- Mahindra Thar is the most popular off-roader in India
- Offers powerful engines at a competitive price
- Here are all the Off-Road Adventures to look forward to in the coming days
The Mahindra Thar is one of the most popular off-roaders in India. Thanks to its solid & sturdy design, incredible off-road capabilities, robust safety and more creature comfort than its predecessor, the Thar stands as an excellent SUV companion when it comes to exploring undiscovered terrains and venturing on thrilling adventures. Moreover, the plenty of community programs offered by Mahindra provide a sense of belonging for owners and enthusiasts. In this article, we’ll gab about the remarkable off-road features of the Mahindra Thar and explore the various community programs that Mahindra offers: –
Exceptional Off-road Capabilities
The second-generation Mahindra Thar is an immaculate lifestyle off-road vehicle for your adventure thrusts. Compared to its previous versions, it is smarter, a bit more plush, more powerful, & safer, and yet very much capable both on and off roads, making it an ideal choice for adventure seekers. Its part-time shift-on-the-fly 4×4 drivetrain is bang on. It also gets a dedicated transfer case with four modes (2H, 4H, N and 4L), brake locking differentials, mechanical locking differentials, electronic stability control, and hill hold & descent assist, adding to its go-anywhere capabilities.
| Transfer Case Modes Explained | ||
| 2H | For Tarmac Use | Used for everyday road driving
Power is transmitted to the rear wheels Reduces undue wear & tear |
| Enhance fuel efficiency | ||
| 4H | For low traction situations | Power shares between all four wheels
Used in situations where both speed and increased traction are required. Example: roads with snow, climbing inclines, light mud, packed sand. Due to increased drag, fuel efficiency decreases. |
| 4L | For extremely low traction, crawling situations | Power shares between all four wheels
For situations where high traction is required, not speed. Example: Heavy mudy areas, water, loose sand, and climbing steep rocks. Increase gears’ wear & tear. |
| N | Neutral | Puts the transmission in neutral mode. |
Further enhancing its overall capabilities are its torquey engine options, relatively shorter wheelbase, and higher ground clearance, approach, departure and break-over angles, helping it to conquer every terrain.
| Engine Options | 2-litre turbo-petrol (152PS/up to 320Nm)
1.5-litre diesel (119PS/300Nm) 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (up to 130PS/300Nm) |
| Gearbox Options | 6-speed manual / 6-speed torque converter automatic
(1.5L diesel only gets manual gearbox) |
| Drivetrain | 1.5L diesel gets only 4×2
2.2L diesel gets 4×4 as standard 2L petrol gets both 4×2 and 4×4 options |
| Approach Angle | 42° |
| Break-over Angle | 27° |
| Departure Angle | 37° |
| Wheelbase | 2450 mm |
| Ground clearance | 226 mm |
The Mahindra Thar also gets a tyre direction monitoring system, tyre pressure monitoring system and real-time adventure statistics system. While the initial two are clear by their names, the latter provides various off and on-road driving-related information, such as real-time power & torque output, gear position indicator, engine temperature, roll angle, pitch angle, and 4×4 drivetrain monitor.
Mahindra Community Programs For Thar Owners and Enthusiasts
Expeditions
Mahindra organises various expedition programs every year for both Mahindra owners and enthusiasts. It is essentially a road trip with adventure-ready Mahindra SUVs, in which the participant group moves like a military convoy and explores various breathtaking destinations and indulges in various thrilling activities, including off-roading, under expert trainers.
| Upcoming Mahindra Expedition Events | ||
| Event | Date | Location |
| Authentic Zanskar Escape (Women With Drive) | August 13-22, 2023 | Chandigarh to Leh |
| The Desert Himalaya Expedition | Sept 9-20, 2023, | Leh to Bhuj |
| Wild South Escape | Oct 28 – Nov 4, 2023 | Bangalore to Coimbatore |
| Extreme Overland Expedition | Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2023 | Greater Noida to Pokhara |
Club Events
As the name suggests, the club events are conducted by reputed off-road clubs or individuals, with the approval and support of Mahindra Adventures. These clubs offer a platform for like-minded people to connect from various regions and organise off-roading excursions.
| Upcoming Mahindra Club Events | ||
| Event | Date | Location |
| Great Escape | 16th July 2023 | Saputara |
| Great Escape | 16th July 2023 | Kolkata |
| Great Escape | 22nd July 2023 | Jorhat |
| Great Escape | 6th August 2023 | Bhopal |
| Great Escape | 6th August 2023 | Khargone |
| Himalayan Challenge Roof World | 26th Sep to 04th Oct 2023 | Chandigarh to Manali |
Off-Road Academy
Situated in Igatpuri (Maharashtra), the Mahindra Adventure’s off-road training facility provides off-road training to Thar owners through comprehensive programs, covering driving techniques, safety protocol and vehicle recovery. These courses include Getting Dirty, Trail Survivor, Desert Survivor, Snow Survivor and Global Explorer.
Getting Dirty: One-day course for beginners that allows participants to enjoy 4×4 off-roading in a safe & controlled environment.
Trail Survivor: A level above the Getting Dirty. It offers a more profound knowledge of driving dynamics and techniques.
Desert Survivor: Trains in driving a vehicle in sand effectively.
Snow Survivor: Teach the art of driving in the virgin snow of Leh.
Global Explorer: It is an advanced-level course that covers basic vehicle repair, first-aid training, driving & recovery techniques, and three days of hardcore off-roading, followed by a skill test.
| Upcoming Off-Road Training Academy Events | ||
| Event | Date | Location |
| 4×4 Fundamentals | 22nd July 2023 | Igatpuri |
| Trail Survivor | 22nd to 23rd July 2023 | Igatpuri |
| Getting Dirty | 22nd July 2023 | Igatpuri |
Challenges
Mahindra Adventure Challenges are special programs offering customers an immersive experience of the off-road world and motorsport competition. Mahindra organises two kinds of Challenge events – Club Challenge and Monsoon Challenge.
As the name suggests, the Club Challenge is for off-road clubs under which they battle against each other. In contrast, the Monsoon Challenge is designed for Mahindra customers interested in motorsport.