2026 Mahindra Thar OG Short Review: What We Liked & What Needs To Improve

At the outset, let’s get one thing clear. With the Thar’s shift to ‘Thar OG’ don’t expect this lifestyle SUV to find an entirely new set of buyers. However, those who do pick one up can now enjoy an experience that’s easier to live with.

Mahindra Thar OG Looks

In this one respect, the Thar OG is a minor facelift. New C-shaped DRLs with Thar Roxx-derived headlights, new bumpers, a new set of tail lights, ‘OG’ badging and 19-inch alloy wheels make up the styling changes. There’s a new grille as well, and the overall stance of the car is also less canted forward, ergo more balanced. Prudent to note you now have the front fog lights and cornering lights in the bumper, with the latter only engaging when the car is in motion (unlike the XUV 7XO, which can run its cornering lights even while parked).

It’s still a traditional boxy design that’s true to the sketches we’d make as kids when someone asked us to draw an SUV. Modernisation here is helpful, but thankfully, Mahindra’s fought the urge to do too much and alienate the emotion that draws one to such a car in the first place.

Mahindra Thar OG Space & Quality

The car’s footprint doesn’t see a notable change and neither does the cabin space available. Headroom is generous in each seat row and the front seats, while cosy in their width, offer enough space for tall drivers to sit unrestricted. That said, the footwell feels narrow, and some may find the lower half of the flat dashboard fouling with their shoe-tips.

Rear seat space will allow a six-footer to sit behind themselves, but the wheel arch intrusions mean you will sit at an awkward angle. Thankfully, you now have an armrest with a cupholder on either side along with rear AC vents and type-C charge port here too.

The new truffle brown interior trim and seat upholstery make the cabin feel more premium, but the rest of the plastics stay largely the same as before. Mahindra isn’t trying to make the Thar OG look or feel as premium as the Thar Roxx inside, but they have used the opportunity to correct some of the rough edges in the cabin. It’s a function-first cabin, and that’s very much intentional.

Mahindra Thar OG Tech 

Given the presence of Mahindra’s electric-origin SUVs (XEV 9S/9e, BE6 Sporteq), there’s a chance someone considered carpet-bombing the Thar’s interior with touch panels or screens. That would’ve been a terrible idea and gratefully, Mahindra agrees.

However, the existing 10.25-inch touchscreen could’ve done with an upgrade. Touch response isn’t snappy; it’s slow to change displays at times, and while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, only the latter gets wireless support. You will need a type-A-to-C/Lighting cable to run Apple CarPlay, since the type-C port up front is only for charging. The Thar OG gets push-button start, but keyless entry isn’t passive, i.e. no request button/sensor, only a remote key.

Other features include cruise control, height-adjustable driver’s seat, a wireless phone charger, and a 6-speaker music system.

Mahindra Thar OG Boot

With all the seats in use, you can fit a few backpacks/soft bags behind the split-opening tailgate. Fold the backrests down and larger suitcases can be accommodated on top of them.

Mahindra Thar OG Drive & Ride

• The Thar OG now moves to the MGLYDE platform, joining the Thar Roxx.

• Key changes include the new rear suspension (pentalink with Watts link) and the inclusion of ‘Davinci’ dampers. Only in the top-end ZX variant do they include frequency-dependent damping (FDD).

• The hydraulic power steering moves to electronic power steering.

• 4x4 variants get an electronically lockable rear differential (earlier mechanical).

While the 2-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines make both more power and torque, the difference is hard to tell experientially. The bottom line remains: both powertrains deliver punchy but smooth performance, making them great city slickers or highway tourers.

The big difference is seen in the ride quality. The new rear suspension and dampers take a good deal of reactiveness out of the Thar’s road manners. Essentially, the Thar OG doesn’t feel as imbalanced after crossing a set of rumble strips or speed breakers and demands less corrective steering in the aftermath.

The suspension is quieter and has a softer edge over bumps; i.e. you will feel more suspension movement to take out the harshness from a bump, but less of the sharpness is felt by the occupants, delivering a more comfortable experience overall. 

However, this is still a short-wheelbase ladder-frame SUV. You won’t be completely insulated from road surface imperfections, and there will be some constant body roll you will experience. If you’re looking at a road-biased SUV, the Mahindra XUV 7XO will feel monumentally more comfortable as a daily driver. The new electronic power steering also makes every driving experience far easier and lighter while being more predictable to use as well. This also makes it demand less effort off-road, especially in deep slush or sand, while controlling steering kickback better over an obstacle too.

For off-roading, the Thar OG’s new ESP has helped unlock terrain modes (Mud, Snow, Sand and Normal) that affect the traction control, transmission shift times (AT), steering and throttle response. In fact, the Sand mode helped us get out of a tricky situation in Jodhpur’s desert.

The new electronically locking rear differential also improves off-road control, complemented by the brake locking differential.

Mahindra Thar OG Safety

Front parking sensors get added to the kitty along with the existing rear parking sensors and you also get 6 airbags with new HPTS airbags (Hip, Pelvis, Thorax, Shoulder). Integrated into the seats, these are a step above traditional side airbags but don’t deploy like curtain airbags either, owing to the roll cage. Hence, they’re named after the parts of the occupant they are intended to protect most. Prudent to note, 6 airbags are only offered in the top-end ZXT variant.

Other safety features include ABS with EBD, ESP with rollover mitigation, brake assist, ISOFIX and a rear camera. A 360-degree camera and auto-dimming IRVM are sorely missed.

To Summarise

The Thar OG’s name is ironic since it’s unlike the OG Thar in most ways. It’s not that every improvement that could’ve been made has come through as a change, but everything that has changed is an improvement. The Thar OG remains a lifestyle vehicle that’s an indulgence first purchase for most, but with the new ride and handling package in particular, it requires a lot less justification.