Mahindra and Mahindra has always been a company that was one of the front runners in the Indian automobile industry. With a heritage as old as this company has, history is something that is created in the lines of the products created by the company. A lot of things had been different had there not been a Thar. The Mahindra Thar DI 4X2 has its first steps in the Indian Military, which used it as a source to commute across some of the roughest terrains a nation as diverse as India has to offer. Tracing its origins in the trend setting MM540, the model which is delivered to the Indian Army had a power of around 62bhp and a torque of 12kg-m. As the demands increased, the technical treasure of the Thar too increased to a 1800cc Japanese engine. As years progressed, the seating space was also increased to 8 passengers compared to the previous 6 passengers. By the end of 2010, Mahindra re-launched the Thar with a four wheel drive making it offer a domestic Hummer experience to the customers. The DI engine provides a better mileage than its petrol counterparts and better performance than its predecessors. While the 4x4 is aptly suitable for strict off road experience, the robust body and powerful engine do help in achieving decent off road capabilities. Launched in the SUV segment, the Thar offers one of the highest engine displacement capabilities with an amazing 2523cc and is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Exterior:
The amazing combination of MM540's body strength and DI engine's performance offer the Thar, an unmatched ruggedness. The robust chrome grille in the front fascia serves as a protector for the wild locales this SUV allows to travel. In order to protect the vehicle against any extreme rough locales such as protruding rocks, etc., the headlamps are also protected by steel grills acting as guards. The body and the mechanics are simple and the authority they have is clearly visible on the paths they take. The
amazing 46 degrees approach angle and 30 degree departure angle helps the vehicle in overcoming obstacles with ease. With a wheelbase of 2430mm and an enormous minimum ground clearance of 187mm, this SUV stands strong irrespective of river filled terrains or sand filled deserts. The
tyres used are P185 R16 tyres . With a wheel dimension of 6.5J x 16, the tyres are perfectly complemented by the robust steel wheels. The front track of the Thar Di 4x2 is 1445mm, while the rear track measures 1346mm. The overall length of the Thar Di is 3920mm and it stands at an overall height of 1930mm.
Interior:
Being an off-road vehicle at core, the main concentration was given to off-road capabilities and the performance specifications. Expected to provide rigid and robust journey over the rough terrains, interiors are certainly kept to suit basic requirements. With a
seven seater capacity, this vehicle turns into a perfect getaway with for trips. The build quality of interiors is designed and selected in such a way that external scenarios of rain and sand would not affect the interiors. Being water resistant and equally designed framework suiting any additional water levels being drained with ease, this jeep is a perfect off-road vehicle not just on outside but also on the inside.
Engine:
The Mahindra Thar 4x2 is equipped with a DI engine, which proved to be a tremendous success with other vehicles of the company such as Mahindra Major CL 550 and Bolero DI, which indisputably is the largest selling UV. The Thar 4x2 DI features an
MDI 3200TC L engine, which offers a power of 63bhp. The torque produced by the Thar is also high at a
182.5Nm at 1500 to 1800rpm. The performance of the Thar isn't limited by any terrains due to its surprisingly simple mechanics which results in a cheaper maintenance. And being a ubiquitous vehicle and not a stranger to Indian roads, the availability of spare parts is not an issue making it one of the most convenient vehicle to drive around. With the ARAI approved mileage of 18.06 Kmpl, the Thar DI provides arguably the best mileage in its segment. Considering its off road specifications, the top speed of 100 Kmph seems completely decent and viable because the expected terrains the vehicle ride on do not allow high speeds as they may be fatal.
Braking and Handling:
Thar Di 4x2 offers a dual hydraulic circuit with tandem
master cylinder and vacuum assisted servo brake system , which protect the vehicle even at high speeds. The handling offered is accurate for the heavy body, ensuring the edges and turns would not affect the vehicle's momentum. In spite of a GVM of 2090 kgs, the vehicle provides a strong balance along the toughest of the roads.
Comfort Features:
The comfort of the Thar Di 4x2 is defined in terms of its features at the rate of paths it allows the users to take. The seating arrangement is simple and allows users to have a spacious comfortable journey. The seats and interiors are water resistant so the soft top provided in the Thar
DI 4x2 would not sabotage the driving experience. A blower is included for providing a better inner temperature irrespective of weather conditions outside.
Safety Features:
Being an off road vehicles security parameters are slightly different from the contemporary vehicles such as sedans and luxury SUVs. The off-road features make the vehicle secure in its own way as it can protect itself from any external obstacles. The safety is ensured in terms of rigid body which helps the vehicle maintain momentum and balance even in the worst environments.
Pros: Good off road capabilities, decent mileage, excellent build.
Cons: No perfect external protection for rear seats.
