RWD Mahindra Thar’s Diesel Powertrain Specs Compared With 4WD Model

Mahindra is embracing the New Year with a change. The marque will soon be offering a new (and third) drivetrain option for the Thar. Apart from coming with a four-wheel-drive system, the lifestyle off-road SUV will get an additional rear-wheel-drive (RWD) system that will be paired to a new and smaller diesel engine, which, as it turns out, won’t be a compromise as we have detailed below. 

Mahindra has retained the 2-litre turbo-petrol engine for the RWD Thar, but the diesel has been downsized heavily. In the place of the 2.2-litre diesel comes a smaller 1.5-litre unit with a slightly lower power output. Lets see how the two diesel and the sole petrol powertrains stack up against each other:

The smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine has the same torque figure (300Nm) as the bigger 2.2-litre unit. Where it does show signs of being downsized is in its power output, which still isn’t a huge drop. Just a drop of 12PS over the 2.2-litre’s 130PS. 

The 2-litre turbo-petrol is untouched and continues to produce 152PS and 300Nm. The torque figure bumps up to 320Nm when the unit is paired to an automatic gearbox. So, if we compare it with the smaller diesel engine, the torque output is nearly the same, however the power sees a major dip of 34PS. The petrol and diesel units will continue to be offered with both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic units. 

The biggest advantage of the downsized engine will be the tax benefits, especially for the diesel engine. Now, the Thar already comes under the sub-four-metre category, but with the newer 1.5-litre diesel, it becomes eligible for the taxation benefits cars under four metres enjoy. All of this will result in a much lower entry point for the SUV, which will slot in the ballpark of the pricing of subcompact SUVs.

Variant details haven’t been outed yet, but the rear-wheel drive version is expected to be offered in both variants that the SUV is offered in – AX (O) and LX. Both hardtop and convertible softtop roof options should be on offer as well. There are no changes in its features or design, which you can read about it in our detailed first drive review. 

The revised pricing of the Thar, which is expected to start around Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom), will make it a rugged, off-roading alternative to the likes of the Kia Sonet, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and the Renault Kiger. Apart from these, it’ll continue to rival the Force Gurkha,  while the Maruti Jimny will soon join the fray.