New Mahindra Thar Facelift Launched At Rs 9.99 Lakh: Rs 32,000 Cheaper Than Before
Mahindra has launched the facelifted version of the three-door Thar in India. This is the first notable update for the SUV after its market entry in 2020. The facelift gets several visual changes and feature additions. The new three-door Thar starts at Rs 9.99 lakh, ex-showroom and goes up to Rs 16.99 lakh for the range-topping variant.
When compared to the previous model, the new Thar's starting price have come down by Rs 32,000. The top-spec variant, on the other hand, has gotten pricier by Rs 38,000.
Mahindra Thar Facelift: What’s New?
The new Thar gets subtle design upgrades. The front grille is now body coloured, and the front & rear bumpers get a Black and Gunmetal Grey dual-tone finish and now look more like those offered on the ROXX. Almost all other areas of the design remain unchanged. Headlamps continue to be circular Halogen units like before. Indicators remain unchanged as well.
The silhouette remains the same as before. It has the same lines, surfaces, and tall stance as before. No changes can be seen at the rear either. The reverse camera now sits at the centre of the tailgate-mounted spare wheel- another ROXX-inspired detail. Rear wiper and washer are now standard across the range.
This facelift seems to have had a strong focus on improving the cabin experience and usability. The new SUV comes with ROXX-like door cars and new door handles on the A-pillar. Power window controls have moved to the doors for better ergonomics. Previously, these were placed at the centre.
Six colour options are available on the new Thar. The palette sees the addition of two new shades- Tango Red and Battleship Grey- both offered on the five-door ROXX. Two broad trim lines are offered- AXT and LXT.
Another big change inside is the new steering wheel. The new unit is the same unit found in models like the Scorpio-N, Thar ROXX, and XUV 700. It has infotainment controls to the left and cruise control/MID buttons to the right side. The new Thar gets a larger touchscreen- the ROXX-borrowed 10.25-inch unit with six speaker sound system and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Minor changes were made to the dashboard to accommodate the new screen comfortably.
Mahindra has also given the new Thar a wireless charging pad, multiple USB type-C fast-charging points, rear AC vents, and a front central armrest. Liveability inside has definitely improved. Another important detail- the fuel lid now gets a button-based operation. You no longer have to step out with the key and open it manually. And finally, the automatic variants now come with a dead pedal for added comfort.
No Major Mechanical Changes
The facelifted Thar continues to offer the same set of engines and transmissions as before. There are both petrol and diesel versions on sale. The former is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine (mStallion 150 TGDi) that makes 150 bhp and 300 Nm (320Nm on automatic) (both RWD and 4WD available).
The new Thar continues to be offered with two diesel engine options- a 2.2-litre mHawk 130 CRDe that makes 130 bhp and 300 Nm (4x4 variants) and a 1.5-litre D117 CRDe with an output of 117 bhp and 300 Nm (RWD variants).
4x4 Variants Now Get Electronic Front Axle Disconnect
An interesting update on the new Thar is the Electronic Front Axle Disconnect feature, available on the 4x4 variants. The primary aim here is to improve fuel efficiency on highways. Driving on smooth roads and highways does not require both axles to be powered. In such scenarios, this feature disconnects drive from the front axle, and lets the vehicle function as an RWD. This can bring significant fuel savings in real life.