Five Door Thar: The Mahindra Thar has always been India’s homegrown answer to iconic off-roaders such as the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender.
The Thar has been a cult for off-roading enthusiasts who want to go beyond the conventional boundaries of paved roads.
The launch of the five-door Thar represents a radical shift for a nameplate that has served as a no-nonsense off-road specialist, but now finds itself replaced with a more practical all-rounder that hasn’t lost any of its adventurous nature.
Five Door Thar: Design Evolution
The five-door Thar carries over the inimitable design DNA of its three-door sibling albeit, with major tweaks to fit the longer wheelbase size.
Somehow, that lines up with the typical “form not following function” bullshit that comes out of Germany-while the fuddy-duddy old school styling queues of the seven-bar grille, round headlamps, and square wheel arches are still there, keeping the heritage inspired looks intact.
But the extra doors and the longer body are integrated so well that it now looks like a more balanced package suitable for family people.
Designers at Mahindra’s stables had to work hard to ensure the Thar’s typical silhouette wasn’t lost when its size grew.
The end result is a vehicle whose balance is maintained-even with extra inches-and whose signature elements are evenly portioned out over the larger space.
The removable roof panels are offered, ostensibly maintaining the open-air lifestyle that Thar aficionados love.
Practical Advantages
The five-door avatar lends the Thar the ability to go from something you take out only on weekends to a true daily driver.
Above all, rear-seat access no longer involves the circus act of the three-door car and as a result rear occupants no longer feel punished.
People now have access in-and-out like no other in the new Thar and that would make the lifestyle a lot more family-friendly.
The long wheelbase is particularly beneficial to interior space, with rear occupants benefiting from much improved legroom and comfort.
Luggage volume has also been increased significantly, which is one of the main downfalls of the three-door version. Gone are the days of a sociopathic travelling light, because with five doors there’s enough boot space for the entire family.
Technical Specifications
The five-door Thar sits on a wheelbase that gets extended by around 300mm over the three-door version. This extension gives enough clearance for the extra doors and adds stability on the hwy trips.
Despite being larger, Mahindra’s engineers seem to have gone out of their way to maintain the approach and departure angles important to off-road performance.
Beneath the bonnet, the 5-door Thar gets the same set of engine options as the 3-door Thar including both diesel and petrol motors.
The 2.2-litre m Hawk diesel engine churns 130 bhp and 300 Nm of peak torque, while the 2.0-litre m Stallion turbocharged petrol unit generates 150 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. It is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.
The M&M Thar retains its identity with a 4WD system generation, featuring both high and low range via a transfer case.
The five-door Thar retains its off-road capabilities courtesy of mechanical differential locks and electronic brake-based limited-slip differential systems.
Market Positioning
And the five door Thar sits in a unique landscape in the Indian automobile scene. It straddles the line between lifestyle off-roaders and practical SUVs, taking on rivals from both categories.
Competitively priced against smaller SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, the Thar boasts unique styling and proper off-road credentials, neither of which can be said about the road-based crossovers it competes with.
At the same time, the five-door Thar offers an entry point far closer to traditional off-road capability than imported rivals such as the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, which costs several times more in the Indian market.
That positioning also makes the five-door Thar an interesting buy for those who want some adventure without giving up on the daily life usability.
Customer Response
The 5-door Thar has already received a positive reception in the market, with waiting periods running well into a few months post launch.
The increased usability has done wonders and with ease of use there are now plenty more buyers that would otherwise have shunned the three-door model in everyday use.
Crucially, the five-door, too, finds acceptance amongst the hard-core Thar fan boys who like that Mahindra has retained the vehicle’s core character while making it more versatile.
Five Door Thar:
While there could be a five-door Mahindra Thar, it could be considered a logical progression for an iconic brand.
By solving the practical issues associated with the three-door layout, while still retaining the car’s unique character and ability, Mahindra has generally managed to widen the Thar’s appeal without watering it down.
This balance of heritage and progress also means that this five-door Thar can be the vehicle that carries the model’s legacy forward and, at the same time, attracts a new breed of enthusiast looking to experience the fun of real off-road excursions.
