Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Can You Drive It Every Day?
The Mahindra Thar 3-door finally gets LED headlamps, an updated exterior, and better features. But is it a better daily driver as well? We find out in our first drive review.
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review
Mahindra recently launched the Thar OG, the 3-door Thar’s first major facelift since 2020. It finally gets LED headlamps, a new grille and a fresh set of alloy wheels. The Thar OG also gets feature updates and better 4x4 equipment, with mechanical updates for a better ride. To sweeten the pot, Mahindra has kept the starting price at Rs 10.32 lakh (ex-showroom), the same as before. However, we wanted to find out whether the Thar OG is a better daily driver than the pre-facelift model. Here's our first drive review of the lifestyle SUV.
We drove the Thar OG Diesel 4x4 Automatic version in the new ZXT top-end variant. The new variant gets all the bells and whistles, including the LED headlamps with DRLs, rear-view camera, a wireless charger, and more.
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Design
Contrary to expectations, the Thar OG does not look like someone copy-pasted the Thar Roxx's design onto the 3-door SUV. It does borrow equipment like the LED headlamps and taillights from the Roxx, but the Thar OG has several design elements unique to it.
New Grille and Bumper Exclusive to Thar OG
The front looks more dominant than before, with its C-shaped LED DRLs and dark treatment for the projector LED headlamps. The five-slat front grille is new, and the off-centre 'Thar' badge is exclusive to the OG. The front bumper has been completely redesigned and seems inspired by an off-road-specific bull guard. The fog lamps have been moved into the body cladding that wraps around the fenders. They have an ice cube shape and are LED-based as well. The OG also gets front parking sensors that are neatly integrated into the bumper.
19-inch Alloy Wheels and Redesigned Claddings
The side profile may look untouched at first, but a closer look reveals interesting updates. First, the chunky wheel cladding has been redesigned with a crease. The front wheel cladding also houses a new LED indicator with an orange lens. The footstep seamlessly integrates between the claddings, and the new 19-inch machined alloy wheels look handsome. We would have loved to see a request sensor for keyless lock/unlock on the Thar OG's door handles. But Mahindra is probably saving that for the next facelift.
New LED Tail Lamps Look Upmarket
The rear-mounted alloy wheel takes up most of the tail-end real estate. The rear-view camera lens is neatly integrated into the hub cap. The new C-shaped LED tail lamps have been borrowed from the Roxx and look better than the pre-facelift model's design. The lower bumper gets a fresh set of reflectors, which adds to the sense of newness to the SUV. Overall, the new ZXT variant has enough visual upside to tempt buyers to go all out.
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Interior
The interior theme and feature list have been revamped to attract new buyers. For starters, the new Truffle Brown and Black dual-tone interiors look more upmarket.
Gets Electric Power Steering now
The ZXT variant also gets the leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, a feel-good feature you will interact with every time you drive the OG. The new truffle brown leatherette seats also get perforation, and the centre armrest gets the same brown upholstery. However, the extendable armrest is only there on the driver's side and not on the passenger side. The hard top is still exposed from the inside, so the cabin can get hot quickly in direct sunlight. This meant that the fan speed needed repeated adjustment throughout the day.
New Truffle Brown and Black Theme
Mahindra hasn't added the fully digital instrument cluster in the Thar OG, but the 10.24-inch touchscreen borrowed from the Roxx does a decent job. It still doesn't support wireless Apple CarPlay, which is disappointing. Android Auto users, on the other hand, get wireless connectivity.
Rear passengers now get handrests and cup holders
The facelift’s lack of a premium audio system also felt like a big miss. The Thar OG continues with the 4-speaker + 2-tweeter audio setup from the pre-facelift version, and it sounds average. For a lifestyle SUV, this is an important aspect that needs an OEM solution in the three-door as well. Apart from a few gloss-black inserts, the dashboard remains the same in the OG.
The 4 Speaker + 2 Tweeter Audio Sounds Average.
The front seats tumble halfway, giving you enough room to access the back seats. The good thing is that the wheel arches are covered with hard plastic panels as standard. These panels feature soft-touch surfaces to act as armrests and include an integrated cup holder. The rear AC vents will be appreciated by passengers on a hot day.
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Hidden Updates
The most important improvements in the Thar OG are the ones that you cannot see but feel while driving. For starters, the entire suspension setup has been completely revamped. The front suspension gets frequency-dependent damping (FDD) along with Mahindra's DaVinci damping technology. At the rear, the Thar OG now gets the Pentalink suspension with Watt's link. We have seen this hardware across more premium offerings, including the Roxx, Scorpio-N, and the XUV 7XO flagship.
Gets considerable mechanical updates
Electric power steering is another major update in the Thar OG, and it also gets disc brakes on all four wheels with the ZXT variant. Last but not least, it now comes with an Electronic Lock Differential (ELD). This lets the Thar OG respond almost instantly in low-traction spots when off-roading. It is activated at the touch of a button and can automatically switch traction control on or off. The 4x4 also comes with Terrain modes, which make things much simpler for new off-road enthusiasts.
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: On-Road Driving
The torque output has increased in the turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine options of the SUV. We drove the 2.2-litre mHawk turbocharged diesel engine, which now produces 150 hp and 330 Nm of torque in the 6-speed automatic version. The torque output is the same in the 6-speed manual as well.
Higher Torque Output of 330 Nm
We drove the Thar OG from Jodhpur to Shekhala in Rajasthan and back, covering a distance of 250 km behind the wheel. This includes the NH 125A expressway, single-lane highways, and broken rural roads. Almost instantly, you will notice the difference in ride quality, thanks to the new suspension setup. It does not bounce over speed breakers as much; the rebound settles quickly. Both lateral and horizontal movement feel better controlled, and potholes are still something you can choose to not pay attention to.
Improved stability and ride comfort
The electric power steering feels like a blessing in traffic, low-speed maneuvering, and while parking because it is easy to operate. It also weighs up nicely at higher speeds. It’s now possible to forget you are driving the Thar OG (3-door) and not the Roxx for a moment. These elements say a lot about the improvement in its driving dynamics. In fact, the rebound control even felt slightly better than the Roxx in some instances, most likely due to the DAVINCI dampers.
Cutting through traffic in the Thar doesn’t feel like a roller coaster ride like before. However, the SUV still does not like sudden direction changes, especially at highway speeds. The front and rear disc brakes do a satisfactory job. The NVH levels inside the cabin have also improved when compared to earlier. However, wind noise does get audible above 80 kmph. Once again, we suspect the new suspension setup is responsible for the better insulation.
Now comes with disc brakes on all wheels
The only thing that was difficult to identify was an increase in performance with its higher power output. The engine still has a torque-y nature; overtakes are a breeze, but the engine noise tends to filter into the cabin above 2,500 rpm.
In a nutshell, the Thar OG is significantly better to drive than the pre-facelift version in terms of ride quality and comfort. This applies to both city and highway driving conditions. However, choosing it as a daily driver still requires some expectation management on the buyer’s end.
Terrain Modes in addition to 4WD modes
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Off-Road Driving
This is where the Thar OG shines and cements its place in your heart. We drove the Thar OG over dunes and down cliffs that were too steep for comfort. Irrespective of the challenge, the Roxx felt like a tank. In Sand mode, with the 4-Low and ELD engaged, the OG made impossible climbs feel effortless. It is safe to say that the SUV makes you feel like a better off-road driver than you might be.
It will boost the confidence of new off-road enthusiasts
Mahindra Thar OG First Drive Review: Verdict
With the significant mechanical upgrades, the Thar OG is a step above the pre-facelift Thar. It does not look dated and still commands respect on the road. The features are now up to date on most fronts, but there is still room for improvement. Comfort is much better, but it is still a three-door SUV after all. Which means it is bound to feel restricted in several real-life scenarios.
Visual details make the ZXT variant hard to resist
If you're looking for a capable lifestyle SUV to take off-road, the Thar OG should be at the top of your short list, but preferably as a second or third vehicle. For off-road enthusiasts interested in a one-car garage, the Roxx still makes more sense. It gets two extra doors, a larger boot, a proper headliner, and all the comfort features that you will find in premium road-biased SUVs.
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