Mahindra will be launching it’s new small off-road SUV by this festive season!

Mahindra is preparing to launch a facelifted version of the Thar 3-door, which has dominated the lifestyle SUV segment for nearly five years. Competing with the Force Gurkha and Maruti Jimny, the Thar has built a strong fan base. However, with evolving customer expectations and the introduction of the Thar Roxx last year, Mahindra is now bringing key upgrades to the Thar 3-door facelift. The SUV has been spotted testing multiple times, now revealing the front design and several interior enhancements.

Interior Updates Inspired by Thar Roxx

The cabin of the upcoming Mahindra Thar facelift is expected to feature several changes, many of which are borrowed from the Thar Roxx. One of the biggest additions is a new 10.2-inch free-standing infotainment touchscreen, which is expected to support wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This is a significant upgrade over the older 7-inch unit.

Mahindra also appears to be adding auto climate control, while the steering wheel is the same as that of the Thar Roxx and Scorpio N. The instrument cluster behind the wheel is likely to be a fully digital 10.2-inch TFT display. Although the SUV continues to get a manually dimming IRVM, there’s no sign of ADAS tech or a sunroof, which Mahindra is unlikely to offer in this off-road-focused SUV.

Spy images suggest the front armrest might be missing or hidden from view, and a manual handbrake is still present. The test model shown appears to be a RWD version, as there’s no visible 4×4 gear selector. It remains to be seen if Mahindra will offer ventilated front seats, which would be a welcome addition in India’s hot climate.

Exterior Revamped with Thar Roxx Elements

The most noticeable change is up front, where the new Thar 3-door facelift gets a redesigned fascia heavily inspired by the Thar Roxx. The vertical slat grille and circular LED projector headlamps with C-shaped DRLs match what we’ve seen on the Roxx. The front bumper and lighting elements, including the fog lamps and turn indicators, appear very similar as well.

Other design tweaks include revised fenders, updated wheel arches, and a reshaped rear bumper. A new set of alloy wheels has also been spotted, although they seem to be smaller than the 19-inch wheels on the Roxx—likely 18-inch units on this facelift.

The Thar facelift is expected to continue with the same engine lineup, including the 1.5L diesel, 2.2L diesel, and 2.0L petrol units. Transmission options will include both manual and automatic gearboxes, with RWD and 4WD variants still on offer.

No Convertible and Soft-Top Variants

Mahindra is expected to offer only the hard-top variant with the facelifted Thar 3-door. The soft-top was discontinued in 2021, and the convertible-top version has recently been phased out as well.

Launch Timeline

The facelifted Thar 3-door could launch around the upcoming festive season. With the addition of modern tech and improved cabin features while retaining its rugged DNA, Mahindra aims to strengthen its lead in the lifestyle SUV segment.