Planning to Buy A Mahindra Thar? Pros And Cons

Mahindra launched the new generation of the Thar SUV in India in 2020 and it's been more than a year since the car launched in the country. Now the popularity of the Thar continues as it rakes in bookings and now the number has crossed the 75,000 mark. The new-gen model, takes things to a new level with refinement in every department and of course, it is the most affordable true-blue 4x4 money can buy in the country and we all know how very capable it is! So, as the festive season begins, and you look for 4x4s in the market, there's no ignoring the Mahindra Thar. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of this SUV before you make a buying decision

PROS

1. The Mahindra Thar is a handsome looking SUV and there's not a shadow of doubt that you will get the attention of everyone on the road. Yes, it's tall, bulky and very muscular. Add to that the stance thanks to those tyres and it's a potent mix of all that you want an SUV to be!
2. The Mahindra Thar bagged a 4-star crash test rating when the car was tested by the global safety watchdog, Global NCAP and that is another feather in the cap for the Indian manufacturer.
   

   The Thar bagged a 4 star safety rating  

3. The cabin has been reasonably upgraded in the features department as well and gets a touchscreen infotainment system for the very first time. It's a new 7.0-inch unit which has in-built navigation and smartphone integration like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
4. In terms of engine options, the new Thar gets a 2.0-litre mStallion 150 TGDI petrol engine which makes 150 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 320 Nm between 1,500-3,000 rpm. The diesel engine is a 2.2-litre mHawk 130 which makes 130 bhp at 3,750 rpm and 300 Nm of peak torque between 1,600-2,800 rpm. Both engines have the option of a 6-speed automatic gearbox too
5. The Thar gets a mechanical 4x4 transfer case as standard with four-wheel low, four-wheel high and two-wheel drive modes and has a low crawl ration of 42:1 which can multiply the low end torque by 2.48 times. It is equipped with an independent suspension at the front while the rear gets a multi-link unit. This makes it a very capable off-roader

CONS

1. While it's great off the road, the Thar's on-road manners are otherwise. The ride quality is bumpy and take which ever road, the stiffer suspension, does not make you feel comfortable
2. The 2-door and 4 seat configuration is a little impractical as getting in the second row can be a bit of a challenge. This may be addressed once the company brings out the 5-door version
   

   The space in the rear seat is not exactly great and there's hardly any luggage space 

3. There's no bootspace as such in the Thar and if there are 4 people traveling then, there is hardly any space for luggage of everyone travelling
4. Features like reverse camera, auto-dimming IRVM, auto headlamps & wipers, electrically-folding ORVMs go missing even in the top-spec variant of the Thar