Mahindra have finally taken the wraps off of the latest Thar CRDe. We got a chance to put the upgraded iteration of Mahindra’s legendary off-roader to the test at the company’s off-road academy at Igatpuri, near Nashik. Here are our impressions
Story: Ryan Lee
Photography: Mahindra
When the conversation turns to off-roading, what is the first thing that springs to the mind? For me, it is a rugged machine with a heavily modified suspension set-up, off-road tyres, a roll-cage, auxiliary lights, and a spartan cabin layout. Mahindra have upped the ante. They have retained a majority of the inherent attributes of an off-road machine, but have raised comfort levels by a few notches.
From a distance, the refreshed Thar still holds true to the company’s iconic old-school styling. But there are a few changes that add to the muscular and rugged aura of Mahindra’s off-roader. Up front, the Thar gets a new bumper and clear-lens headlamps. Moving round the sides, the only differences you’ll see are the new side footsteps and wheel-arches, and, at the rear, a new bumper.
Step inside the cabin, though, and a sea of change really comes to the fore. Clearly, Mahindra had comfort uppermost in their mind when they worked on the car’s interior. To begin with, the seats are wider and evidently more comfortable. The new triple-pod instrument cluster looks extremely classy – a far cry from the rudimentary set-up in the previous model. The other features include a dual-tone dashboard, new floor console, new gear-knob, re-designed air-con vents, 12V charging point, a lockable glove-box and provision for a music system.
The Thar is powered by the same 2.5-litre CRDe diesel engine, making 105 PS and 247 Nm of torque, as was its predecessor. It also retains its signature low-end grunt, which it carries through as you shift through the gears. This, in turn, helps the Thar power through tricky off-road courses with ease. The only mechanical change comes as the result of a number of requests by Mahindra’s loyal customers. Avid off-roaders have been clamouring for a Thar with mechanical locking rear differential as standard, and the Indian marque has finally obliged. The rear diff-lock engages automatically, distributing the power to the wheels and providing better grip, further enhancing the Thar’s off-road capabilities.
