Mahindra Thar 5-door: what to expect?

Mahindra has a total of nine products in the pipeline that will be launched sometime before 2027. Right now, the mainstay of the nine SUVs is the longer, five-door Mahindra Thar that will make a debut between 2023-26

Mahindra has given a green light to the five-door Thar and the company has confirmed the model for some time between 2023-26. This makes us believe that the Thar five-door is still in development stages and for good reason. As it won’t be just an elongated version of the current Thar on sale, but a more carefully thought out off-roading SUV that will only enhance the second generation Thar’s practicality. While the new five-door Mahindra Thar is a few years away, the following is a list of things to expect from the upcoming SUV.

Exteriors

The fascia will be more in line with Thar’s iconic design. The key styling elements such as the flared fenders and vertically slated grille will be retained. Expect minor changes such as the addition of plastic bits and reprofiled bumpers on either end. The biggest change on the outside will be the addition of doors for the second row of seats. The doors could sport a very utilitarian design with a square window aperture and exposed door hinges. The five-door Thar will see an addition of one more pillar to its overall design. There is a very little chance of the Thar five-door to be offered with a soft-top, but Mahindra could surprise us.

Pricing

The prices are expected to be higher by almost Rs 1 lakh given the added cost of production. The additional cost could in turn offer more features such as rear AC vents, a bench seat in the second row, a newly redesigned set of alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres, most likely a rear-disc brake set up as well. That said, Mahindra could also offer in-house accessories with the five-door model, however, for an extra cost. Currently, the Thar retails between Rs 12.12-14.17 lakh (ex-showroom). Expect the cost of the five-door model to range between Rs 13-16 lakh.

Added practicality

Mahindra has discontinued the six-seater variants of the Thar and only retails the four-seater models. The new five-door model could offer a bench seat in the second row, leading t a five-seat configuration. There is a slim chance of Mahindra offering jump seats at the rear – just like the ones offered in the Mahindra Bolero. This in turn could make the new five-door Thar a seven-seater SUV making it a worthy rival against some urban SUVs such as the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and even the likes of Toyota Innova.

Engine and Drivetrain

Most likely the five-door Thar will benefit from the drivetrain options as the current Thar. A 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 130bhp at 3,750rpm and optimum torque of 300Nm between 1,600-2,800rpm that des duty in the Thar could make its way into the five-door model as well. Buyers looking for a petrol variant could get the model with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine – also offered in the Thar – producing 150bhp at 5,000rpm and optimum torque of 300Nm between 1,250-3,000rpm. Both the engines will get a six-speed manual gearbox, and most likely a six-speed automatic and an option.

The 4x4 variants will get the same transfer case four-wheel-drive, however, we believe Mahindra could rework its ratios as the vehicle will have a longer wheelbase and added weight.

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