The Mahindra Thar is set for a major facelift, with new styling, upgraded technology and a more premium cabin expected. (Image: Google)
Mumbai: The iconic three-door Mahindra Thar is preparing for a major refresh. Ahead of its launch, spy images and teasers point to a sharper design, more technology and a more premium cabin. Here are the five biggest changes expected on the new Thar.
The Mahindra Thar is about to enter a new chapter. The three-door lifestyle SUV, which has become one of India's most recognisable off-roaders, is set to receive a facelift tomorrow. Since the arrival of the current-generation Thar, Mahindra has expanded the family with new variants and the larger five-door Thar Roxx.
The upcoming update is expected to give the three-door Thar a more contemporary appearance while addressing some of the feature and comfort gaps that have become increasingly important in the lifestyle-SUV segment. Based on teasers and spy images seen ahead of the launch, the facelift is expected to concentrate primarily on styling, equipment and cabin upgrades, while the underlying mechanical package is likely to remain broadly familiar.
Following are five changes that need to be observed closely:
The biggest visual change could be at the front. The facelift is expected to feature a redesigned five-slat grille, with the “Thar” name incorporated into the grille treatment. The design appears to draw inspiration from the newer Thar Roxx. This should give the three-door SUV a fresher appearance without taking away from its unmistakably rugged identity.
For existing Thar fans, the revised grille could be one of the easiest ways to distinguish the updated model from the current version.
Mahindra is also expected to introduce a fresh alloy-wheel design. While the wheel dimensions may remain unchanged across several variants, the new design should give the SUV a more contemporary side profile. Images of test vehicles suggest that Mahindra could opt for a more elaborate alloy design, adding a touch of visual flair to the otherwise rugged silhouette.
The facelift could bring another significant styling change through its lighting setup. Updated three-door Thar is expected to adopt design cues from the Thar Roxx, potentially including, revised LED headlamps, updated daytime running lights and restyled tail-lamps. These changes would bring the smaller Thar closer to Mahindra's latest SUV design language. The revised lighting signature could also make the facelift easier to identify on the road, particularly at night.
The current Thar has traditionally placed greater emphasis on off-road capability and ruggedness than on an extensive list of comfort features. That could change with the facelift. The updated SUV is expected to gain equipment such as a 360-degree camera, automatic climate control and a fully digital instrument cluster. These additions would be particularly relevant for buyers who use the Thar primarily as a daily urban vehicle rather than exclusively as an off-road machine.
A 360-degree camera, for example, could make parking and manoeuvring the relatively boxy SUV considerably easier in crowded city environments.
The cabin could receive one of its most noticeable upgrades in the form of leatherette upholstery and ventilated front seats. The facelift is also expected to bring improvements to seat design and bolstering. Ventilated seats would be a particularly useful addition for buyers in India's hot-weather conditions, while the revised upholstery could give the cabin a more premium feel. Together, these changes suggest that Mahindra is looking to make the Thar more comfortable for everyday driving without moving away from its core lifestyle-SUV character.
The facelift is expected to retain much of the current Thar's mechanical foundation, with the major changes reportedly focused on its styling, equipment and interior. Mahindra has yet to reveal every specification ahead of the launch, so final details regarding powertrain options, variant-wise equipment and pricing will need to be confirmed at the official unveiling.
The Thar has evolved considerably since the current generation arrived. The introduction of the five-door Thar Roxx has also expanded Mahindra's lifestyle-SUV portfolio. With the facelift, the three-door model appears set to receive a technology and comfort boost while retaining the design cues and rugged positioning that made the Thar popular in the first place.
The big question now is how much Mahindra will change and how much of the familiar Thar formula will remain untouched. The official launch tomorrow should reveal the final design, features, variants and pricing.
