5-door Mahindra Thar spotted testing for the first time

Mahindra’s plan of launching a 5-door version of Mahindra Thar has been in the pipeline for quite some time. Recently, a 5-door Mahindra Thar test mule was spotted on the outskirts of Chennai, confirming the reports of an imminent launch. The 3-door Thar has already been successful among the Indian audience, and with a 5-door version, Mahindra will look to market the Thar to small families.

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5-door Mahindra Thar: Spy shots, interior, and engine.

The 5-door Mahindra Thar will be underpinned by Scorpio N’s platform. This means that it will be slightly bigger than its 3-door counterpart. Currently, the 3-door Thar stands at a length of 3,985mm with a wheelbase of 2,450mm. The 5-door Thar will retain its offroading chops despite a larger wheelbase.

On the outside, the 5-door Thar looks similar to the current next-gen Thar which was launched in 2020. The spare wheel comes mounted on the tailgate, and the squarish tail lamps and high-mounted stop lamp look identical to the 3-door Thar. The only distinguishing factor could be the lack of a convertible roof.

Inside, the five-door Thar will benefit from the increased boot space. Mahindra may offer the new Thar with a third row and six or seven-seater options. Currently, the 2020 Thar can only seat four people at best. The dashboard design and equipment list of the 5-door Mahindra Thar will also be carried forward from its 3-door sibling, but Mahindra may add new drive modes that we previously saw on the Scorpio N.

Under the hood, the 5-door Mahindra Thar will be offered in the same 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and 2.0-litre mStallion petrol engine options. The former produces a maximum power of 130bhp and 300Nm torque, while the latter generates 150bhp maximum power and 300Nm torque. Both engines can be mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

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An early 2023 launch seems to be on the cards for the 5-door Mahindra Thar. We could even see it debut at the AutoExpo in January 2023. Upon launch, the 5-door Thar will rival the 5-door Force Gurkha and 5-door Suzuki Jimny.