Mahindra Thar Armada to raise the bar on tech and premiumisation

Mahindra’s highly anticipated launch, the Thar 5-door that would likely be named Thar Armada, will feature a range of first-in-class features, such as a panoramic sunroof and ADAS level 2, Autocar India has confirmed.

Recent spy shots revealed that the Thar 5-door will have a dual-pane sunroof, at least in its top-end variant. The test vehicles that were spotted earlier had a single-pane sunroof, which is likely to be there in the mid-spec version. The Thar 5-door will be the only ladder-frame SUV in India to be offered with a panoramic sunroof.

The ADAS level 2 safety features may include lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning and assistance, and more. 

Mahindra Thar Armada: What else will it get?

The Thar 5-door will also be equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a similarly sized fully digital instrument cluster, and all-LED lighting, among other features. It will offer three wheel designs: steel ones for the entry-level variant(s), alloys for mid-spec variants, and diamond-cut alloys in the top-end trims.

Mahindra Thar Armada: engine options

There will be three powertrains to choose from: an entry-level 1.5-litre diesel to provide an aggressive starting price, a 2.2-litre diesel and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol. We expect the 1.5-litre diesel to have a rear-wheel-drive setup and the 4WD option to be offered only with the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol variants.

Mahindra Thar Armada: expected launch, rivals

Despite no announcement from Mahindra, unofficial bookings have started at the dealership level for the Thar Armada. Once it arrives, this lifestyle SUV will take on the recently introduced Force Gurkha 5-door and the Maruti Jimny. It will also offer an alternative to midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, among others.