It seems the COVID-19 outbreak had a constructive impact on at least one front for Mahindra. The extended snooze period allowed, or rather forced, the company to restructure the new Thar’s marketing activities. And, surprisingly, the revised approach roped in two of India’s national holidays – Independence Day (August 15) and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (October 2). Today, on India’s 74th anniversary of independence, Mahindra has unveiled the all-new Thar. And, on October 2, 2020, it will announce the prices. That day, the company will also complete 75 years of existence.
Unimaginative looks
If you are into cars, especially SUVs, you’d recognise that shape immediately. As before, Mahindra has blatantly stuck with its original mantra of taking design inspiration from the Jeep Wrangler and then adding some tweaks into the mix. That said, it has worked wonders for the homegrown automaker. The overall silhouette looks pretty-much exactly like the Wranger but in a shorter form.
Three of the firsts on a Thar are the options of a convertible roof, removable doors and front-facing rear seats. Guess from where Mahindra got those ideas! But, Mahindra has used a different type of seven-slat grille at the front. Bravo!
Serious stuff
The new Thar might not be all original in the looks department. But, Mahindra seems to have given the SUV a solid foundation. The ladder-on-frame chassis, independent front suspension, electronically-controlled brake locking differential, 650mm of water wading capability and class-leading approach and departure angles all come together to provide a formidable off-roading package. Plus, every variant comes with four-wheel-drive as standard.
Powerplants? Obviously, there is a diesel engine on offer. But, as a couple of additional firsts, Mahindra is offering a petrol engine and the option of an automatic transmission. The 2.2-litre diesel mill comes with 130bhp/300Nm, whereas the 2.0-litre petrol pumps out 150bhp/320Nm. Both motors are available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic (torque converter) gearbox. Interestingly, the petrol-MT combination offers the same power but 20Nm less torque.
Variants and features
Mahindra has kept this section uncluttered. The new Thar will be available in three trim levels – AX AC, AX Opt and LX. Both engine options will be available in the former two but only with a manual transmission. If you want the convenience of an automatic, you’d have to spend that extra for the LX-marked variants.
As standard, all variants will come with gizmos such as front fog lamps, LED taillamps, ABS with EDB, dual airbags, rear parking sensors and central locking. Over the entry-level AX AC trim, the AX Opt gets additional features such as the convertible top/hardtop, front-facing rear seats, remote keyless entry and height-adjustable driver’s seat. The range-topping variant will offer more stuff like 18-inch alloy wheels, ESP, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Tyretronics and LED DRLs.
Final words
With the new Thar, Mahindra wanted to cater to a broader audience. As a product, the SUV has grown up. It isn’t just about toying around off-road and breaking spines on-road. Its charm is more rounded now. And, based on how much choice it offers, one could even think of it as a family car. Do you agree?
What's your reaction?
