The 2020 Mahindra Thar has received a very encouraging response from the Indian audience. As of now, it has received well over 20,000 bookings and there is currently a waiting time of more than 6 months. The Thar was launched in the month of August and since then, it has been in high demand in the market.
The body on frame SUV has two engine options, 2.2-litre diesel engine making 130 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine making 150 PS of power and 320Nm of torque. The gearbox options are a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual, this will be provided with low range transfer case and a 4×4 drivetrain as standard. For the enthusiasts looking for the off-road capabilities of the Thar, it has a departure angle of 36.8 degree, an approach angle of 41.8 degree, ramp over angle of 27 degree and an astounding water wading ability of 650mm. The suspension setup is an independent double-wishbone at the front and a multi-link coil spring at the rear.
The LX variant aimed for those looking for an all-rounder lifestyle car comes with brake locking differential whereas the AX trim aimed for regular off-roaders comes with a mechanical lock differential. Mahindra has offered three choices of body types namely a fixed soft top, a cabriolet or convertible soft top and a fixed hardtop.
In the safety department it comes with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and a roll cage. In addition to that, in the recent NCAP testing, Mahindra Thar received 4 out of a maximum 5 stars which is its highest ever safety rating. This includes a 4-star rating for both AOP (Adult Occupant Protection) and COP (Child Occupant Protection). The features list is also comprehensive the Thar includes 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, a multi-info display, electronic air conditioner, keyless entry and much more.
Mahindra has said it has increased the production capacity by 50% more than they had anticipated and aim to produce 3,000 units of Thar each month from January 2021.