In India, Mahindra has introduced the RWD variant of the second-generation Thar. It costs Rs. 9.99 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base diesel variant. The Thar RWD, like the 4WD variants, will be offered with both gasoline and diesel engines. Thar RWD, like Thar 4x4, comes in AX(O) and LX trim levels.
The petrol engine is the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that powers the 4WD model. It is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission, like the 4WD model. For the 4x2 variants, the 2.2-litre mHawk 130 diesel engine has been replaced by the XUV300 and Marazzo's smaller 1.5-litre CRDe engine.
It has 117 bhp and 300 Nm of torque, which is 13 bhp less than the 2.2-litre engine. The new diesel engine also has engine stop-start technology. The diesel engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, with no automatic option.
Little has changed in comparison to the Thar 4x4 when it comes to appearance. The most notable exterior difference is the absence of 4x4 badging on the rear fenders. The second lever for the 4WD system has been replaced by an extra storage pocket. Mahindra has also rearranged some switchgear on the dashboard.
The Thar 4x4 now comes standard with a brake locking differential. A mechanical locking differential is available as an option on the 4x4 LX diesel.
The Thar RWD retains standard features such as a rear defogger, remote locking, and USB charging sockets. It comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, driver seat height adjustment, and cruise control. Safety features include dual airbags, ESP, ABS, tyre direction indicator, tyre pressure monitoring, and rear parking sensors.
When compared to the 4x4, the mechanical changes and removal of the 4x4 hardware have reduced the price of the Thar 2WD. The petrol models are now approximately Rs 2.33 lakh less expensive than the 4x4 variant while the diesel variants are up to Rs 4.20 lakh less expensive.
The launch prices are only available for the first 10,000 reservations, with deliveries starting on January 15, 2023.
The full price list is as follows:
- AX (O) RWD (Diesel MT) Hard Top - Rs 9.99 Lakh
- LX RWD (Diesel MT) Hard Top - Rs 10.99 Lakh
- LX RWD (Petrol AT) Hard Top - Rs 13.49 Lakh
2023 Mahindra Thar Official Brochure
