A Look At The Current Mahindra Thar’s Top Highlights

The new-generation Mahindra Thar offers wider appeal and is much more sophisticated when it comes to design, engine options and even equipment.

The Mahindra Thar for sale was one of the most anticipated launches of 2020 and the new-generation Thar will most likely offer wider appeal and be much more sophisticated when it comes to design, engine options and even equipment. The current Mahindra Thar is built on a new body-on-frame platform and is significantly bigger than its predecessor. However, it continues to retain its boxy silhouette and that's the most significant part of its appeal. Moreover, the 2020 Mahindra Thar also bagged 4-star crash test ratings in Global NCAP and there is a new 5-Door Thar in the making as well, which is likely to be at par in terms of safety.

Design

In terms of design, the Thar from Mahindra stays true to its heritage and continues to be a three-door model. The proportions feel better this time around and the overall finish too is better, a significant improvement over the old model, which felt rudimentary. The Thar also gets a hard-top now along with a fixed soft-top and a removable soft-top.

Cabin

The cabin has been reasonably upgraded in the features department as well and gets a touchscreen infotainment system for the very first time. It's a new 7.0-inch unit that has in-built navigation and smartphone integration like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It even shows data like the angle of articulation and tilt, compass for direction and water wadding depth while off-roading and has dedicated on-road display as well.

Features

The screen can be customised as well to display data from off-road and on-road settings. Other features include manual HVAC, power windows, two USB ports, one 12 V power socket, remote locking, central locking dual front airbags, rear parking sensors and speed alert system among others.

Engines

In terms of engine options, the new Thar gets a 2.0-litre mStallion 150 TGDI petrol engine which makes 150 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 320 Nm between 1,500-3,000 rpm. The diesel engine is a 2.2-litre mHawk 130 which makes 130 bhp at 3,750 rpm and 300 Nm of peak torque between 1,600-2,800 rpm. Both engines have the option of a 6-speed automatic gearbox too.

Off-Roading

In terms of off-road equipment, the Thar has a mechanical 4x4 transfer case as standard with four-wheel low, four-wheel high and two-wheel drive modes and has a low crawl ratio of 42:1 which can multiply the low-end torque by 2.48 times. It is equipped with an independent suspension at the front while the rear gets a multi-link unit. The rear axle comes with a mechanical locking differential as well and the electronic stability program (ESP) helps shift traction to the right wheel, precisely when needed. It has a water wading ability of 650 mm and an unladen ground clearance of 226 mm, which will differ in the variants equipped with 16-inch wheels. There is an approach angle of 42 degrees, a ramp-over angle of 27 degrees and a departure angle of 37 degrees.

Now, you can keep waiting for the new Thar to be launched in SA - or you can get a used Thar at a great price from Group 1 Mahindra instead...

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Article source: https://mahindramadness.postach.io/post/a-look-at-the-current-mahindra-thars-top-highlights 

To Buy The Current Mahindra XUV500 Or Wait For The XUV700?

Requirements/ wants

• Affordable for what I’m getting
• Usage is a mix of commuting to work (post-unlock) and monthly weekend trips. Without a car, we have been dearly missing impromptu weekend drives out of town
• Having driven small petrol motors, want my next car to be a torquey diesel
• Spouse prefers automatic for convenience (beginner-level driver). I prefer manuals over automatics. I see the benefit in automatics for city commutes and can bend for a good package, however don't want jerkily-shifting AMTs or rubber-banding CVTs. Would go for Torque Converter which gets high-reliability rating in T-BHP
• Planning to self-drive now with potentially a chauffeur coming on a few years down when I'm too tired to drive myself to work

Cars considered

• Kia Sonet HTK+ Diesel AT
• Kia Seltos HTK+ Diesel AT
• Mahindra XUV500 W7 MT

I had rejected Sonet because we wanted to seat three adults comfortably in the rear. Wasn't able to get a TD of XUV500, and of the remaining cars, we liked Seltos and booked HTK+ D AT. Loved the quiet cabin experience here.

I was peacefully enjoying the waiting period on the Seltos when a Mahindra dealer calls and offers TD on XUV500. While we grudgingly accepted the slightly stiff suspension on Seltos, XUV500 felt much more comfortable munching through potholes and the 2nd-row seat is amply spacious, and so is the boot space when the last row is folded down. We don't really need a 7-seater, it'd almost always be used as a very spacious 5-seater. Always loved the butch looks of XUV and Mahindra has only made the design better with every iteration. The mind gives in to the heart and Seltos booking is cancelled and XUV booked in its place. The next-gen XUV rumours are around but I wasn't willing to wait months without a car and Mahindra is known for two years of niggles on new launches.

I was peacefully enjoying the waiting period on XUV500 again and Mahindra announces that they are giving a new badge (XUV700) to the upcoming vehicle and that has started to worry me about the resale value of XUV500 and parts availability. Though there are no plans to sell the vehicle for the foreseeable future. I believe in keeping products for long to extract maximum value.

Should I take the delivery of XUV500 or look at other vehicles? Are my fears of unavailability of spares unfounded?

Let’s consider:

See, it's an old product now, I agree - but it's still competent. It still offers more features than many offerings, more comfort and flexibility than any pseudo SUV, better performance than any other diesel UV you can buy for the price, and well-proven reliability. Getting the current XUV500 on one a good Mahindra special would make it even more worthwhile.

What you get for your money:

• Very comfortable, supportive, and well-shaped seats. Flexible interior with an option of 7 seats. All this with impressive space too.
• Extremely reliable 2.2l mHawk motor, with really low maintenance in terms of engine and drivetrain.
• Impressive performance in both city and highways
• Feature list that is up to the mark even today
• Safety (XUV got 4 stars back then itself)

If you like it, go for it with closed eyes, you will love the ownership experience. It's an extremely VFM offering that does very well what it's supposed to do. I don't find any wannabe SUV like Creta or Seltos to be any better than an XUV500 other than the age, it's your old and faithful dog that will any day prove better than these new fancy puppies (Creta and Seltos fans are free to feel offended over this, they just feature-loaded pseudo SUVs in India with questionable safety standards).

Coming to maintenance and spares, you need not worry about that too, 2.2l block is still doing duty under the hood of the Thar, and at least for the coming 10 years; I don't see any reason for a spares shortage.

Since you are eyeing W7, I think there won't be any overlap with XUV700 lower trims too - so I don't think there is anything wrong in taking the delivery. Still, if you wish to wait, then you can wait for the XUV700 price unveil!

Considering the other side:

Going against the tide on this thread, but I wouldn't buy an XUV500 today. When it arrived, options in the segment were scarce. Today, there are way too many and most importantly, the all-new XUV500 / 700 launch is on the horizon.

Secondly, for your kind of usage and your wife's preferences, you are buying the wrong transmission. I'd go for an AT. The XUV500 has a smooth well-tuned AT and a clunky MT.

You clearly don't need a 7-seater and there are too many nice newer cars you should test-drive = the new-gen XUV, Creta, Seltos (already done) and Kushaq.

Because you keep cars for long, it is most important that you:

• Buy the right car (getting it on one of Mahindra’s new vehicle specials would be a bonus)
• Buy the right transmission. I know too many people who bought an MT, regretted it, sold the car at a huge loss and bought an AT. However, I have yet to meet a single person who regretted buying an AT.
• Buy a fairly up-to-date car. XUV500 feels outdated man, especially on the inside.

If you’re looking for an excellent Mahindra deal, then check out the current specials at Group 1 Mahindra.

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Original article source: https://www.team-bhp.com/