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The Thar is the only "Jeep" on sale in India at the moment. It certainly is popular with the off-roading community. The only other proper offroad vehicle in the same price range is the Maruti Gypsy. On the open road, the Thar has an advantage over the Maruti when it comes to ride quality, handling and stability. Plus, the Thar runs on diesel, making it more economical to use than the Gypsy.

However, there were many sore points. The interiors, especially, were disappointing - poor quality materials and bad finish had some customers wondering why they paid 8 lakhs for this Jeep. Most entry level hatchbacks have better interiors than the Thar. Mahindra had to improve the product to justify the price.

They've attempted to do just that by giving the Thar some updates to the exteriors, better interiors and additional equipment in this 2015 facelift. Do note that it is only the more upmarket CRDe engined Thar that gets these updates; the MDI version remains unchanged.

So, what's new on the outside?

Overall, the Thar retains the Jeep styling:




The Thar's length and height remain the same as before, but the width has increased by 16 mm to 1,726 mm. Ground clearance remains unaltered at 200 mm, while the approach angle is up from 40 degrees to 44 degrees! The departure angle, on the other hand, has reduced from 30 degrees to 27 degrees:


The gnarly Maxxis MT-764 Big Horn tyres shown here add a lot to the macho appeal of the Thar. Note = they are an aftermarket addition, and not part of the stock kit:




Clear lens headlamps replace the old units, and the now unobstructed front grille puts the a/c condenser and radiator in plain sight:


New plastic bumpers replace the rudimentary metal ones. They might look flimsy, but are actually fairly thick and solid:


Here, you can see where the bumper is bolted to the frame:


Bumper now sits much closer to the body than before:


The new wheel arch cladding is placed higher up, and houses the turn indicator:


The wheel arch doesn't meet the bumper at the front. The gap between the two is an eyesore:


Door handles get silver inserts:


New tubular side steps look smart. The area where you place your feet is flattened & grooved to prevent slipping:


Side step is attached via four bolts - two at the front and two at the back. Easily removable for hardcore offroaders:


The routing of the exhaust along & under the chassis:


A closer look at the rear wheel arch:


Lockable fuel lid is new. Notice the groove in the wheel arch to allow the flap to open fully:


Just like the front, the rear wheel arches don't meet the bumper, leaving an ugly gap:


The new bumpers give the Thar an "urban off-roader" look:


At the rear too, the gap between the bumper and body has reduced drastically:


The right side has the number plate mount:


The Thar gets a redesigned canopy, the rear end of which slopes forward (toward the top). The older canopy had a vertical rear edge, making it look more boxy:


The canopy has neat cutouts to make place for the spare wheel mount:


Velcro on the sides keep the canopy in place:


The canopy could have been better integrated though. It tends to flap about too much at speed, causing excessive & unwanted noise:


You need to lift the canvas to close the tailgate: