After the last year’s full redesign, we expect that the 2022 Mahindra Thar will carry on without more important changes. Simply, the recent overhaul has brought significant improvements in various aspects, starting from a completely new platform, which ensures much better ride quality. Given all the changes that came last year, we presume that the best the next year’s model could bring are minor updates like new color options, few additions to the list of standard equipment and similar things.
You may count on a familiar overall layout, which takes a lot of inspiration from the legendary Jeep Wrangler. Besides the attractive styling, this SUV also offers solid off-road performances, thanks to standard four-wheel drive and two pretty capable engine options. Furthermore, we also like its spacious and practical cabin, as well as a straightforward infotainment system.
Considering that no bigger changes should come for the next year, we presume that the 2022 Mahindra Thar will hit the market sometime late in the year.
2022 Mahindra Thar Redesign
Design-wise, the 2022 Mahindra Thar will continue in the same way. The recent redesign has brought a lot of new things, starting from a completely new platform, which is shared with the new Scorpio. Of course, we are talking about a fully-framed chassis, which comes in a combination with a relatively rugged suspension setup. Still, the on-road ride quality is more than decent, though it can still be pretty rough on bumpy roads.
On the other side, off-road performance is impressive. As you may presume, four-wheel drive is standard, while the SUV comes equipped with pretty good all-terrain tires. Furthermore, you may count on a standard two-speed transfer case with a differential lock. This leads us to the main complaint about the Thar – it doesn’t offer any kind of locking differential, which we feel is a must for today’s off-roaders.
Interior
The recent redesign has also brought a completely new interior design, which is definitely a step-up over the previous generation. The build quality and materials are at a higher level than before, while we particularly like the new seats. They come with leather accents and, more importantly, they offer pretty good side support, as well as lumbar support. The cabin also comes with lots of convenience features, starting from power windows, air conditioning etc.
Besides solid build quality, this cabin is also spacious. Although we are talking about a three-door SUV, both rows are pretty generous with space. The second row also accommodates adults with ease, offering plenty of legroom and even more headroom. As a compromise, you won’t get too much cargo space with all seats up.
Another thing we like about this SUV is its infotainment system. The 2022 Mahindra Thar will continue with the same 7-inch unit, which comes with pretty nice software that is fast and responsive. The screen is touch-sensitive but also comes with a bunch of physical shortcuts, to make your life easier. Besides typical multimedia features, it also offers a lot of off-road data.
The list of safety features is also pretty long. You may count on goodies like ABS with EBD, dual airbags, ESP, hill-launch assist, hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, tire pressure monitor and a roll cage. Among convenience features, you can also find keyless entry, cruise control, power mirrors etc.
2022 Mahindra Thar Engines
We have no doubt that the 2022 Mahindra Thar will continue with the same engines in the offer. There are two fresh units available, one petrol and one diesel engine. The petrol engine is a 2.0-liter turbo-four unit, which puts out around 150 horsepower and 320 Nm, offering pretty solid acceleration and overall performance. If you’re more for diesel and better fuel economy, there is a familiar 2.2-liter unit, which delivers 130 horsepower and 300 Nm of max torque.
Both engines can be coupled with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. All models come standard with four-wheel drive.
5-Door Version Expected by 2023
This will be one of the biggest novelties in the near future. This off-roader will finally get a five-door version, which will be more practical than the standard mode, though also slightly less capable off the road.
From what we know so far, the new model will feature a slightly longer wheelbase. Besides more passenger space, it will also offer more cargo room. On the other side, we don’t expect bigger differences regarding mechanics, dashboard design and features. The engine lineup will remain the same as well, while the starting price will be a little bit higher.