I am a jeeper at heart. My 2016 Mahindra Thar is my pride and joy, and like most jeepers, I was eagerly looking forward to the launch of the new Thar. Would it really be the quantum leap that was promised, and a much needed update to the age old chassis and design of the current gen Thar?
The Mahindra Thar 2020 has been launched by Mahindra in October this year and there are plenty of reviews to browse through. But before I published my impressions, I wanted to get my hands on one for a long drive. A short test drive from the showroom just wouldn’t cut it.
So I finally got to drive the new Thar for 100+ kms., after a good friend bought the LX variant in Diesel with MT and Hardtop. My quick impressions on the new Thar after the drive:
The Good:
- Cabin Noise – It is very very quiet. The hardtop does an amazing job and there were no niggles and vibrations. After driving my Thar with soft top, this seemed like driving an aeroplane. Super dampening in the new Thar.
- Clutch & Gear – Damn light and smooth. It’s like driving a sedan. The gear changes are crisp and like any Mahindra vehicle, you can pull the vehicle in any gear. For instance, I drove the vehicle in 4th gear at 30 kmph and even at 80 kmph. So there is very little gear changing required, a boon for MT vehicles.
- Comfort – The new Thar is very comfortable. The suspension along with the large 18” tyres work together to provide an effortless drive. Potholes, rumblers, speed breakers, the Thar handled it all with ease.
- Brakes – Yes.. they finally work. No one praying that the vehicle will stop in time while literally standing on the brake pedal. The brakes of the new Thar are crisp and predictable, precisely what’s needed.
- Interiors – Functional, sufficient and very similar to the TUV interiors. They sure aren’t luxurious, but compared to the Thar that it is replacing, this is worlds ahead. Overall very comfortable seats, functional dashboard and good DIS display. Storage space for knick knacks could have been more though. The speakers in the roof are a good touch.
- Infotainment system – A real gem. It has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It has an unbelievable array of functions including connectivity for WhatsApp, Facebook and other apps for music. I am afraid though, that it can be a major distraction for drivers.
The Bad:
- It’s not a true off-roader – In my honest opinion, in order to please and attract a much larger market, Mahindra has tamed the Thar to a large extent. The ‘take it anywhere’ sturdiness seems to be missing with the new Thar. The placement of the radiator at the front in a low position is a testament to this fact.
- Finishing – Keeping true to its legacy, Mahindra has made compromises in the finishing of the vehicle, maybe because of the huge demand leading to frantic production. There was an irritating whistling sound from the driver’s side window, probably because of improper fitting of the rubber. Such things are just not acceptable. There are several reports of improper fitting of hardtop, sealant coming off and other experiences of poor quality finishing already available in online forums, and the Thar is only 2 months old 🙁
- Oh the grill!! – Even though the Thar is a box, Mahindra made done a fair job of making it look good, albeit taking most design cues from the competitor, Jeep. But they have got it horribly wrong with the grill. There are many customisers rushing to bring in more attractive grills, and so this issue should be sorted out soon.
Overall, the new Mahindra Thar is miles ahead of it’s predecessor and really cannot be compared. It’s now a lifestyle vehicle (you can actually talk to your co-passengers without outside sound blaring inside) and perfect for those looking to have a daily driver with something macho to fulfil their weekend dreams. But in all probability, it will mainly be a city runner and recreational vehicle instead of an off-road vehicle.
For the hardcore stuff, the old Thar is leagues ahead. I am definitely going to keep and enjoy my old world, rustic but go anywhere Thar for my off-road excursions. After all.. Thar Hates Tar 🙂
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