The rugged landscapes of India have long demanded vehicles that can withstand punishing terrain while carrying families and their belongings across diverse topography.
From mountain passes in the Himalayas to the sandy expanses of Rajasthan, the need for capable off-roaders with practicality has been constant.
Answering this call initially with the three-door Thar, Mahindra has now expanded their iconic off-roader’s appeal with the introduction of the five-door variant—a vehicle that maintains the model’s adventurous spirit while addressing the practical limitations that previously confined it to enthusiast status.
The Thar Legacy: From Niche Icon to Mainstream Aspiration
To understand the significance of the five-door Thar, one must first appreciate the journey of its predecessor.
The original Thar launched in 2010 represented Mahindra’s commitment to its off-road heritage, drawing design inspiration from the classic Jeep CJ series while incorporating modern engineering.
However, it remained firmly positioned as a lifestyle vehicle—beloved by enthusiasts but too compromised for family use.
The second-generation Thar, unveiled in 2020, marked a pivotal shift. While maintaining its boxy silhouette and off-road credentials, it introduced vastly improved refinement, safety features, and comfort amenities.
The market response proved revelatory—waiting periods stretched beyond a year, with many buyers choosing the Thar as their primary vehicle despite its practical limitations.
Vikram Parekh, who transitioned from a sedan to a Thar in 2021, explains: “I’d always admired the Thar but couldn’t justify it with a family of four. We made it work, but accessing the rear seats was a daily exercise in patience.
Still, the character of the vehicle compensated for these inconveniences—but I knew if they ever made a five-door version, I’d be first in line.”
This sentiment wasn’t isolated. Mahindra recognized that for every customer willing to compromise on accessibility, many more were waiting for a more practical iteration.
The five-door Thar represents their response to this untapped market—a vehicle that preserves the model’s distinctive character while addressing its primary limitation.
Design Evolution: Balancing Tradition with Practicality
Creating the five-door Thar presented Mahindra’s design team with a fundamental challenge: how to extend the vehicle’s dimensions without diluting its purposeful aesthetic.
The approach they’ve taken respects the Thar’s design language while skillfully integrating the additional doors and extended wheelbase.
The front fascia maintains continuity with the three-door model, featuring the signature seven-slot grille, round headlamps, and upright windshield that collectively signal the vehicle’s heritage.
The hood’s power dome and pronounced wheel arches retain the muscular presence that distinguishes the Thar from increasingly homogeneous crossovers.
The profile view reveals the most significant changes. The wheelbase extends by approximately 300mm, creating room for the additional doors while improving interior space.
Despite this stretch, the designers have maintained the vehicle’s proportions through careful attention to overhangs and the roofline’s sweep.
The rear quarter now features conventional windows rather than the three-door’s canvas options, enhancing all-weather comfort.
Perhaps most impressively, the five-door variant preserves key off-road metrics despite its enlarged footprint.
The approach and departure angles remain suitable for serious trail use, ground clearance continues to exceed 200mm, and the vehicle retains the wading depth that allows passage through water obstacles up to 650mm deep.
Automotive designer Rahul Mathur observes: “What’s remarkable about the five-door Thar’s execution is how they’ve expanded the greenhouse without making the vehicle appear stretched or ungainly.
The proportional relationships between the wheels, body, and glass areas maintain visual cohesion. It looks purposeful rather than compromised—a challenge many manufacturers struggle with when extending wheelbase on iconic designs.”
The interior architecture builds upon the current Thar’s blend of robustness and refinement. Durable materials dominate touchpoints, with thoughtful waterproofing for displays and switchgear.
The instrument panel carries over the circular theme established in the three-door, now complemented by a larger central touchscreen that accommodates expanded connectivity options.
Engineering Enhancements: Beyond Additional Doors
While the addition of rear doors represents the most visible change, Mahindra has implemented numerous engineering refinements that collectively transform the Thar’s character.
The extended wheelbase not only creates additional interior volume but also contributes to improved ride quality—traditionally a compromise area for short-wheelbase off-roaders.
The suspension geometry has been recalibrated to balance the seemingly contradictory demands of off-road articulation and on-road stability.
Progressive-rate springs and revised damping characteristics allow the suspension to respond differently to minor road imperfections versus major terrain challenges, broadening the vehicle’s versatility.
Under the hood, the powertrain options maintain continuity with the three-door model.
The 2.0-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine delivers approximately 150 horsepower, while the 2.2-liter mHawk diesel produces similar power with additional torque. Both engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The four-wheel-drive system retains the essential mechanical robustness of the three-door, featuring a transfer case with low range and a mechanical locking rear differential.
However, the electronic integration has been enhanced, with terrain-specific drive modes that adjust throttle mapping, stability control intervention, and brake force distribution based on conditions.
Mahindra has significantly improved NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) characteristics—a critical factor for a vehicle that may now serve as primary family transportation.
Additional sound insulation, revised engine mounts, and reinforced body structures collectively create a more refined acoustic experience without compromising the mechanical robustness necessary for off-road durability.
Engineer Sunil Menon, who specializes in off-road vehicle dynamics, notes: “The challenge with lengthening an off-roader’s wheelbase isn’t just structural—it fundamentally changes weight distribution, breakover angles, and dynamic responses.
Mahindra appears to have applied thoughtful engineering to preserve capability while enhancing comfort.
The revised suspension geometry and progressive spring rates suggest they’ve targeted the compromise points of the original design rather than simply stretching the platform.”
Interior Experience: Family-Friendly Adventure
The interior of the five-door Thar represents perhaps the most significant evolution from its predecessor. While the three-door model prioritized ruggedness occasionally at the expense of refinement, the extended variant embraces family functionality without abandoning the vehicle’s adventure-ready character.
The rear cabin now features a proper bench seat with adequate legroom for adult passengers, addressing the primary practicality limitation of the three-door model.
The seat design incorporates split-folding functionality, significantly enhancing cargo versatility compared to the limited storage options in the shorter variant.
Material selections throughout the cabin balance durability with comfort. Upholstery options include water-resistant synthetic fabrics and leatherette, both designed to withstand the outdoor activities the Thar’s image encourages.
Thoughtful touches include multiple USB charging ports throughout the cabin, grab handles positioned for off-road stability, and storage solutions for adventure equipment.
The infotainment system has been upgraded to Mahindra’s AdrenoX platform, featuring connected car technology, wireless smartphone integration, and off-road specific functions like compass, altitude, and roll/pitch angle display. Climate control now includes rear vents, addressing another limitation of the three-door model.
Interior designer Priya Sharma explains: “We approached the five-door Thar’s cabin as a space that needed to support multiple use cases—from daily commuting to weekend adventures.
The materials are selected to withstand mud from a hiking trail or children’s spills equally well. We’ve added refinement without pretense; everything serves a purpose rather than merely creating the appearance of luxury.”
Market Positioning: Broadening the Appeal
The strategic importance of the five-door Thar extends beyond simple product expansion. It represents Mahindra’s recognition that authentic off-road vehicles can appeal to mainstream consumers if practical limitations are addressed—a realization that brands like Jeep with the Wrangler Unlimited and Ford with the four-door Bronco have successfully leveraged in other markets.
The pricing strategy positions the five-door Thar between the three-door variant and Mahindra’s larger XUV700, creating a distinct middle tier that competes with conventional crossovers like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, albeit with a fundamentally different character.
This positioning acknowledges that many consumers desire rugged styling and capability but previously couldn’t justify the compromises inherent in traditional off-roaders.
Dealer networks report significant interest from diverse customer segments, from existing Thar owners seeking more practicality to family buyers who previously dismissed the model due to its limited accessibility.
The expanded appeal supports Mahindra’s broader strategy of emphasizing authentic SUVs with genuine capability rather than merely styled crossovers.
Automotive business analyst Deepak Malhotra observes: “The five-door Thar potentially unlocks significant volume for Mahindra in the profitable mid-size SUV segment.
The three-door proved consumer appetite for distinctive vehicles with character, even at the expense of some practicality. By removing the primary objection while maintaining the emotional appeal, Mahindra has created something unique in the market—a vehicle that offers genuine differentiation from ubiquitous urban crossovers without demanding the lifestyle compromises of a traditional off-roader.”
Competitive Landscape: Carving a Unique Position
The five-door Thar enters a market segment crowded with options but few direct competitors.
Traditional mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Grand Vitara dominate sales charts with their urban-focused designs, comprehensive feature lists, and efficient powertrains. However, none offer the Thar’s authentic off-road capability or distinctive character.
More directly comparable vehicles include the Force Gurkha, which remains available only in three-door configuration, and the upcoming Maruti Jimny five-door.
The latter perhaps represents the closest conceptual competitor, though with significantly smaller dimensions and a focus on lightweight agility rather than the Thar’s more substantial presence.
The true competitive set may extend beyond segment boundaries to include lifestyle-focused vehicles like the lower variants of the MG Hector and Tata Harrier, which target similar price points but with entirely different driving experiences.
The Thar’s unique proposition—genuine capability with newfound practicality—carves out territory previously unoccupied in the Indian market.
Marketing professional Anjali Krishnan notes: “The five-door Thar has few direct competitors but many adjacent ones.
Its appeal isn’t defined by traditional segment parameters like price point or size but by the lifestyle it enables and the image it projects.
Buyers will cross-shop it against both conventional family SUVs and more specialized vehicles because it successfully bridges these previously separate categories.”
Ownership Experience: Beyond the Vehicle
Mahindra has developed a comprehensive ownership ecosystem around the Thar that extends beyond the vehicle itself.
The Thar Life community connects owners through organized trail drives, skills workshops, and digital platforms where experiences and modifications are shared. These initiatives foster brand loyalty while providing practical support for owners new to off-road driving.
The expanded aftermarket support includes Mahindra-approved accessories spanning practical enhancements like roof racks and snorkels to styling elements that allow personalization.
The manufacturer has embraced rather than resisted the modification culture that typically surrounds capable off-roaders, offering warranty-compliant options that preserve reliability while enhancing capability.
Service packages tailored to adventure use acknowledge that these vehicles may experience different wear patterns than conventional family cars.
Extended warranties, specialized fluid change intervals for vehicles used in extreme conditions, and technician training for off-road-specific components demonstrate Mahindra’s commitment to supporting the Thar’s intended use case.
Thar owner and off-road enthusiast Arjun Singh shares: “What separates the Thar ownership experience is the community aspect.
Within weeks of purchasing mine, I’d participated in a company-organized trail drive and connected with dozens of owners online who shared advice about everything from tire pressures to remote camping spots.
The five-door will bring new types of owners into this community, but the shared enthusiasm for adventure remains the common thread.”
Mahindra Thar 5 door come in luxury look
The Mahindra Thar five-door represents more than simply an extended variant of an existing model—it embodies the democratization of adventure.
By addressing the practical limitations that previously confined the Thar to enthusiast status, Mahindra has created a vehicle that allows more Indian families to embrace off-road capability without compromising daily usability.
In a market increasingly dominated by vehicles that differ primarily in styling rather than substance, the five-door Thar offers authentic differentiation.
Its ability to traverse challenging terrain isn’t merely marketing hyperbole but engineered capability, now accessible to those unwilling or unable to accept the compromises of a three-door configuration.
Perhaps most significantly, the expanded Thar serves as a counterpoint to the homogenization of the automotive landscape.
It celebrates mechanical robustness, distinctive design, and genuine capability in an era where these qualities often receive less emphasis than connectivity features or efficiency metrics.
That Mahindra has found substantial market interest in such a product speaks to a hunger for vehicles with authentic character, particularly when they no longer demand significant practical compromises.
As Indian consumers increasingly seek vehicles that enable exploration of the country’s diverse landscapes, the five-door Thar arrives at a pivotal moment—offering the rare combination of everyday practicality and weekend adventure capability that previously required maintaining separate vehicles.
In bridging this gap, Mahindra hasn’t merely extended a model; they’ve expanded the possibilities for how Indian families interact with their environment, one additional door at a time.