Mahindra Thar Facelift Launched at 9.99 lakhs: what’s new, engines and first impressions

The Mahindra Thar receives a discreet but meaningful mid-life refresh for 2025, one that sharpens the model’s usability and brings key tech and comfort features closer to what buyers expect from a modern lifestyle SUV. This update keeps the Thar’s unmistakable silhouette intact while focusing on interior upgrades, convenience features and a larger touchscreen — changes that broaden the model’s appeal without diluting its off-road character.

Pricing and variants

Mahindra has priced the refreshed Thar aggressively: the range opens at ₹9.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and extends up to ₹16.99 lakh for the top diesel automatic variant. The facelift is offered across the familiar three-door line-up and retains the familiar mix of engines and drivetrains. Key variant price points (ex-showroom) are the entry AXT diesel at ₹9.99 lakh, LXT RWD at around ₹12.99 lakh, petrol automatic and 4x4 LXT variants in the mid-teens, and range-topping LXT 4WD automatic diesel at ₹16.99 lakh. Compared with the outgoing model, the new Thar starts marginally lower while the top-end variants sit close to previous pricing — a positioning that keeps the Thar competitive as rivals introduce fresh alternatives.

Exterior: familiar shape, subtle updates

At a glance the 2025 Thar remains instantly recognisable: the classic round headlamps, upright grille and pronounced wheel arches carry over. The refresh adds a body-coloured grille and a two-tone bumper treatment that echo the visual language introduced on the Thar Roxx. Lighting hardware is carried forward — LED daytime running lamps and LED tail lamps remain part of the package — while the rear gains a practical washer-wiper and a rear-camera neatly integrated into the spare-wheel cover. Two new paint options, Tango Red and Battleship Grey, round out the appearance changes. The 18-inch alloy wheel design and tall 255-section all-terrain tyres continue to underscore the Thar’s off-road stance.

Interior and technology: meaningful day-to-day upgrades

The most important work in this facelift has been done inside. The cabin keeps the Thar’s rugged character but benefits from a larger, contemporary infotainment screen — a 10.25-inch unit borrowed from the Roxx with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the updated Adventure Stats off-road telemetry. The old 7-inch screen is gone, replaced by an interface that better suits modern expectations.

Ergonomics and convenience receive attention as well. Power window switches have been relocated to the door pads, the centre console now features an adjustable armrest with storage, and automatic variants gain a dead pedal. Rear passengers get air vents, a Type-C USB port and a 12V socket; A-pillar grab handles make ingress easier. A small but welcome change is the internal fuel-lid release — a simple convenience that improves the everyday user experience. The steering wheel now matches the Roxx’s design and the overall cabin finishes have been subtly improved to feel more current.

Safety and equipment

Safety kit remains consistent with the Thar’s current positioning: standard dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability programme with roll-over mitigation, hill-hold and hill-descent control, ISOFIX mounts and a structural roll cage. Curtain airbags remain absent from the option list. The addition of a rear camera and the improved instrumentation contribute to safer and more confident on-road manoeuvring and parking.

Powertrains and drivability

Mechanically the Thar remains unchanged. The line-up continues to include the 1.5-litre D117 CRDe diesel for entry variants, the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and the 2.0-litre mStallion turbo-petrol. Outputs are in the same ballpark as before: the 1.5 diesel offers brisk low-end torque for urban use, the 2.2 diesel supplies the traditional Thar torque band for serious off-road and towing, while the 2.0 petrol brings a more responsive and lively character, particularly in well-geared AT spec. Transmission choices remain a six-speed manual across the board with a six-speed torque-converter automatic for the larger engines; four-wheel drive with low-range is offered where expected.

Ride, handling and off-road capability

Mahindra says suspension tuning has been refined to improve on-road comfort while retaining the Thar’s capability off the beaten track. The mechanical underpinnings familiar to owners — low-range transfer case, robust axles and a reliable locking-type differential — are unchanged, which means the Thar remains a credible off-roader. On tar, the vehicle feels more settled than older iterations thanks to attention paid to NVH and damping, but the Thar’s high-centered packaging and off-road geometry remain the defining characteristics.

Practicality and ownership considerations

The facelift addresses some long-standing practical details: better rear occupant amenities, internal fuel-lid release, larger infotainment, and more convenient switchgear locations. These small but meaningful updates reduce everyday friction and make the Thar a more usable second or sole family vehicle. Maintenance, parts availability and the large dealer network continue to support ownership, and the range positioning — starting under ₹10 lakh ex-showroom — keeps the Thar within reach for many buyers seeking a lifestyle SUV that can double as a capable weekend companion.

How the facelift positions the Thar today

This update is conservative by design: Mahindra has chosen to enhance rather than reinvent. The result is a Thar that retains the model’s core appeal — a rugged, retro-styled lifestyle off-roader — while addressing buyer expectations for modern infotainment, cabin ergonomics and convenience. Buyers seeking a raw off-road icon will find the Thar unchanged where it matters; customers who want a blend of capability and usable daily comfort will appreciate the added tech and refinements.

The 2025 Mahindra Thar facelift is a careful evolution. By upgrading the cabin experience and adding pragmatic features the Thar keeps its edge in the lifestyle SUV segment without surrendering credibility with enthusiasts. Pricing that starts below ₹10 lakh strengthens the Thar’s value proposition against newer rivals, and the unchanged off-road hardware ensures the model retains its core identity. For buyers who want a distinct, capable vehicle with improved daily usability, the refreshed Thar remains hard to ignore.

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