Mahindra’s non-4WD Thar lures you with its spark

Despite leaving us wishing for more added features, the vehicle does pass most checklists as an easy commute within the city

The second-gen Mahindra Thar has been a crowd favorite ever since its launch in 2020, sweeping the offroading crowd off its feet. A vast chunk of buyers opted for this vehicle due to its newfound roundedness. It could finally be used as an everyday car, thanks to a modern interior and features, (relatively) easy-driving manners, and automatic transmission options. Now Mahindra has introduced new variants of the Thar that have shed the 4x4 system and are rear-wheel drive (RWD) only. There is also a new small capacity diesel engine, which has tax benefits, and thereby, a reduced price. We take a look at how a non-4WD Thar feels.

Everything remains the same apart from the omission of the ‘4x4’ badge. The defining shape has not been tinkered with and other details such as the slatted grille, round headlamps, exposed bonnet clips and chunky cladding remain. Base AX versions make do with simple 16-inch steel rims, while the higher-spec LX versions get 18-inch alloys; both come shod with all-terrain tyres. Body style options for the Thar RWD are limited to a hard top, though the RWD does widen the colour palette by adding two new options — Blazing Bronze and Everest White.

The biggest change inside is the missing 4WD lever. In its place is a cubby hole that can be used to stow a mobile phone. This aside, there is no change to the dashboard, seats or feature set. Given that this is an update meant for an urban audience, we felt Mahindra could have added some convenience features such as a driver armrest, automatic climate control, wireless charging, type-C ports for faster charging and a dead pedal for automatic versions.

The feature set does include a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support (and even an inclinometer — carried forward from the 4WD), analogue dials and Mahindra’s BlueSense connectivity features. The safety kit includes dual airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, hill-launch assist, hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts and a roll cage. The Mahindra Thar was awarded a 4-star rating on adult occupant protection by GNCAP, albeit according to the older testing protocol.

Space on the inside is no different from the 4WD — enough to stretch in the front seats — but for large-framed adults, the snug seats will not be comfortable on long journeys. The space in the rear too is unchanged, so after a brief struggle to get in the back (via the front doors), there is decent space for two. Boot capacity remains a weak point, with space enough only for a couple of medium-sized soft bags with the rear seats up.

Powering the Mahindra Thar RWD are two engines, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol mStallion 150 TGDi from the 4WD variant, and a new 1.5-litre CRDe turbo-diesel engine. Before we get to the new diesel, a few points of the petrol are worth noting — there is no change to the power output, gearing, and the performance is similar to the 4WD variant. In our preliminary tests, the 0-100kph times and even the kickdown times were marginally quicker and that is primarily because of the lightness due to the elimination of 4WD.

It even feels similar in the way it delivers power. The petrol is solely offered with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The unit is smooth to shift, but is not the most eager of systems, hence demanding patience. Slot the lever in manual mode and it will hold the gears, but only to a certain point, after which it upshifts. The response is delayed and if you want convenience, it is best to leave the lever in auto.