Mahindra Thar has always been a rugged hands on driving experience. Part of its charm was the manual transmission, which gave the driver an increased sense of connection with the vehicle, and the terrain. The introduction of the automatic transmission in the 4x2 LX variant has sparked a debate on whether the basic character of Thar driving experience has changed. The automatic makes the Thar more accessible and comfortable for daily driving, they say, especially in city traffic. Some say it strips away a key piece of control and engagement that Thar enthusiasts have become accustomed to. This question questions the yin-yang balance of modernizing the Thar without diluting the traditional value attached to it, while also encroaching upon the judgment of an automatic transmission – whether it takes the overall Thar experience to a next level or backtracks it.