Mahindra to Launch Updated Thar Tomorrow: What We Know So Far

Mahindra & Mahindra will launch an updated version of its three-door Thar on September 22, the company confirmed through a teaser campaign released on its social media channels. This marks the second design update to the current-generation Thar since it was introduced in October 2020.

The teaser shows a reworked front grille with vertical mesh-style slats, echoing the styling of the larger, five-door Thar Roxx that went on sale in 2024. Mahindra released only a few teaser images of the rest of the vehicle, confirming circular LED headlamps. Based on leaks, we can also expect C-shaped daytime running lights, redesigned tail-lamps, a revised bumper, and new alloy wheels. The boxy silhouette and rear-mounted spare wheel are expected to remain unchanged.

Mechanically, the Thar is likely to carry over its existing engine range: a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol producing around 152hp, a 1.5-litre diesel with 119hp, and a 2.2-litre diesel rated at roughly 132hp. Both manual and automatic gearboxes are expected to continue, along with rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations, though the smaller diesel is likely to remain manual-only. Reports suggest the cabin could gain a digital instrument cluster, a larger touchscreen and features such as ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera, though Mahindra has not confirmed any interior specifications.

Pricing has not been announced. The outgoing Thar currently retails between ₹10.32 lakh and ₹18 lakh, ex-showroom, and trade estimates point to a modest increase for the updated model, though these figures remain unofficial until Thursday's launch.

The update comes as the Thar nameplate continues to anchor Mahindra's SUV portfolio. The three-door Thar and the Thar Roxx together have sold more than 4 lakh units since October 2020, with the pair contributing close to a fifth of Mahindra's SUV volumes in the last financial year. In August alone, the three-door Thar's sales more than doubled year-on-year, even as demand has increasingly tilted towards the roomier Thar Roxx.

Within its own segment, the Thar's most direct rivals remain the Force Gurkha, priced at ₹16.31 lakh, and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, which starts at ₹12.54 lakh. Both are more expensive at entry level but offer standard four-wheel drive, a comparison Mahindra will need to address as it recalibrates Thar pricing.

The launch arrives against the backdrop of a buoyant SUV market. Domestic utility vehicle sales rose 39.2 per cent in August, according to industry body SIAM, with the segment now accounting for more than two-thirds of India's passenger vehicle sales.