As promised, Mahindra has officially unveiled the much-awaited all-new model of the Thar SUV on the occasion of 74th Independence Day. For your reference, the Thar has got a major upgrade after a gap of 10 years and this time, Mahindra has left no stone unturned and the results are fantabulous. We are quite sure that some of the prospective buyers are going to switch to the new Thar instead of buying a compact or a midsize SUV like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Ford EcoSport, and the Maruti Brezza.
New Mahindra Thar SUV Exterior
Heavily inspired by the Jeep Wrangler, the new-gen Thar is wider and longer in comparison to the last-gen version of the SUV. The 2021 model of Mahindra Thar has been imparted with an upright stance while the overall muscular profile accentuates its rugged appeal. Except for the ‘ugly-looking’ front grille, the overall design of the new Thar is very proportionate and pleasing to the eyes.
When compared to the BS4-compliant last-gen model of the Mahindra Thar, the boxy design profile and the wide front bumper remain more or less the same while the overall retro-modern looks with the round headlight design, square tail-lights, and flared-up wheel arches accentuate it further.
Some of the key exterior highlights include a set of all-new headlamps, LED DRLs, stylish alloy wheels, LED taillights, ‘Thar’ engraving on the outside rear-view mirrors, huge fenders, round fog lights, a squarish bonnet, and an option for a factory-fitted hardtop for better safety and weather protection.
New Mahindra Thar SUV Interior
Gone are the days when Mahindra Thar was not considered as a tech-loaded premium car as the 2021 model has received an all-new interior with premium bits and pieces. The dual-pod instrument cluster adds to the premium look of the SUV while the brand has offered a vertical MID (Multi-Information Display) in the middle of the analogue speedometer and tachometer which offers apt riding data.
In addition to this, the interior of the top-spec model of the new Mahindra Thar features an all-new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is further compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new model also features faux leather upholstery, roof-mounted speakers, a multi-functional steering wheel, cruise control, automatic climate control, navigation, and more cabin space for additional comfort.
Mahindra has also changed the seating layout in the new Thar and instead of featuring the side-facing seats at the back as standard, the new model is available with an option of front-facing rear seats.
New Mahindra Thar SUV Safety Features
- Dual Front Airbags
- Crash Safety Compliant
- Pedestrian Safety Compliant
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD)
- Hill Hold Control
- Hill Descent Control
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Roll-Over Mitigation
- Built-in Roll Cage with 3-Point Seatbelts
- ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts on Rear Seat
New Mahindra Thar SUV Variants
The 2021 model of the Mahindra Thar is available in two versions: AX (Adventure Series) and LX (Lifestyle Series). The Thar AX has been specifically tailored for the offroad lovers while the Thar LX has been designed to be used in the city as well as for mild offroading. The Thar AX is a 6-seater while the LX model features a 4-seat layout as standard.
Some of the key features of the Thar AX include the likes of a fixed soft top, side-facing rear seats as standard, 16-inch white steel wheels, a mechanical locking differential, power windows, power steering, manual AC, central locking, and rear parking sensors. The new Mahindra Thar AX is available in both petrol and diesel but with only a manual gearbox.
Coming to the new Mahindra Thar LX, it will be available with a convertible or hardtop, a 4-seat layout with a front-facing bench at the back, dual-tone bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs and fog lamps, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and an automatic air-conditioner. The Thar LX will be available in three options: petrol-automatic, diesel-manual, and diesel-automatic.
New Mahindra Thar SUV Engine & Gearbox Options
As we reported earlier, the new Mahindra Thar will be available with two engine options: a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine and a 2.0-litre turbocharged mStallion petrol engine. The mHawk130 DOHC 16-valve diesel engine is good for a maximum power of 130 BHP with a peak torque of 300 Nm.
For your reference, the last-gen BS4 Thar was powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine that was good for 105 BHP of power and 247 Nm of torque. It came mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Coming to the petrol option, the mStallion150 T-GDi DOHC 16-valve petrol engine generates a maximum power of 150 BHP along with an utmost torque of 320 Nm.
In addition to the new engine options, the 2021 Thar SUV has been equipped with a new 3rd-generation ladder-frame chassis, a new suspension and braking system, and a set of 255/65-R18 all-terrain tyres. For the first time ever, the Thar will be available to the customers with an option of a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox in addition to getting a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard.
As Thar is a pure offroader, Mahindra is offering a mechanical 4-wheel-drive system with four-wheel low, four-wheel high, and rear-wheel drive modes as standard across all variants. In addition to that, the brand is also offering the SUV with two roof options: hardtop (LX model) and soft top (AX model).
New Mahindra Thar Off-Road Features & Capabilities
- 226mm Ground Clearance
- 37-Degree Departure Angle
- 27-Degree Ramp Over Angle
- 42-Degree Approach Angle
- 650mm Water Wading Ability
- 255/65-R18 Tyres
- Electromechanical Driveline Disconnect
- Body-on-Frame Construction
- Independent Front Suspension
- Multi-Link Rear Suspension
- Shift-on-the-Fly 4×4
- Manual Shift Transfer Case with Low Ratio
- Mechanical Locking Differential on the Rear Axle
- Brake Locking Differential
New Mahindra Thar Colour Options
- Red Rage
- Mystic Copper
- Napoli Black
- Aquamarine
- Galaxy Grey
- Rocky Beige
New Mahindra Thar Key Features
- Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Power Windows
- Electrically Adjustable ORVMs
- Central Locking with Remote Flip Key
- Removable Front Doors
- Roof-Mounted Speakers
- Height Adjustable Driver Seat
- 7-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System
- Compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB, Navigation
- Adventure Statistics Display on the Infotainment System
- Adventure Connect: Mahindra Adventure Calendar Display
- Smartwatch and Phone Connectivity with Blue Sense App
- TFT Multi-Information Display in the Instrument Cluster
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Automatic/Electronic Climate Control System
- Drizzle Resistant (IP54) Dashboard Switches
- Cruise Control
- Tyre Direction Monitoring System
- Steering Mounted Audio and Phone Controls
New Mahindra Thar SUV Availability & Expected Price
As of now, Mahindra has not released the pricing details for the new Thar while one can expect it to get a starting price tag of around INR 11-12 lakhs (ex-showroom). In terms of availability, the brand has officially announced that they will start accepting the pre-bookings for the new Thar SUV from October 2, 2020, and the price range will be revealed on the same day.