Top 3 Mahindra Thar pros and cons — Capable off-roader, but impractical in the city

Thar is one of the most recognisable brand names in the Indian automotive market, and Mahindra has been rightly capitalising on it in the last few years. The introduction of the new Thar followed by the Thar Roxx has worked well in the Indian carmaker’s favour, making it overtake Hyundai as India’s second largest automaker in February 2025. Here are the top 3 Mahindra Thar pros and cons that you might want to consider before making a buying decision.

Top Mahindra Thar pros 

Road presence

The Thar has massive road presence, thanks to its jeep-like styling, large wheel arches, boxy design, and chunky tyres. It demands respect on the road and has a much greater presence than one of its direct competitors, the Maruti Jimny. 

Off roading capabilities

The Thar is one of the most affordable off-roaders in India, and has great capabilities. It comes with a four-wheel drive system, all-terrain tyres, and a body-on-frame chassis. Ground clearance is plenty too, rated at 226 millimetres.

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Diverse engine options

Mahindra offers a variety of powertrain options on the Mahindra Thar SUV, with both petrol and diesel engines being available in rear-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive configurations. You also get to choose between a manual transmission and a torque convertor. The smaller of the two diesel engines is only available in a manual option with RWD though.

Related: Mahindra Thar ROXX vs Mahindra Thar - Which One Is Better?

Top Mahindra Thar cons

Lack of features

The 3-door Thar misses on a lot of features that are now seen on the new Mahindra Thar Roxx, and are expected to be introduced with the upcoming Mahindra Thar facelift. Some of the missing features include automatic climate control, a 360-degree camera setup, LED headlamps, and a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen system for infotainment. 

Poor ride quality and comfort

While being quite capable off the road, the Thar isn’t the most comfortable commuter. Sitting on a ladder-frame chassis and a suspension setup that is tuned to handle various terrains, the Thar compromises on a smooth ride quality.

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Reduced practicality

The lack of a pair of rear doors, compromised rear seat space, and a small boot have a toll on the SUV’s practicality. Ingress and egress also requires some effort, and it isn’t as easy to use the car as a daily commuter and is best for occasional strides outside the urban environment.