, the Mahindra Thar offers several advantages that make it stand out from all its competitors, both as a lifestyle as well as an off-road SUV. If you are curious to know what makes the Thar a cult that it already is, here are a few reasons why you should consider the Mahindra Thar over other competitors in the same price bracket.

Modern Style and Tough Character

When it comes to looks, the Mahindra Thar is truly good-looking from head to toe. The overall design language of the Thar reflects upon the SUV’s tough and rugged personality, which is tastefully incorporated in a modern avatar that is no more boxy and void of character. When compared to rivals such as the Force Gurkha and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, the design of the Mahindra Thar feels much more balanced and evolved. It is neither too basic nor too tough and has just the right amount of character.

Unlike other compact SUVs such as the Venue, Sonet, and Fronx, the Mahindra Thar despite being modern, does not overdo it with sharp lines, swanky rims and large grilles. At the same time, the SUV beautifully manages to assert its tough off-road character with high wheel arches, prominent bumpers, and a rear-placed stepney. This makes the Mahindra Thar a look that truly pleases the eyes. Even on the inside, the Mahindra Thar does not feel dated, offering a contemporary interior layout with features such as a touch infotainment system, steering controls, connected car technology, keyless entry and much more. At the same time, the Thar also manages to offer a host of off-road-oriented features such as removable doors, washable interiors, roof-mounted speakers and a washable floor.

Exciting Off-Road Capabilities

When it comes to off-road performance the Mahindra Thar is tough to beat. After all, taking on tough terrains is what the Thar is made for. When compared to rivals such as the Gurkha and Jimny, the Mahindra Thar offers best in class approach (41.2 mm) and break-over angles (26.2 mm), which helps the SUV take on any terrain without breaking a sweat. Based on the variant chosen, the Mahindra Thar also offers both mechanical as well as brake locking differentials to help you come out of tough situations without any difficulty. Being a true off-roader the Thar also offers 600 mm of water-wading capacity without any external snorkel, which makes the Mahindra Thar a better off-roader than modern-day competitors like the Jimny.

No matter what the situation is, the Mahindra Thar’s all-terrain suspension set-up is truly built to offer a comfortable ride that is difficult to match even by lifestyle SUVs such as the Venue, Brezza, and Fronx. With a manual low-ratio 4×4 transfer case, and best-in-segment ground clearance of 226 mm, the Mahindra Thar is ready for every challenge, making it one of India’s best off-road SUVs.

Impressive Driving Dynamics and All-Round Performance

A big reason behind the Mahindra Thar’s unmatched popularity is its dynamic and diverse powertrains that have evolved over the years to offer a hassle-free driving experience, that is thrilling in every sense. Offering as many as three competent engines, the Mahindra Thar delivers exceptional performance and superior driving dynamics. Despite the BS6 norms in place, the Mahindra Thar continues to be one of the very few SUVs in India still offering two diesel engines along with a petrol counterpart. The 2L turbo petrol engine of the Thar offers exciting performance and great refinement, while the bigger 2.2-litre diesel unit serves as one of the most exhilarating engines onboard any compact SUV with a punch of power at your disposal. Finally, the 1.5-litre diesel engine also comes across as a dynamic performer with the right amount of power and torque mated to a rear-wheel-drive setup. The 6-speed torque convertor automatic available with the bigger petrol and diesel engines offers a butter-smooth driving experience in every situation. Complementing it all is the Mahindra Thar’s impressive safety that boasts a 4-star crash test rating with ample safety features onboard offered as standard. Overall, the Mahindra Thar offers superior ride quality and driving dynamics for all kinds of buyers no matter which drivetrain you pick.

Why you should not consider the Mahindra Thar

While the Thar offers some extra advantages over competitors, there still are a few compromises that must be considered before you make a decision, especially when the competition is diverse and the market is filled with some great options. Here’s where the Thar lacks when compared to competitors in the same price bracket.

Cramped Interiors

Despite the Thar appealing to both off-road enthusiasts and lifestyle SUV lovers, the SUV is a bit cramped when it comes to the space inside. The 2-door, 4-seater setup is quite impractical, especially for those looking to bring home the Thar as an SUV for their family. Getting on and off from the rear seats is itself a hassle. This is done by folding down the front seat, which can get irritating for both the front and rear passengers, especially on long road trips.

Even when seated, the rear seats do not feel too comfortable to be in. The head and leg room on the rear is also not the best, considering that the rear section seats only two passengers. While these issues will surely be addressed by Mahindra in the five-door version of the Thar, the current two-door model will continue to have limited practicality and cramped spacing. Even the boot space on offer is highly dissappointing, leading to almost no space being available for luggage, especially when all four passengers are onboard.

Bumpy Ride and Lack of Features

While there is no doubt that the Mahindra Thar offers exceptional off-road performance, the stiff road suspension of the Thar makes it one bumpy ride to be in. No matter what speed you drive, the Thar always feels bouncy with high-speed runs posing to be a risky affair. When compared to other compact SUVs in a similar price range, there’s a lot that the Thar needs to fix, especially when it comes to overall ride quality. Another area where Thar can surely improve is onboard features. While the Thar does offer inclusions such as cruise control, touchscreen infotainment, steering controls etc, there are still a lot of features that the SUV misses out on including automatic climate control, rear parking camera, headlight washers, LED headlamps etc., all of which are incorporated by the Thar’s latest competitor, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny.

Mahindra Thar Variants

The Mahindra Thar is offered in two broad trims: the AX OPT and LX, which are spread across 13 variants including hard top and soft top convertible variants. The cheapest Mahindra Thar variant is the AX Opt Hard Top Diesel RWD which has a price tag of Rs. 10.54 Lakh while the most expensive variant is the Mahindra Thar LX  Hard Top Diesel AT which commands a price of Rs. 16.78 Lakh. Here’s the complete variant lineup of the SUV:

Best Mahindra Thar Variant to Buy

While the Mahindra Thar is loaded in terms of safety and performance, straight from the base model, there still is a very long list of variants to pick from, with each offering a little more than the other. However, when pitched against each other, the Thar LX Hard Top variant seems to be the best manual transmission pick for both petrol and diesel powertrains. In terms of the automatic trims, the LX Hard Top AT and LX Hard Top AT RWD are the best picks. These trims offer most of the 4×4 SUV’s key features including all the major safety features.

Mahindra Thar Warranty and Service Costs

When it comes to making SUVs, there is no one better than Mahindra. With an inventory offering some of India’s best SUVs, Mahindra is renowned for making long-lasting and reliable SUVs since 1945. Being a Mahindra product, the Thar comes with a 2-year/1,00,000 kilometres warranty with 24/7 roadside assistance. In terms of maintenance, the Thar offering both a petrol and diesel option will demand an annual service cost of about Rs. 8 to 10 thousand for the diesel trims, while for the petrol ones, the cost will be around six to eight thousand. This makes Thar’s 5-year maintenance cost fall anywhere between Rs. 40 to 50 thousand.

Summary

Selling over 1.2 lakh units since its launch, the second-generation Mahindra Thar has quickly emerged as a cult in the market. As Mahindra’s star off-roader, the Mahindra Thar with its competitive price tag instantly attracts a plethora of consumers offering exceptional performance, capable off-road equipment, rugged looks and reliable engines. A regular best-seller every month, the Thar is a great pick for those looking to go travel beyond the roads.

FAQs about Mahindra Thar