Few vehicles in India enjoy the kind of cult following that the Mahindra Thar commands. Since its rebirth in 2020, this rugged 4×4 SUV has turned from a niche off-roader into a style icon. With the arrival of the Mahindra Thar Facelift 2025, the legend takes another bold step forward—evolving not just in design but also in technology, comfort, and versatility. Mahindra has carefully blended heritage with innovation, ensuring that the Thar remains the undisputed symbol of adventure on Indian roads.
Overview
| Feature Category | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Mahindra Thar Facelift 2025 |
| Body Type | Compact 4×4 Off-Road SUV |
| Engine Options | 2.0L Turbo Petrol (mStallion), 2.2L Diesel (mHawk) |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Automatic |
| Drive Type | 4×2 (select variants) and 4×4 with Low Range |
| Power Output | Up to 152 bhp / 320 Nm (Petrol), 132 bhp / 300 Nm (Diesel) |
| Infotainment System | 10.25-inch Touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay |
| Safety Features | 6 Airbags, ESC, Hill Descent Control, TPMS, 360° Camera |
| Ground Clearance | Around 230 mm |
| Expected Price Range | ₹12 – ₹17.5 Lakh (Ex-showroom) |
| Launch Date (Expected) | Early 2025 |
| Competitors | Maruti Jimny, Force Gurkha, Hyundai Creta Adventure Edition |
A Design That Balances Muscle and Modernity
At first glance, the 2025 Thar Facelift looks instantly familiar, preserving the silhouette that enthusiasts love. But closer inspection reveals subtle refinements that enhance its presence. The SUV now boasts a redesigned front fascia, featuring a slightly reworked seven-slot grille framed by sleeker LED headlamps and integrated DRLs. The updated front bumper has been sculpted for improved approach angles while adding a more aggressive stance.
The muscular wheel arches now feature more pronounced plastic clads, giving the Thar a beefy, battle-ready aesthetic. The rear design stays faithful to the original but includes modern LED tail lamps and a tidier tailgate-mounted spare wheel setup. Mahindra has also introduced new alloy wheel designs and body colors—expect bold shades like Desert Bronze, Stealth Grey, and Aqua Marine—to complement the outdoorsy attitude.
While its fundamental form remains boxy and utilitarian, careful aerodynamic improvements and upgraded materials elevate its sophistication. The overall build quality feels sturdier, reflecting Mahindra’s commitment to keeping the Thar as much a lifestyle statement as a serious off-roader.
A Cabin Built for Adventure and Comfort
Step inside, and the 2025 Thar Facelift immediately feels more premium. The dashboard layout has been subtly revised, focusing on ergonomics and tech integration. The most noticeable change is the new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, which supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Mahindra has also enhanced the instrument cluster with a fully digital MID offering detailed off-road telemetry—pitch, roll angles, compass, and altitude—making every adventure more informed.
Soft-touch materials around key touchpoints give the interior a richer feel. The dual-tone upholstery options, along with roof liner enhancements, reduce cabin noise and vibration. Meanwhile, improved seat cushioning ensures long drives across rugged terrain are no longer a fatigue-inducing affair.
The 2025 Thar also gets smart convenience features like automatic climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, and Type-C charging ports. For those who use the Thar as a city commuter, these quality-of-life additions bring it closer to premium SUV standards without diluting its raw character.
Powertrains and Performance: Strength with Efficiency
Under the hood, the Thar Facelift 2025 retains its trusted powertrain options but with some significant tuning updates to meet the evolving Bharat Stage 6 Phase 2 norms. Buyers can choose between two engine options—a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol (mStallion) and a 2.2-litre diesel (mHawk)—both paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
The mStallion petrol now churns out around 152 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, while the mHawk diesel delivers 132 bhp and 300 Nm. Although output figures remain similar to the outgoing model, Mahindra engineers have focused on refining throttle response and improving low-end torque delivery. The result is smoother drivability both on city tarmac and in the wild.
Fuel efficiency has marginally improved too, thanks to optimization in engine calibration and the use of lighter materials in critical components. Additionally, Mahindra is expected to introduce a mild-hybrid variant in the near future, offering improved efficiency without compromising off-road performance.
Legendary Off-road Capability, Now Smarter Than Ever
The Thar’s DNA lies in its go-anywhere spirit, and the facelift reinforces that heritage with advanced off-road aids. The 4×4 system continues to offer both manual and automatic shift-on-fly functionality between 2H, 4H, and 4L modes. However, the updated version introduces an intelligent terrain response system that automatically adapts throttle mapping and traction control based on surface conditions—snow, sand, mud, or rock.
A mechanical locking rear differential continues to provide maximum traction, while improved articulation angles and ground clearance (now around 230 mm) let the Thar conquer even more severe trails. The approach and departure angles, at approximately 41° and 36°, give it unmatched confidence across obstacles.
For the tech-savvy, Mahindra has added 360-degree cameras and off-road drive assistance visualizations on the infotainment screen, a first for this model. It not only enhances safety during off-road adventures but also aids maneuverability in urban settings where tight parking spaces can be challenging.
Ride, Handling, and Comfort Improvements
Mahindra has fine-tuned the Thar’s suspension setup to reduce body roll and improve highway stability. The inclusion of frequency-dependent damping offers a better balance between urban ride comfort and off-road ruggedness. Steering response has also been refined to provide a more connected yet easy driving feel at low speeds.
NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) levels have significantly dropped, thanks to better insulation and rubber bushings. This makes the Thar Facelift more suited to mixed-use buyers who want both adventure and daily practicality.
Safety Takes Center Stage
The 2025 Thar now meets new safety regulations with enhanced structural rigidity and dual-stage airbags. It offers several modern safety features including electronic stability control (ESC), hill hold and hill descent control, traction control, TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system), and ISOFIX mounts. The 360-degree cameras, blind spot display, and rear cross-traffic alert make it one of the safest off-roaders in its class.
Mahindra’s use of high-strength steel in the chassis has also improved crash protection. The brand aims to achieve a 5-star Global NCAP rating, continuing its recent run of producing some of India’s safest vehicles.
Variants, Pricing, and Market Positioning
The Thar Facelift 2025 is expected to be offered in both AX (Adventure) and LX (Lifestyle) trims. The AX variant continues to target hardcore off-roaders with manual drivetrain options, whereas the LX caters to urban users with more comfort features and automatic transmission options.
With pricing expected to start around ₹12 lakh (ex-showroom) and extend up to ₹17.5 lakh for the top-end trims, Mahindra aims to retain the Thar’s strong value proposition while offering upgraded tech and design elements comparable to higher-segment SUVs. It remains positioned above the Scorpio N 4×4 in terms of off-road orientation but below the XUV700 in luxury quotient.
The Mahindra Thar Legacy Continues
The Mahindra Thar Facelift 2025 is not a radical reinvention—it’s an intelligent evolution. It preserves everything enthusiasts adore about the Thar: its robust stance, mechanical purity, and unbeatable off-road prowess, while adding layers of sophistication, safety, and digital intelligence.
For adventure seekers, it remains the ultimate expression of freedom. For city drivers wanting an SUV with character, it’s now more livable than ever. Mahindra’s consistent attention to detail ensures the Thar stands tall as both a heritage brand and a future-ready vehicle designed for modern India.
In a market increasingly dominated by softroaders, the new Thar reaffirms the essence of true motoring adventure. It’s a proud reminder that sometimes, evolution is not about changing who you are—it’s about becoming even more of what you were meant to be.
