The new Mahindra Thar has just been unveiled before its launch on October 2. Along with confirming a large number of new details – from the powertrains on offer to the styling and features – Mahindra has also revealed that the 2020 Thar will be on offer in two variants – AX and LX.
-
2020 Mahindra Thar to be available with four engine-gearbox options
-
Second-gen Thar to be on offer in AX and LX trims
-
Thar AX geared towards off-road enthusiasts; Thar LX has more creature comforts
One of the major mechanical highlights of the all-new Thar is that it comes with a choice of two engines – a 152hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol along with a 132hp, 2.2-litre diesel. Both have 6-speed manual and automatic gearbox options and get a 4x4 system as standard; a manual-shift transfer case with a low ratio is standard across all powertrain options.
With four engine-gearbox options and two trim lines, the second generation of Mahindra’s off-roader will be available in a total of seven versions. Here’s what’s available, in terms of features, on each:
2020 Mahindra Thar AX
-
2.0-litre turbo-petrol with 6-speed manual gearbox
-
2.2-litre turbo-diesel with 6-speed manual gearbox
-
Mechanical locking diff
-
Dual front airbags
-
ABS with EBD
-
Central locking
-
Rear parking sensors with a display
-
Manual inside day-night rearview mirror
-
Rear defogger (optional)
-
Roll cage (optional)
-
Fixed soft top
-
LED tail-lights
-
Convertible top or hard top (optional)
-
16-inch steel wheels (white) with 245/75 R16 tyres
-
6-seat layout – 2 front seats and 4 side-facing seats
-
Front facing rear seats with 50:50 split/folding and adjustable headrests (optional)
-
4-way adjust for front passenger seat (optional)
-
Manual air-con
-
Power windows
-
Power steering
-
12V accessory socket
-
Remote keyless entry (optional with hard top)
-
Driver’s seat height adjust (optional)
2020 Mahindra Thar LX
In addition to the features and optional equipment on the Thar AX
-
2.0-litre turbo-petrol with 6-speed automatic gearbox
-
2.2-litre turbo-diesel with 6-speed manual gearbox
-
2.2-litre turbo-diesel with 6-speed automatic gearbox
-
Brake locking diff
-
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with rollover mitigation
-
Tyre pressure monitor
-
Tyre direction monitor
-
Three-point seatbelts for all four passengers
-
Hill-start and descent assist
-
Isofix child seat mounts
-
Roll cage
-
Speed-sensing front door locks
-
Follow-me-home headlights
-
Convertible top or hard top
-
18-inch alloy wheels with 255/65 R18 tyres
-
Dual-tone bumpers
-
Moulded footsteps
-
LED daytime running lights and front fog lights
-
Fender-mounted antenna
-
4-seat layout – front facing rear seats get a 50:50 split/fold function
-
8-way adjustable front seats including height and lumbar adjust
-
Fabric upholstery
-
Automatic climate control
-
Cruise control
-
Power adjustable outside rearview mirrors
-
7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and navigation
-
Roof-mounted speakers – 4 speakers and 2 tweeters
-
USB connectivity
-
A colour multi-info display in the instrument cluster
-
Steering-mounted controls
The new Thar LX is intended as more of a lifestyle product with its long list of creature comforts, while the Thar AX is oriented towards enthusiasts, with a more basic specification at a lower price point. In either case, cleaning up after a mud-plugging session should be relatively easy, as Mahindra has provided drizzle-resistant (IP54 Standard) switches on the dashboard and a wipe-down interior.
We’ll have to wait until October 2 for the 2020 Mahindra Thar prices, but for now, it seems like Mahindra has met the brief on retaining the Thar’s off-road ability, while also targeting a more mainstream buyer.
Also see:
2020 Mahindra Thar review, test drive
2020 Mahindra Thar first look video
2020 Mahindra Thar image gallery