Mahindra Thar pros and cons — Good for the dirt, not so much for the city

By Aryan Aggarwal15 Mar 2025
Credits: Mahindra

Mahindra Thar

The Mahindra Thar 3-door is one of the most iconic SUVs in India, and it sells like hot cakes, especially when compared to its rivals. Here are the top Mahindra Thar pros and cons that you should consider before making a purchase decision.

Credits: Mahindra

Top Mahindra Thar pros

Credits: Mahindra

Variety of engine options

Mahindra usually offers quite a few powertrain options on its SUVs in India, and the Thar is no different. It gets the option of two diesel engines and one petrol engine. Both the diesel and petrol Thars can be configured in RWD or 4WD, and are available with manual and automatic transmissions, depending on the variant.

Credits: Mahindra

Massive road presence

A large segment of buyers choose the Thar just for its road presence, owing to its jeep-inspired styling with a raised stance, large wheels and wheel arches, a chunky bonnet, and a large front grille. 

Credits: Mahindra

Off-roading capabilities

The Thar comes with the option of a four-wheel drive configuration, as well as all-terrain tyres, a ladder-frame chassis, and 226mm of ground clearance, all of which make it a capable off-roader in addition to other systems and mechanical components. 

Credits: Mahindra

Top Mahindra Thar cons

Credits: Mahindra

Impractical for the city

While you can live with a Thar in the city, it isn’t the most urban-friendly vehicle, with just two doors, lack of space in the second row of seats, and a small boot. Getting in and out of the SUV is also a bit of a task, and most of us wouldn’t want to take up the hassle on a daily basis.

Credits: Mahindra

Missing features

There are quite a few features that are missing on the Thar, which would have made it a fancier package, such as automatic climate control, LED headlamps, a larger touchscreen for infotainment, and a 360-degree camera setup.

Credits: Mahindra

Compromised comfort

The Thar looks its part and demands respect on the road, but you do have to trade comfort and ride quality for that. Being a body-on-frame SUV that’s designed to be driven off-the-road, the Thar lacks the comfort that you would expect from a city vehicle. Ride quality isn’t great either.

Credits: Mahindra
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