• Mahindra Thar, the popular SUV model in India, has seen another price hike due to high demand, with the LX diesel-manual hard-top rear-wheel drive model seeing a significant increase of Rs 1.05 lakh.
• However, Mahindra is reportedly working on a new base-spec model that will sit below the current AX (O) variant and lower the Thar’s entry price even further.

The Mahindra Thar has been a major success since its launch in August 2020, with the introduction of a new rear-wheel drive version in January 2023 further adding to its popularity. Because of the high demand, Mahindra has continually raised its rates. The whole Thar lineup just suffered a price increase, with the BS6 Stage-II upgrade mentioned as the reason.

The most popular Mahindra Thar model, the LX diesel-manual hard-top rear-wheel drive, has seen the greatest price increase of Rs 1.05 lakh, while the base-spec AX (O) diesel-manual hard-top rear-wheel drive has seen a price increase of Rs 55,000. The rest of the Thar lineup, including all four-wheel drive models and the petrol-automatic hard-top rear-wheel drive, has suffered a Rs 28,200 price increase. The Thar four-wheel drive model is currently priced between Rs 13.49 lakh and Rs 16.77 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, India).

With the entry-level form of the Mahindra Thar being Rs 55,000 more expensive, the beginning price of the Thar’s range is significantly more than previously. But, Mahindra is apparently working on a new base-spec model that will lie below the current AX (O) variant, lowering the Thar’s entry price even further. Given that the existing base-spec AX (O) is already deficient in features, it is unknown what features will be included in this new base variation.

Powertrain of Mahindra Thar

In India, the Mahindra Thar is available in two configurations: rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. The rear-wheel-drive variant is available with two powertrain options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged 150 PS petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 1.5-litre 115 PS diesel engine with a 6-speed manual transmission.

There are two engine options for the four-wheel drive version: a 2.0-litre 150 PS turbocharged petrol engine and a 2.2-litre 130 PS diesel engine. These engines are available with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Mahindra is also said to be working on a five-door Thar, which has previously been spotted multiple times during open-road trials. The five-door variant of the Mahindra Thar is set to get a new name and more amenities.