The much-awaited Mahindra Thar 5-door will finally go on sale this year. There are also talks that the Thar 5-door could get the “Thar Armada” moniker upon launch and as reported by us earlier, this new SUV is not just a standard Thar with two additional doors. Fresh spy shots reveal a long list of changes and added features that we will see on the upcoming Thar 5-door.
- Thar 5-door to get six airbags
- Expected to get 4WD and 2WD options
- Will share powertrains with the Scorpio N
Mahindra Thar 5-door: exterior highlights
On the outside, the Thar 5-door will get a new grille and bumper design, with integrated fog lamps. Top variants will get all LED lights, including the headlamps, the side indicators on the front fenders and even the fog lamps.The tail-lamps, too, will be LED units and will be slightly different from the Thar 3-door. While the test mules are properly covered, we do get a hint of the uniquely styled rear door handles, and the shape of the rear quarter glass that resembles the Thar EV concept.
Buyers will have multiple choices for the wheels and tyres too. Top variants will get 19-inch diamond-cut alloys and some mid-spec variants will make do with simpler-looking alloy wheels. Entry-level trims will get steel wheels instead, according to sources. Further, the Thar 5-door will also get a rear wiper setup and a remote fuel-filling cap opening option – both of these are missing on the Thar 3-door and are a welcome addition to the Thar’s feature list.
Mahindra Thar 5-door: Interior highlights
On the inside, there are quite a few differences and add-ons over the Thar-3 door. Firstly, the dashboard will have single-tone and dual-tone options, depending on the variant. The dashboard design of the new Thar 5-door, especially for the centre console, has been tweaked a little in order to accommodate a larger infotainment screen. Speaking of screens, the Thar 5-door will get two full digital screens measuring 10.25-inch each – one for infotainment and the other for instrumentation duties. The infotainment screen seems to be similar to the one that will see duty on the upcoming XUV300 facelift, while the instrument cluster seems to be the one that we’ve already seen on the XUV700.
Additional features on the Thar 5-door include push button start, front and rear centre armrests, leatherette seat upholstery, a sunroof and rear AC vents, among other creature comforts. The Thar 5-door will continue to be a 5-seat model like the 3-door Thar, there is no news of the Thar 5-door getting a third-row of seats.
Mahindra Thar 5-door: safety features
The Thar 3-door gets dual front airbags and drum brakes at the back, however, Mahindra will equip the Thar 5-door with six airbags and rear wheel disc brakes. It will also most likely get front parking sensors and a dashcam. There is no confirmation of ADAS or a 360-degree camera setup for the Thar 5-door.
Mahindra Thar 5-door: platform, suspension, powertrains
Under the skin, the Thar 5-door will sit on a similar ladder frame chassis from the Scorpio N, which means the wheelbase of the Thar 5-door could be similar to the Scorpio N's. Also, the suspension setup on the Thar 5-door seems to be similar to the one seen on the Scorpio N. This means, it will get a five-link suspension setup and Ford Endeavour-like Watt’s linkage that prevents the rear axle from moving laterally (side to side) under load. Just like the Scorpio N, the Thar 5-door could also get Frequency Dependent Dampers that turn supple over high-frequency bumps and stiffen around corners.
Under the hood, expect the Thar 5-door to get the same engine options as the Scorpio N which means a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel with identical power outputs. We are told that Mahindra will introduce 4WD and 2WD options on the Thar 5-door in order to appeal to a wider range of customers.
Mahindra Thar 5-door: launch timeline, expected pricing
Sources tell us that the Thar 5-door launch will take place around mid-2024, and it will be Mahindra’s next big launch after the updated XUV300 that will go on sale in February. As far as pricing goes, we expect the Thar 5-door to start at a slightly higher price point than the Scorpio N, which means a starting price of Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom) can be expected.
Also see:
Mahindra Scorpio N features rejigged
Mahindra BE.05 SUV patent images surface online