Once upon a time, SUVs were meant to have serious four-wheel drive (4WD) powertrains and drivetrains, including a low-range transfer case to provide them with the capability to go off-road and tame tough terrain.

But with changing times, and shifts in customer preferences and marketing strategies, most SUVs nowadays are purely two-wheel drive (mostly front-wheel drive) and the only off-roading they do and which they are capable of, is negotiating broken or under repair patches of road, or unpaved paths leading to fancy farmhouses. Yes, they may sport the traditional two-box shape of SUVs and have a higher stance and seating than sedans, but in most, the off-roading DNA and running gear is missing. They “look the part, but cannot play the role”!

And this is true not just for India, but has sadly happened all over the world. As a matter of fact, if one is now asked to list out SUVs with formidable off-road ability, one will struggle to go beyond a dozen odd names. And amongst these “Rare Genuine SUVs”, the Mahindra Thar, would definitely find a place.

Actually, I must compliment Mahindra for having stuck to the “Pure SUV” path and not having diluted or completely watered down their off-road DNA.  And what is remarkable is that since Mahindra introduced the 2^nd generation more modern Thar with better ride, refinement, comfort and performance in 2020, over 4 lakh customers have opted for this serious old school off-roader, albeit with a somewhat more modern architecture and features.

And soon Mahindra will cross the half a million customers mark, with the new (facelifted) Thar OG that they recently launched at a starting price of ₹ 10.32 lakh (ex-showroom), going up to ₹ 18.99 lakh. While this new Thar OG is not an entirely new generation model, but one planned as a mid-life update, it features lot more changes than expected in a facelift. It has a stiffer and reinforced ladder frame chassis, 60 mm wider track, upgraded suspension, engines tuned for more power, electronic power steering, all round disc brakes, electronic locking differential and terrain modes, new grille, more streamlined front and rear bumpers with built in guards, LED headlamps and fog lamps, and leatherette seats, and so on.

After driving the new Thar, I can confidently state that all these changes have certainly made the new Mahindra Thar OG, significantly easier to live with and I like the way Mahindra puts it when they say, “Built for the Wild, Refined for the Streets”.  Like I mentioned, the new Thar is built on Mahindra’s M_Glyde 4G platform that was first introduced on the Thar Roxx. Though this is also a ladder-frame chassis, it is stiffer and the track at both the front and rear of the new Thar, is 60 mm wider (total 1580 mm) and this additional width has not just pushed out all 4 wheels, but also resulted in better roll stability and ground holding.

The suspension fitted at the rear of this chassis is a 5-link one (Mahindra call it Pentalink) with a Watts Linkage and this provides better lateral axle control by limiting sideways movement of the axle. What further helps improve the ride characteristics of the new Thar, are the shock absorbers or dampers with Mahindra’s “DAVINCI Damping” technology, which according to the manufacturer, is an advanced, mechanically adaptive sort of passive suspension system that eliminates the traditional compromise between low-speed ride comfort and high-speed body control. At lower speeds these dampers are more compliant and softer, to absorb the bumps and cushion occupants from road surface impacts. And as the speeds rise, the flow of hydraulic fluid is regulated in a manner where the shocks become stiffer, as a result of which they reduce unwanted body movement and mushiness in the suspension.

The overall result, which is instantly obvious, is that the new Mahindra Thar OG deals with bumps, ruts, potholes, etc, in a far more composed manner, with the passengers being subjected to lot less body movement and jerks and jolts. Of course, with its rugged chassis and off-highway capable chassis and suspension, the ride will never match that of vehicles with a monocoque chassis or a single-shell structural design. But now, it’s definitely a more balanced compromise between comfort, and the capability to take you far beyond paved roads.

One more thing that has furthered the cause of comfort is the electronic power steering that has reduced lower speed steering effort, resulting in an increase in the ease of maneuverability. And those driving this Thar for the first time are sure to be surprised by how city friendly it really is. Actually, due to its height and muscle, the Mahindra Thar OG conveys the impression of being a much larger vehicle than it actually is. In reality, its overall length is just 3995 mm, making it a sub-4-meter SUV that is extremely easy, particularly now with all the mechanical upgrades, to drive in the city. Other factors that contribute significantly to ease of driving are the upright A-pillars and windscreen, which along with the high seating, give the driver an unobstructed, commanding and assuring view, allowing one to see things much more clearly than in most other vehicles.

All the 3 engines offered with the Thar are the same and while the power output of the 1.5 litre diesel remain unchanged, the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol engines have been tuned for more power with the diesel now delivering 150 horses (130 before) and 330 Nm (earlier 300 Nm). The petrol produces 160 bhp (150 bhp before) and 330 Nm, which was earlier 300 Nm or 320 Nm for the automatic. These extra horses and torque have made overtaking at highway or expressway speeds easier and as the engines don’t get strained so much, the refinement and NVH levels are better too. I believe Mahindra have also worked on the soundproofing and suppressing of vibrations, and now both the engines, the diesel in particular, are impressively quiet. And the additional torque also makes off-roading, and going through sticky mud or up steep slopes easier.

I drove the diesel both on road and inside Mahindra’s off-road academy in Igatpuri, and found that the 6-speed auto combines and works well with the engine and evenly draws out the power. Yes, on the off-road trail I did shift to manual mode to retain more control, but overall the auto gearbox is well up to the task of efficiently channelizing the power to the wheels.

To manage the higher power better, the new Mahindra Thar OG also comes with disc brakes on all four ends, with only the lower variants continuing with drums on the rear. The four-wheel disc brakes have not only reduced stopping distance, but also improved pedal feel with modulation becoming easier. The front end also does not dive as much under heavy braking, because now the rear brakes also do a good job of supplying supplementary stopping force to reduce momentum.

The most important attribute or the biggest strength of the Mahindra Thar OG, is its off-road capability. And the figures that tell you it’s designed for tough terrain are – ground clearance 232mm; approach angle 40 degree; departure angle 36 degree and water wading depth 650mm. Along with these impressive dimensions that ensure that there is enough room and clearance not just under, but also in the front and rear of the Thar for it to go over and across most obstacles, is the running gear, which includes a dedicated 4WD transfer case with an extra set of low-ratio gears.

So when you pull the second shorter lever (placed next to the gear lever) all the way back, the Thar shifts into 4-Wheel Low (4L) and the transfer case channelizes the power through a secondary set of heavy-duty reduction gears and by forcing the wheels to rotate much slower relative to the engine speed and power output, it multiplies the engine’s torque and provides the crawling power needed to climb steep hills, wade through deep mud, or crawl over large rocks.

And to utilize all this torque and power better, the earlier mechanical locking differential has been replaced by an electronically locking one, which physically locks the left and right halves of the rear axle together, enabling equal power to be sent to both wheels. As a result, even if one rear tyre is completely off the ground or stuck in slush or behind a rock, all the power goes to the tyre with traction and this allows the vehicle to move forward. And since most people don’t know when to lock the diff, the moment you engage 4-Wheel Low (4L) it automatically activates the ELD.

Because many drivers also don’t know how much power to give and where, the new Mahindra Thar OG comes with terrain modes like mud, sand and snow, that smartly optimize throttle response and calibrate power delivery to match the terrain. All this has made going off-road in the new Thar much easier. But the ELD and Terrain Modes are available only on the 4WD version.

Which brings me to this thing about Mahindra and even some other manufactures like Toyota with their new Hilux, offering a two-wheel drive version too. Like I have said several times before, getting a serious SUV without 4WD is like having a gun without ammunition! In my view its rather ridiculous, but quite clearly, there are enough people out there who want to buy a SUV like the Thar OG, just for its looks, strong street presence, and lifestyle appeal. They don’t want the running gear to go with it, because they have hardly any use for it. And obviously a two-wheel drive version is much cheaper too. When you have the show, who needs the go.

And it’s exactly this thinking or approach from customers, which I think also led Mahindra to discontinue the convertible soft-top Thar last year. And no, though I was hoping against hope, they have not introduced a soft-top variant of the Thar OG either. Driving a SUV like the Thar without a top is a completely different and most enjoyable experience, which any true outdoor lover or adventurer revels in. But these days, buyers of rugged SUVs like the Thar are more worried about wind messing up their groomed hair, or dust getting on their manicured faces.

As we are talking of customers, let me also touch upon the touchy subject of Thar owners behaving badly. I am sure every sensible person appreciates that driver behavior is ultimately a human issue, not an automotive one, and we just cannot blame the bad behaviour, on the car, be it a Mahindra Thar or high end BMW or Porsche.

Yes, the Thar is a strong looking and tough vehicle. But that is no reason for few idiotic customers to behave like rogues and hoodlums. In my view this is our societal issue where people are getting increasingly drunk on money and power, or other situations and substances. And I have no hesitation in saying, that now we are easily amongst the worst behaved people on our planet.

So how does one deal with this? These days many of our cars have voice operated features, and also support AI, and maybe manufacturers like Mahindra can build in features that automatically detect bad behaviour, warn the driver, and report the violation! I know its not a car makers job to manage or police any individuals behaviour. But because products like their Thar have been getting such a bad name due to a few rotten apples, maybe such a strong and unconventional approach could be deliberated.

So, should you consider the new Mahindra Thar OG? Normally I would have said if you are not going to take it off-road, then its not for you. Now after the recent improvements I will say, “If you want an extremely capable and affordable off-roader, which is also fairly comfortable on road and easy to drive in our congested cities, the Thar OG makes a strong case for itself. Even if you never go exploring, the Thar will at least give you the satisfaction that you have a vehicle with go anywhere ability. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Who am I to disagree?”