The updated Thar OG drops with heavy hardware changes

The Takeaway

• The Thar OG pricing starts at ₹10.32 Lakh for the base diesel and peaks at ₹18.99 Lakh for the top automatic.
• Showroom deliveries begin on October 11, 2026.
• Electric power steering finally replaces the heavy hydraulic unit of the outgoing model.
• The vehicle introduces six airbags and all-four disc brakes as standard safety equipment.

Mahindra brings the Thar OG to showrooms this October as a direct replacement for the 2020 lifestyle vehicle. The manufacturer has built this iteration on the stiffer M_Glyde 4G platform. Buyers can start with the base AXT trim. You can also step up to the mid-spec LXT or the fully loaded ZXT. Powertrain choices include two diesels displacing 1.5 and 2.2 litres. A 2.0-litre petrol engine completes the lineup. You have options for rear-wheel drive alongside four-wheel drive layouts.

The most significant mechanical shift is the move to an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. The marketing presents this steering upgrade as making manoeuvring incredibly effortless. Whether that holds up in daily use is a separate question. Moving away from the old hydraulic setup does fix the exhausting low-speed handling. The engineering team has also added an electronic locking differential. Specific terrain modes for sand and mud arrive on the four-wheel drive versions. These additions replace analog off-road guesswork with software-driven traction management.

Marketing materials frame the new rear suspension and damping technology as delivering a plush ride. Taking that campaign claim at face value ignores the physics of a short-wheelbase ladder-frame vehicle. It simply cannot provide the comfort of a crossover. Reports indicate that the hardware will cure the terrifying highway bounce of the older model. The manufacturer also positions the updated sound damping as creating a refined cabin experience. Actual highway wind noise will determine if that holds true. A boxy shape with an upright windshield inevitably suffers from heavy wind drag at triple-digit speeds. Mahindra used a comparable trim playbook when a panoramic sunroof hits the XUV 3XO REVX EDGE (O) for ₹9.89 lakh, lowering the entry barrier for premium equipment in sub-four-metre cars. On this off-roader, the showroom campaign tries to engineer away structural laws that physics will never let it escape.

Thar OG pricing and core specifications

Buyers looking at the top-end ZXT trim face a real dilemma. Cross-shoppers need to evaluate the five-door Thar Roxx at this ₹18.99 Lakh price point. The larger sibling offers genuine rear-seat legroom alongside usable boot space for similar money. You also have the Maruti Suzuki Jimny Alpha automatic at ₹14.79 Lakh. The Jimny gives you five doors and bulletproof reliability. It simply lacks the sheer highway overtaking torque of the Mahindra engines.

Living with this vehicle in Indian conditions highlights specific practical compromises. The campaign presents the new Truffle Brown leatherette seats as a premium lifestyle upgrade. The company frames this new upholstery as a comfort feature. Real-world testing will need to prove that claim. Dark unventilated faux leather absorbs intense heat. The material becomes notoriously sweaty in peak forty-degree Indian summers. Furthermore, Mahindra has excellent service reach across non-metro cities. Field reports highlight that this updated model relies heavily on complex electronics like frequency-dependent damping sensors. A local mechanic cannot simply hammer an electronic module back into shape if it fails on a remote Himalayan trail.

Showroom prices remain strictly introductory, locked only for deliveries completed by November 30, 2026. Industry reports note that early bookings will likely spill past this deadline due to historical production constraints. Buyers should expect an inevitable post-launch price hike.

The Unboxed Truth

Unbox Daily HQ evaluates vehicles based on actual daily utility rather than billboard appeal. The Mahindra Thar OG fixes the biggest daily driving dealbreakers of the 2020 edition. The electric power steering makes it vastly easier to live with in the city. It remains a specialized lifestyle tool requiring practical compromises. You have to accept the lack of luggage space alongside difficult rear passenger access. It belongs in your life only if you truly need a secondary adventure vehicle and can tolerate the physical constraints of a three-door cabin.

Best for: Off-road enthusiasts who need a capable weekend vehicle.

Who Is This For: Drivers aged 25 to 50.

Courtesy: Mahindra