Mahindra Thar Facelift : Mahindra Thar has always been more than just an SUV in India – it is a lifestyle statement for those who love adventure, open roads, and tough terrain. With the latest 2025 facelift, Mahindra has refined this rugged offroader with modern design tweaks, a feature-packed cabin, and improved comfort without compromising its go-anywhere capability. The updated Thar now appeals not only to hardcore off-road enthusiasts but also to urban buyers who want a capable SUV that can double up as a daily driver.
The new Thar continues to be built on a robust ladder-frame chassis, retains its 4×4 DNA, and offers multiple engine-gearbox options. What has changed is the way it looks and feels: smarter lighting, more premium interior, a much larger touchscreen, better ergonomics, and more safety and convenience features. This makes the 2025 Thar facelift one of the most well-rounded offroad-capable SUVs in its price segment.
Exterior Design: Still Rugged, Now More Modern
The first thing you notice on the 2025 Thar facelift is the refreshed front end. The classic seven-slot style grille is now more muscular and body-coloured or darkened depending on the variant, giving the SUV a more premium and contemporary presence. The bumper design has been revised to integrate better with the grille and fenders, while still keeping approach angles off-road friendly.
The round headlamps are now full LED units with integrated daytime running lights. These not only improve night visibility but also add a modern touch to the Thar’s otherwise retro-inspired face. The fog lamps are neatly housed in the bumper, and the clamshell bonnet design continues, lending that familiar tough look enthusiasts love.
Side and Rear Profile Enhancements
From the side, the Thar retains its boxy proportions, upright stance, and flared wheel arches, all of which are part of its unique character. However, new alloy wheel designs in 17- or 18-inch sizes and fresh paint shades give it a more polished appearance. You still get chunky all-terrain tyres on the 4×4 variants, while the 4×2 versions get more road-biased tyres for better efficiency and on-road comfort.
The rear remains dominated by the tailgate-mounted spare wheel, which is a design and functional necessity for an offroader. The tail-lamps are now LED units with a distinctive signature, making the Thar instantly recognisable even at night. The bumper is reshaped for better departure angles, and you now get a rear wiper and defogger on higher variants for added practicality.
Dimensions, Stance and Off-road Geometry
The Thar facelift does not drastically alter the SUV’s dimensions. It remains compact enough for city driving yet tall and wide enough to feel imposing on the road. High ground clearance, short overhangs, and excellent approach, departure, and breakover angles continue to be key strengths.
With a ground clearance in the 220 mm+ region, water wading ability and underbody protection, the Thar is still engineered for rough trails, rocky paths, and slushy tracks. The wide track and strong ladder-frame underpinning give it the stability and robustness you expect from a serious offroader.
Engine and Performance Options
Mahindra offers the Thar facelift with both petrol and diesel engines to cater to different user needs. The petrol is a turbocharged unit, while the diesel options focus more on torque and efficiency.
The turbo-petrol engine is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motor that produces strong power and torque, making the Thar feel quick on highways and responsive during overtakes. It is well-suited for those who prefer refinement and smoother power delivery.
On the diesel side, there are typically two capacities offered in the Thar line-up: a smaller diesel aimed at rear-wheel-drive, more budget-friendly variants, and a larger, more powerful diesel that powers the 4×4 trims. The bigger diesel engine produces strong low-end torque, which is essential for off-roading, climbing steep trails, and driving with a full load of passengers and gear.
Manual and Automatic Gearbox Choices
The Thar facelift continues to provide a 6-speed manual transmission for purists who like full control over gear selection. For those who prefer convenience, there is a 6-speed torque converter automatic that pairs nicely with both petrol and diesel engines. The automatic gearbox makes stop-go city driving and long highway cruises much more relaxing without sacrificing too much control off-road, especially when combined with the low-range transfer case in 4×4 variants.
4×2 and 4×4 Drivetrain Layouts
To broaden its appeal, Mahindra offers the Thar in both rear-wheel-drive (4×2) and four-wheel-drive (4×4) configurations. The 4×2 Thar is aimed at urban buyers who love the design and image but do not need hardcore off-road capability every day. It offers better fuel economy and a lower starting price.
The 4×4 variants are where the Thar truly shines. A proper shift-on-the-fly 4×4 system with a low-range transfer case, mechanical or brake-locking differentials (depending on variant), and off-road oriented gearing lets you tackle steep inclines, descents, slush, sand, and trails with confidence. This combination makes the facelifted Thar one of the most capable factory offroaders you can buy in India.
Interior: Big Step Up in Comfort and Quality
The cabin is where the 2025 Thar facelift sees some of its most important upgrades. The dashboard design is familiar in its basic structure but now looks more mature and upmarket with improved plastics, better fit and finish, and more thoughtful ergonomics.
You get a more car-like steering wheel with mounted controls for audio, phone, and cruise control. The power window switches are now placed more intuitively, and there is more storage space for small items like phones, wallets, and keys. The overall feel is more refined while still being rugged enough for dusty and muddy adventures.
Seating, Space and Practicality
The Thar remains primarily a four-seater SUV with two comfortable front seats and two individual rear seats (or a bench, depending on configuration). The front seats now offer better cushioning, side support, and sometimes height adjustment depending on variant. Long drives are much more comfortable than before, and the improved ride quality adds to this comfort.
Rear seat space is adequate for two adults, with better access thanks to wider door openings in some configurations and fold-and-tumble functions. While boot space with rear seats in place is still limited (typical of a compact offroad SUV), folding the rear seats opens up significant cargo room for luggage and equipment.
Ride, Handling and Off-road Capability
On-road Manners
The Thar has traditionally been more about off-road ability than on-road finesse. However, the facelifted model and its latest suspension tuning have made noticeable improvements in ride comfort, body control, and overall refinement.
The steering feels more precise and lighter at low speeds, making city driving and parking easier. On highways, the Thar now feels more stable at cruising speeds, with less body roll through corners. Road and wind noise are better managed, thanks to improved sealing and insulation.
Safety and Structural Strength
Mahindra has steadily improved safety in the Thar with each update. The facelift model builds on a body structure that has already proven itself in crash tests, and adds features like dual front airbags as standard, with side and curtain airbags available in higher trims if Mahindra chooses to expand the safety package further.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control, roll-over mitigation, hill-hold and hill-descent control, rear parking sensors, and a rear camera are among the key safety and driver-assistance features you can expect. ISOFIX child seat mounts and seatbelt reminders further add to the safety profile.
Variants, Positioning and Target Buyers
The Mahindra Thar facelift is offered in multiple variants that roughly cover:
- A more affordable rear-wheel-drive version aimed at lifestyle buyers who want the Thar’s design and image at a lower price point and with better daily fuel economy.
- Well-equipped 4×4 variants in both petrol and diesel that appeal to off-road enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
- Higher trims with more features, better interiors, and automatic gearbox options that cater to urban professionals and families who want comfort and convenience along with capability.
This flexible variant strategy allows Mahindra to position the Thar against a wide range of crossovers and SUVs. While it may not be as practical as a monocoque city SUV in terms of boot space or fuel efficiency, it offers something they can’t match: genuine off-road ability and a unique personality.
Conclusion: Modern Tech Meets Old-school Toughness
The Mahindra Thar Facelift – Rugged Offroader with Latest Tech & Design – successfully blends two worlds that are often hard to combine: hardcore 4×4 capability and modern-day comfort and connectivity. It still looks and feels like a proper offroader, with a strong road presence, serious hardware, and a go-anywhere attitude. At the same time, the bigger touchscreen, premium interior touches, improved ride quality, and expanded feature list mean you can live with it every day in the city.
For buyers who want more than just a practical SUV – who want a vehicle that reflects their love for adventure, road trips, and the outdoors – the 2025 Thar facelift is an extremely compelling choice. It remains one of the few SUVs in its price range that can genuinely tackle challenging off-road conditions while still offering the comfort, design, and technology expected from a modern lifestyle vehicle.
