Mahindra Thar: Prices & Variants explained

This is your ultimate blueprint for picking the right engine and drivetrain for the iconic Mahindra Thar

6 min read

By now, you all would have seen the capabilities of the Mahindra Thar. Be it online or offline, it’s hard to miss the Mahindra Thar. The Thar remains one of the most distinct models in the market and boasts capabilities that few others can even comprehend, let alone match. And that’s why more than just another SUV, the Thar has itself become a cultural icon, featuring often in popular culture – films, music videos, you name it. Whether you are looking for a striking daily commuter that stands out in the corporate parking lot or a hardcore off-roader built to plunge into riverbeds, the Mahindra Thar has got you covered.

The reasons to buy are many, but it’s also easy to get a bit confused by all that’s going on – petrol versus diesel, manual versus automatic, and 2WD versus 4WD. But you’re in the right place. Read on to decode exactly what avatar of the Thar belongs in your garage.

Why a Mahindra Thar?

All of us would agree that the automotive landscape today is highly saturated with look-alike front-wheel-drive monocoque hatchbacks masquerading as SUVs. That’s why, wherever you look, a Thar will always stand out. It’s not just the butch proportions, but everybody has a sense of what the Thar is capable of. Let’s list out a few more reasons:

Unmissable styling: With its muscular proportions, round headlamps, signature grille, and aggressive, wide stance, the Thar offers a towering road presence.
Body-on-frame construction: All Mahindra SUVs possess a structural toughness that ordinary crossovers simply cannot match. The Thar is engineered to absorb heavy impacts and irregular roads without breaking a sweat.
Go-anywhere ability: An incredible 226 mm of ground clearance paired with exceptional approach, break-over and departure angles progresses the abilities of the Thar. A 650 mm water-wading depth further proves why the Thar remains one of the best vehicles for all-year driving.
Varied powertrain options: It would be wrong to put down the Thar as a one-trick pony. With a variety of powertrain options, there’s a Thar for everyone.

Lifestyle appeal:

What really makes the Thar an all-rounder is the convenience features that make it easy to live with. While many others focus on unnecessary feature additions, the Thar brings absolutely what you need in a package that remains supremely reliable years down the line. Step inside, and you’ll believe what we are saying.

Adventure-ready cabin: The all-black interior is a thing to behold. But furthermore, the interior features completely washable bits and drainage plugs, allowing you to literally hose down everything.
Roof-mounted speakers: What is a drive without good music, and when a manufacturer thoughtfully positions everything, the experience is multiplied. The overhead speakers create this dome of sound that everyone can enjoy, whether seated in the front or rear.
Modern tech suite: A large 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment is the centrepiece of a functional dashboard. Alongside that, you get standard steering-mounted controls, cruise control, rear-view camera, and rear AC vents. For stat nerds, the Thar offers all kinds of information right on the display – temperature gauge, steering angle, pitch and roll angles, and altimeter.

Petrol vs diesel

One of the varied reasons the Thar stands out is that it doesn’t lock you into a single lifestyle. It offers three distinct, turbocharged engine choices engineered to balance brute power with daily drivability.

2.0 L mStallion turbo-petrol (TGDi): This is unique in its own class. Putting out a blistering 112 kW (150bhp) of power and up to 320 Nm of torque (AT) or 300 Nm (MT), this is a high-revving masterpiece. On the other hand, as expected from a petrol engine, it remains incredibly silent and refined, while supporting you wholeheartedly, whether you’re cruising on a highway or driving within city limits on smooth paved roads. If your use case falls into these categories, a petrol Thar looks the part and drives like others won’t believe.
1.5 L mHawk turbo-diesel: Delivering 87.2 kW (117bhp) of power and 300 Nm of torque, this compact powerhouse is the efficiency king amongst the range. Available exclusively in the rear-wheel-drive (2WD) configuration, it offers incredibly tractive low-end grunt while keeping your wallet happy at the fuel pump. But this engine is also a workhorse. Whether you drive mostly in the city, or you do regular highway stints, or even go out on turbulent roads, this engine is suited to all terrains.
2.2 L mHawk turbo-diesel: If you’re the uncompromising kind, this heavyweight unit is for you. This is the heavy lifter of the lineup, putting down 97 kW (130bhp) of power and a solid 300 Nm of torque. It’s built to take abuse, haul heavy loads, conquer high altitudes – all while the air keeps thinning.

Automatic vs manual gearbox

Both the 2 L petrol and 2.2 L diesel powertrains can be had with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The choice will depend on the kind of terrain you drive on and your personal preference.

We all know that if you’re someone who regularly drives through city traffic, an automatic gearbox is what you should go for. But with the Thar, and the way the powertrains are tuned, even in off-roading situations, the automatic gearbox doesn’t let you get stuck. In both situations, the gearbox frees you from the clutch. On the flip side, the manual gearbox would suit the purists. It offers that classic mechanical engagement of a manual gearbox along with precise control over the car, important in low-traction environments. Not to mention, the initial cost is slightly lower.

2WD vs 4WD

Deciding between Rear-Wheel Drive (2WD) and 4x4 comes down to your lifestyle. For commuting to an office, weekend mall visits, or highway cruising, the 2WD lineup gets you the identical benefits without the extra weight, mechanical friction, and lower fuel efficiency of a 4x4 model. However, if alongside all that, you also like to explore unmapped trails, beach sands, river beds, or slush, the mechanical low-range transfer case and Electronic BLD in the 4WD models are absolute non-negotiables.

Variants overview:

Now that you made your decision on the powertrain, let’s talk about the variants on offer. The team has structured the trims in a way that caters to exact budget limits and lifestyle demands.

AXT

This is where the range starts, and this is built strictly for the purist, the enthusiast who wants to build their unique spec, or anyone looking to enter the iconic Thar family under the crucial ₹10 Lakh mark. This is available in the diesel RWD form with a manual gearbox.

LXT

The LXT lineup is the top-end. But you have a range of powertrain options. This introduces high-tier urban comfort, premium tech, and specialised electronic driving aids like the Electronic Brake Locking Differential (BLD) and a dedicated 4x4 crawl mode for enhanced off-road performance.

LXT Diesel 2WD (MT): The ultimate daily mile-cruncher. It pairs the high-efficiency 1.5L mHawk engine with premium LX comforts, giving you the best of both worlds without the added running costs of a 4x4 system.
LXT Petrol 2WD (AT): You can consider this to be the quintessential city slicker. You benefit from the silky-smooth turbo-petrol power combined with the convenience from an automatic gearbox.
LXT Petrol 4WD (MT) / (AT): Whether you like the manual or the automatic, these are built for the adrenaline junkie who wants sports-car-like straight-line acceleration, but also likes to dabble in off-roading.
LXT Diesel 4WD (MT) / (AT): At the top-end of the Thar range is the gold standard for overlanders and serious off-road nomads. Featuring the acclaimed 2.2 L mHawk diesel engine, this configuration is tailor-made for when the roads disappear.

Which Mahindra Thar should you go for?

On a strict budget? The AXT Diesel 2WD (MT) gives you the legendary road presence, mechanical ruggedness at an unbeatable entry point of Rs 10,32,000.
City dweller? Look at the LXT Petrol 2WD (AT). It’s quiet, smooth, packed with long list of gizmos, and frees you from a manual. At an affordable Rs 14,76,500.
Want efficiency in a rugged SUV? The LXT Diesel 2WD (MT) at Rs 12,99,000 gets you all the premium features like the big infotainment alongside the frugal 1.5 L mHawk motor.
Want to discover gold? Lock in the LXT 4WD variant available with either petrol or diesel motor, and either manual or automatic gearbox. Armed with 4x4 system, low-ratio gears, and axle lockers, it’s built to conquer anything and everything. While the petrol with the manual transmission costs Rs 15,59,500, the petrol with the auto transmission is at a very affordable Rs 17,22,500. For the mightily torquey diesel variant, you can get the one with the manual gearbox at Rs 16,42,500 and the auto for Rs 17,99,500.