Mahindra has recently launched the much-needed RWD variant of its ever-popular Thar. It is available for a massive price cut of around 3.5-4L over the 4×4 variant. But since we Indians give so much priority to the value for money factor. So the question that arises is: Does the Mahindra Thar rear-wheel drive variant offer value for money? Should you buy it over a compact SUV like Nexon, Brezza, Sonet, Venue, etc?

Well, this is what you are going to find out in this article. In this Mahindra Thar RWD review, I will not only tell you what Mahindra Thar has on offer but I will also compare it with compact SUVs available in the market. And at the end, I am gonna tell you why you should and why you should not buy Mahindra Thar over a Compact SUV. So read the article till the end.

If you don’t like reading then you can also watch my Mahindra Thar RWD review video to know about what we have just discussed. And if you like this video or article then do like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

So let’s get started!

Quick Navigation

• Mahindra Thar RWD Review: Best Looking Compact SUV?
• Thar RWD Build Quality: Is It Really Tough?
• Mahindra Thar RWD Performance: How Good Can It Perform On The Road?
• Thar RWD Interior Review
• Mahindra Thar RWD Space: Can 5 People Sit Comfortably?
• Mahindra Thar RWD Features Review
• Why You Should Buy Mahindra Thar RWD Variant?
• Why You Should Not Buy Mahindra Thar Rear Wheel Drive Variant?
• FAQs

Mahindra Thar RWD Review: Best Looking Compact SUV?

Let’s first start with the thing that people like the most about the newer generation Mahindra Thar i.e. its looks and road presence.

It’s been quite a time since the new generation Mahindra Thar has been launched and you must have seen it in the real life too. So I am not going to tell you what elements you get in the exterior of the Thar. But what I am going to tell you in this Mahindra Thar Review is what the difference is between the Thar 4×4 and Thar RWD when it comes to the exterior.

Well, the only difference that you will find on the exterior of both variants is the 4×4 badging. You get it in the 4×4 variant and you simply don’t get it in the rear wheel drive variant.

Now let’s see how the looks of Thar fare with other compact SUVs.

I want you to do one thing. I want you to close your eyes and imagine. Imagine that all the compact SUVs that you like are standing beside one another. And then there is Mahindra Thar RWD at the end. Out of all the SUVs that you’re picturing, which one will get the most attention according to you?

For me, it’s the Mahindra Thar.

Overall the Thar looks butch and muscular from every angle that you look at it. And when compared to compact SUVs like Nexon, Brezza, Sonet, Venue, etc then I don’t think any one of them will provide you with such a road presence. When it comes to exterior looks and road presence then Thar RWD wins hands down. Therefore if the road presence is what you are looking for then you should go with Mahindra Thar without any doubt.

In fact, the road presence of Thar is the whole reason why we have the rear wheel drive variant. Mahindra Thar is meant for offroading. It is an off-roader and was only purchased by people who do off-roading most of the time.

But when Mahindra launched the newer generation of Thar then people went crazy for its looks. They really liked the road presence that it was providing. As a result, people who were not into offroading also started purchasing it for city usage as well. But they were paying a hefty amount for the 4×4 transmission which they would rarely use. Mahindra understood this and came up with the Thar RWD variant which is around 3.5L to 4L cheaper. Kudos to Mahindra for this.

Thar RWD Build Quality: Is It Really Tough?

As discussed, Thar looks muscular and bulky. But does it has a good build quality?

Yes, it does have a good build quality. You can feel this when you lift its hood or close the door while sitting inside the cabin. It comes with a 4-star safety rating. And it is one of the safest off-roaders as well as the compact SUVs available in the market.

Having said that, if we compare it with other compact SUVs then there are safer cars available in the market. Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 300, etc have better safety ratings when compared to the Thar.

Mahindra Thar RWD Performance: How Good Can It Perform On The Road?

While we are on the outside let’s open its hood and talk about its performance. Thar RWD comes in two engine options. One is a 1.5L diesel engine and the other is a 2.0L petrol engine.

When compared to the Thar 4×4 then you get the same petrol engine on it. However, you get a smaller and less powerful 1.5L diesel engine on the RWD variant.

The petrol engine is available with the same tuning on both variants. It puts out a maximum power of 150PS and maximum torque of 300Nm.

The diesel engine puts out a maximum power of 117PS and a maximum torque of 300Nm.

Both engines offer punchy performance. Needless to say, the petrol engine is more powerful and punchier compared to the diesel one.

When compared to other compact SUVs, other than XUV 300, no one even comes close to it. Its petrol engine is just unbeatable when compared to CSUVs.

Therefore if performance is what you are looking for then again Mahindra Thar RWD wins, hands down.

Thar RWD Interior Review

Now let’s move inside and talk about the interiors of Mahindra Thar RWD.

Like the exterior, there is absolutely no change in the Interiors of the Mahindra Thar RWD when compared to its 4×4 variant. The noticeable difference is the absence of the 4×4 lever. Instead of it, you get a utility space, which you can use to keep your cell phone or wallet.

The Interiors of the Mahindra Thar rear wheel drive variant follow an all-black theme. And everything is made of hard plastic. It does not look premium at all and does not give you the plush feeling that compact SUVs like Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, etc provide.

And the all-black interiors kind of make you claustrophobic as well. Little bright interiors would have made a huge difference.

Also, the 7” infotainment system just feels very small when compared to its compact SUV counterparts. And since you will be mainly spending your time inside the cabin, therefore, choosing Thar RWD over compact SUVs does not make sense.

Mahindra Thar RWD Space: Can 5 People Sit Comfortably?

Space is something that Thar RWD falls short despite of being a wider car.

The space in the front is good, which is the case with every car. When you move to the back seats then you will see that:

• It has more than enough headroom
• The knee room is decent enough as well
• Under-thigh support is also decent and two people can sit at the back

But passengers in the rear seat will not find it comfortable for long tours. Because there is just not enough space to keep their feet. The wheel panels and the mid panel acquire so much space that there is no space to move your feet around.

Also, the wheel panels acquire so much space on the sides of the seats that no more than 2 people can sit comfortably at the back.

When it comes to boot space then it is close to none when all 4 seats are up. I think you will only be able to keep 2 cabin bags in there and not more than that.

Having said that, if you fold the rear seats then you get a massive 600 liters of boot space. But then only two people can sit in the car.

When it comes to utility space then also the Mahindra Thar RWD variant disappoints you. Since you get only two doors in it therefore you only get two bottle holders.

You get a grab handle for the co-passenger at the dashboard. As a result, you get a tiny glove box, which I think cannot even keep the car’s papers.

So overall in terms of space and utilities, Mahindra Thar RWD cannot simply compete with a compact SUV.

Mahindra Thar RWD Features Review

When it comes to features then also you will get a little disappointed. Because you get only basic features in the Mahindra Thar RWD.

If you compare it with compact SUVs then they seem to be nothing.

Sunroof, which has kind of become a deal breaker for compact SUVs, you don’t get in the Mahindra Thar.

Therefore if features are what you are looking at then buying a compact SUV will make more sense.

Why You Should Buy Mahindra Thar RWD Variant?

Now let me tell you why you should buy the Mahindra Thar RWD variant over a compact SUV.

1) Road Presence

If you are looking for an SUV that gives you unmatched road presence then you should definitely buy the Thar RWD. When you will take it for a spin then you will definitely grab people’s attention. It has been quite a time since we have been seeing the new look of Thar on road but it still grabs eyeballs like no other car.

So if road presence is what you are looking for then Mahindra Thar rear wheel drive is made for you.

2) Performance

When it comes to performance then also no compact SUV can compete with Mahindra Thar RWD. On paper, it is more powerful than all the compact SUVs available in the market. And when you will drive it, you will feel the same.

3) Build Quality

Mahindra Thar RWD comes with a 4-star safety rating. So if you are looking for a safer car then you can also consider it. Having said that, compact SUVs like Tata Nexon & Mahindra XUV 300 come with a 5-star safety rating.

4) Second Car

If you already have a family car that you can use to go out with your family and want a second car that represents your lifestyle then you can go for Thar RWD. This is actually a lifestyle car and earlier very few people used to buy it. So if you want a car that you can use daily to go to the office or somewhere, which also represents your personality then this is the car for you.

Why You Should Not Buy Mahindra Thar Rear Wheel Drive Variant?

Let us now talk about why buying Thar RWD over a compact SUV does not make any sense.

1) Not A Family Car

If you want a car that you can enjoy with your family and friends then Mahindra Thar is a big no, it does not offer the practicality that compact SUVs offer.

2) Space

As discussed, Thar rear wheel drive falls short in offering space. It does not get utility space, foot space for the rear passenger, and most importantly boot space when all 4 seats are up. Therefore if you like to go on road trips with family and friends then Mahindra Thar is not at all suitable.

3) Interiors

You will be spending a lot of time in the cabin of your Thar, right? And this is where you will not get a feeling that you have spent 12 lakhs or more on a car. Its interiors are made of hard plastic which does not give any premium or plush feeling. Other compact SUVs in this price range offer far more premium interiors.

4) Price

There is a huge difference in the price of Mahindra Thar 4×4 and Thar RWD variants i.e. 3.5L to 4L. However, its base variant starts from the 9.99L ex-showroom. And it is good 2L to 2.5L costlier when compared to the base variants of compact SUVs. Therefore, if budget is the constraint then you should not buy Thar. You can check out its exact price in your city here.

5) Features

When it comes to features then again a compact SUV will offer you more features when compared to Mahindra Thar RWD. Therefore, if features are what you are looking for then Thar isn’t made for you.

FAQs

Is Mahindra Successful?

Yes, Mahindra Thar has been successful that the company has launched a 4x2 version of it.

Is Thar Comfortable For Daily Use?

Yes, Mahindra Thar rear wheel drive is comfortable for daily use.

Is Mahindra Thar FWD Or RWD?

Mahindra Thar RWD comes with rear wheel drive.

What Is The Cost Of Mahindra Thar RWD?

The base variant of Mahindra Thar RWD is priced at 9.99L ex showroom.

Is RWD Good For Handling?

Yes, RWD cars are good handlers when compared to their FWD counterparts.