2021 Mahindra Thar review, road test

This second-gen Thar is far more polished than its predecessor. But how is it to live with? We find out.

Published on Apr 18, 2021 03:10:00 PM

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Sound quality from its roof- and dash-mounted speakers leaves a lot to be desired.

The new Thar includes an array of safety kit, such as ABS with EBD, dual airbags, ESP, hill-launch assist, hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, tyre pressure monitor and a roll cage. Convenience features only include basics such as remote key entry, electrically adjustable mirrors and cruise control. It also gets a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Because its doors can technically be removed (for off-roaders), it gets dash-mounted as well as roof-mounted speakers instead. This placement isn’t ideal for an immersive audio experience, and the sound quality in general leaves a lot to be desired.

For off-roaders there’s an inclinometer in the infotainment system, as well as a tyre position reminder in the MID. These aside, there are several smaller features that are still missing such as a rear-view camera, LED headlights, auto-dimming inside mirror, a premium audio system, electric folding mirrors, a driver armrest and a dead pedal (especially for the automatic), many of which have become the norm in a car of this price.