The Mahindra Thar will soon get another facelift, which sources suggest will happen on September 22. Notably, the current-gen 3-door Thar was launched in October 2020 and received a facelift in October 2025, with slight revisions to the design and feature suite. So the upcoming model will be the second facelift for the second-generation Thar. Test mules of the facelifted model suggest the Thar could get a revised fascia, new lighting elements and fresh alloy wheels. Some feature additions are also expected.
- It will get a Thar Roxx-like grille, headlights and taillights
- Likely to get feature additions like a wireless phone charger
- Expected to retain the existing powertrain configurations
Mahindra Thar facelift: Expected changes
Will borrow exterior design elements from the bigger Thar Roxx
Test mules of the upcoming 2026 Mahindra Thar facelift have been doing rounds on Indian roads for some time now, with certain design elements borrowed from the Thar Roxx. These include a new grille, projector LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs, a fresh alloy wheel design and redesigned taillights. Mahindra is expected to offer the 2026 Thar facelift with all these new design elements.
Could get some new modern-day features
While the 2025 facelift added a new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, a Thar Roxx-like steering wheel, rear AC vents, and a rear wiper and washer to the Thar, it is still not as feature-rich as other Mahindra models. It lacks a sunroof, powered and ventilated seats, a wireless phone charger, and a 360-degree camera, all of which have become common in modern-day cars that have a similar price to the Thar. While official details of feature additions on the 2026 Thar facelift are yet to be revealed, Mahindra might add some of the mentioned missing features to make the SUV more modern.
Expected to continue with the same powertrain options
The Mahindra Thar is available with three engine options: a 152hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, a 119hp 1.5-litre diesel, and a 132hp 2.2-litre diesel. The 1.5-litre diesel comes only with a 6-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive (RWD) setup. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is also available with RWD, while four-wheel-drive (4WD) is available as an option. The 2.2-litre diesel gets 4WD as standard. Both the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines can also be paired with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox. The 2026 Mahindra facelift is expected to continue with the same powertrain options as the current model.
One of the most prominent criticisms of the Mahindra Thar is its lumpy ride quality due to the old ladder-frame chassis, double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear with coil springs. While this setup gives the Thar its renowned off-road prowess, the ride quality on paved roads still does not match the Thar Roxx’s. Mahindra could improve this with the facelifted model.
Official details on the 2026 Mahindra Thar facelift will be revealed at its possible launch on September 22. What will definitely change are the SUV’s prices that currently range from Rs 10.32 lakh to Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom).
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Dhruv Dhaka
