MUMBAI, 17 JANUARY, 2023 (GPN): The Mahindra Thar has attained a cult following among Indian auto enthusiasts as a bonafide 4×4 off-road SUV. Now, Mahindra has started 2023 with a bang as it launches a new variant of the car: the Thar RWD. Starting at a more accessible price of Rs. 9.99 Lakh, Mahindra is trying to capture an even wider audience of people who intend to use the lifestyle SUV as a road car rather than a hardcore off-roader. While the SUV is now available in RWD, 4WD variants will continue to be sold as they were earlier. Read more to check out everything about the Mahindra Thar RWD.

Thar RWD: Exterior Changes
The exterior brings in only minor visual differences from the regular 4×4 Thar. It gets rid of the 4×4 badging, which the 4WD Thar gets in many places. Also, the RWD Thar doesn’t get a soft-top version like the 4WD Thar, which gets a convertible soft-top as an option. Moreover, Mahindra has introduced a new colour palette to the RWD Thar and has added Everest White, and Blazing Bronze to their colour scheme, out of which the white colour was highly demanded, but not previously available for the 4WD Thar.

Thar RWD: Interior & Feature Changes
Moving to the inside, the Thar RWD gets no major changes and distinctions, and the overall interior design has been retained. Talking specifically about changes, right off the bat one can instantly notice the missing 4WD lever, which is replaced with a cubby hole for storage. Mahindra has packed in an inclinometer, taken straight out of the 4×4 Thar, hill descent control, and an ESC brake lock differential. The feature list remains the same, with a 7’’ touchscreen infotainment, 4 speakers, and TPMS amongst others.

Thar RWD: Powertrain
Apart from the obvious change of drivetrain from 4×4 to RWD, the Thar also features a few more differences in this particular variant.

A vital change here is that Mahindra now provides a smaller 1.5-litre CRDe diesel motor drawn from the XUV300, replacing the heartier 2.2-litre mHawk unit. The engine is capable of producing 118 PS and 300 Nm of torque, as opposed to the 130 PS the larger 2.2-litre diesel makes. The old 2.0-litre petrol engine is also on offer with the RWD Thar and churns out the same 150 Ps and 300 Nm of torque. Since the extra weight of the 4×4 system is not prevalent, the Thar petrol is now noticeably quicker, while the Diesel delivers adequate power as well.

Coming to gearbox choices, the petrol is the only engine option that comes mated to a smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox, while the new smaller diesel mill gets only a 6-speed manual transmission on offer. A point to be noted here is that 4×4 variants continue to get the 2.2-litre mHawk Diesel unit.

Thar RWD: Price & Variants
One of the star attractions of the Thar RWD is that it is a whole lot cheaper. The removal of 4×4 and the introduction of a smaller diesel engine has cut down on costs and additionally saved on tax, enabling Mahindra to price the Thar at a much more accessible price point of Rs 9.99 lakhs. While this price is only for the Diesel Thar RWD AX trim, the LX trim in the same powertrain configurations will cost you Rs 1 lakh more at Rs 10.99 lakh. The petrol automatic is priced at Rs 13.49 lakhs, which means you will be paying more if you’re looking for peppy performance.

Verdict
Mahindra brought down the price of the Thar,that fits in a new segment altogether and will find an array of new potential customers. The Mahindra Thar RWD appears to accomplish the primary motive of delivering a lifestyle vehicle for city-goers who don’t need the 4WD for off-roading but care about the authoritative Jeep-like styling, high ground clearance, all the while having a refined pair of engines. It provides you with a similar sense of invincibility and the majority of the capabilities for hard terrain. This is concluded with a price that is bound to grab a lot of eyeballs in its way, so try to book yours now early as waiting periods may extend a lot.Ends