Mahindra had a big 2023 in Australia, debuting the XUV700 seven-seater and a new Scorpio four-wheel drive.
It didn’t, however, bring the rugged little Thar off-roader Down Under – that’s not for a lack of trying.
It announced in 2020 it wanted to bring the Thar to Australia – before backtracking 2021 and telling the Federal Court it in fact wouldn’t be selling the car locally in its current iteration.
At the same time it was locked in a legal battle with Jeep Australia’s parent company, which alleged the Thar impinged on its design trademarks.
Mahindra made no admission of fault at the time, suggesting a Thar with a different design could come Down Under eventually. A five-door Thar has since been floated as a possibility to make the trip to Australia.
But enough about lawyers and trademarks… On a recent trip to India, we hopped behind the wheel of a Thar to see how it stacks up off road.
This written review is a companion to the video above. We’ve removed sections where local information is not available.
How much does the Mahindra Thar cost?
Pricing for the Thar kicks off at the equivalent of around $20,700 in Australia, and extends to $27,600 before on-road costs for a range-topping diesel all-wheel drive model.
In Australia, the car’s nearest rival would be the Suzuki Jimny – it’s priced from $30,490 before on-road costs with a manual transmission.
What’s under the bonnet?
Power in the Thar comes from a choice of petrol or diesel engines.
The base diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit making 87kW of power and 300Nm of torque. It’s mated with a six-speed manual transmission, and is rear-wheel drive.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine option packs 112kW of power and 300Nm or 320Nm of torque, depending on whether you select a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. A choice of rear- or switchable four-wheel drive setups are offered.
The range-topping engine is a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel making 97kW of power and 300Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. It’s only available with switchable four-wheel drive.
What do you get?
The new model is built on a new body-on-frame chassis with double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link solid rear axle with coils and dampers.
It’s available with a locking rear differential, a transfer case with low-range gearing, 226mm of ground clearance, a 650mm wading depth, and a fearsome 42 degree approach angle. The break over angle is up to 27 degrees.
It comes with a hard top or a soft top option. The doors are removable, and the floors are hose-able and have draining plugs.
Available features in India include vinyl or cloth seats, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, power windows, HVAC, parking sensors, a TFT instrument display, and 4×4-specific menus showing pitch, roll, G-monitor and torque mapping.
Is the Mahindra Thar safe?
The Mahindra Thar scored four stars in Global NCAP testing carried out in 2020.
The Thar tested had two airbags, and was marked down for lacking electronic stability control.
The old school off-roader with removable doors managed four stars out of five for both adult and child occupant impact protection, and its structure held up well following a 64km/h frontal barrier collision.
The tester noted some footwell instability, and recommended stability control enhancements.
CarExpert’s Take on the Mahindra Thar
Based on our quick taste of the Thar, we’d love to see it in Australia.
It’s rugged and affordable, and based on how popular the Suzuki Jimny has been it’s unlikely Mahindra would struggle to find buyers.
We’re eagerly awaiting the reveal of the new five-door Thar to see if it’s locked in for our market, and when it might be here.
Would you like to see the Mahindra Thar in Australia?
