Mahindra Thar Review
Mahindra Thar CRDe - One of its kind
Monday, May 20, 2013Overview of Mahindra Thar
A crossover vehicle always catches the eye of people owing to its masculine appeal. One of the most revered off-roaders in India comes straight from the house of Mahindra, the leading SUV & Crossover vehicle manufacturer in India. Mahindra Thar has been making waves ever since it was launched years back and at Auto Expo 2012, Mahindra blessed us with an upgraded and much more vicious version of Thar revamped both ergonomically as well as visually.
Mahindra Thar Exterior
The outer body of Mahindra Thar has been inspired by old classic Jeep and Gypsy both of which have been modified and compiled into one, which now is our fierce Thar. The crease on the body appears to be prominent enough to give us an appeal of the masculinity which the car highlights. The grille attached to the front fascia has been deeply inspired by Jeep and the lights are circular as they were in the predecessor version. These set of features give Thar the much desired signature look. Mahindra has added burly and muscular tires which add to the mean look of the car and at the same time, give it a better control over the road. These tires have been installed for the sole purpose of giving a better sustained performance off road. Now coming to the side profile, Mahindra Thar has three doors two of which are for the front doors whereas the third one is fitted to the back of the car. Thus, the entry to the back seat is from the rear fascia of the off-roader and the space above the rear seats have been traditionally kept open. The doors have basically been bolted which gives the car a much more rugged look as it should embark. Coming to the rear of the car, the design of Thar is the usual as it is something which people do not wish to see changed. At the back, there are two burly pipes which are running over the car thus giving it an indiscriminate look over its contending UVs in the market.
Mahindra Thar Interior
Not only does the exterior of the car strike a chord with us but same goes with the interiors as well. On making our way inside the cabin of Thar, the first noticeable thing are the rough but comfortable seats which can be elevated as per our convenience in order to make more space. Though, they look rugged, yet on terms of safety, they are capable. Since the car is made for off-road purposes, thus there has to be lots of space inside the car in order to make the passenger comfortable even when the car is treading over a rough terrain. Thus, in terms of luxury, Thar might not be promising but what it has is still commendable. The steering wheel is bold as it has been in all the classes of Mahindra Jeeps. There are two seats at the back which have been designed in a simple fashion and both of these seats are facing the front. When it comes to accommodating passengers, Thar can comfortably accommodate 5-6 people with without any hassles. The overhead roof has been kept open which in turn, ensures that there is ample head room for passengers. Additionally, the distance between the front seats and the dashboard is sufficient enough for the driver or the co-passenger to extend their hand and select key options embedded on the dashboard. The speedometer in the front row is the same as it has been in the previous versions of Thar. Concerned with the comfort level of Thar, Mahindra decided to put air-conditioning system in Thar and this might be the first time that this feature has been included in the off-roader. Though, this feature is available only to the CRDe engine owners and not DI variant possessors. Unfortunately, Mahindra Thar does not come with a music system.
Engine and Gearbox
Mahindra has basically made Thar for those who do not wish to enjoy luxury but instead wish to feel the power of the cross-roader on all terrains of roads. This is the reason why Thar boasts of a powerful and commanding engine which gives it enough power to tread over any surface without much hassle. Mahindra Thar is basically available in the market in two variants namely DI & CRDe. The CRDe NEF Turbocharged intercooled engine goes well with a five-speed manual transmission and the engine has a remarkable capacity of 2498cc. The CRDe variant of engine is capable of giving out a peak power of 105 bhp at 3800 rpm along with a maximum torque of 247 Nm at 1800-2000rpm. On the contrary, the DI engine has a capacity of 2523cc and this one also comes with a 5-speed manual transmission system. An additional feature is that the buyer of DI engine has an option to select between 2WD and 4WD models. This engine has been put to use in Mahindra Bolero as well. Mahindra Thar can go from 0-100 in 17 seconds with a top speed of 155 Km/hr.
Safety Features
Mahindra Thar has been given an archetypal ladder frame chassis and a strong body-on-frame structure for its safety. The ground clearance on CRDe models is 200mm whereas the same is 187mm for the DI models. The suspension which has been loaded with shock absorbers in both these variants is what we term as the strongest component in the car as it has the ability to take heavy jerks and at the same time, keep the car on track no matter how the terrain is.
Variants of Mahindra Thar
Mahindra Thar is available in three variants:
- Di 4X2 BS3
- Di 4X4 BS3
- CRDe 4X4 BS4 (Not Available)
- AC CRDe 4X4 BS4
Shades
Mahindra Thar is available in four shades:
- Black
- Mist Silver
- Toreador Red
- Arctic White
Verdict
When it comes to engine, ground clearance, exteriors and handling, Mahindra Thar promises to set a benchmark but the only disadvantage is that it still lacks advanced safety features.