2024 Mahindra Thar: New 5-door 'cheap jeep' spied and imagined

Mahindra's Thar has been kept from Australia through a legal contest – you can probably guess why – but this new five-door model, with an updated look, could be a chance.

Prototypes of a five-door Mahindra Thar 4x4 wagon have been spotted in testing in the company’s homeland of India, and our sources at Mahindra Australia remain optimistic about the possibility of the Jeep Wrangler look-a-like coming to Australia sometime in the future.

This is despite Jeep Australia winning a case in the Australian courts back in 2021 preventing the three-door Thar being imported here, due to the Indian wagon’s similarities to the American off-roader.

JUMP AHEAD: 5-Door Thar imagined!

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Mahindra started making automotive vehicles shortly after WWII off the back of assembling war-surplus Jeeps from knockdown kits supplied and licensed by Willys-Overland, the original owners of the Jeep trademark. In the years since, Mahindra has always had a Jeep-like vehicle in production, the latest iteration of which is the Thar.

The relationship has soured in recent times and, as the Jeep brand has passed through different owners, current owners Stellantis aren’t so keen on copies of its most iconic model. Nor is its Australian arm.

Our sources say the new Thar has undergone a significant styling refresh to further differentiate it from the Jeep, and Mahindra hopes to have the car join its growing line-up here as soon as possible.

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The prototypes spotted in testing show the five-door Thar still retains the boxy military-like styling of the JL Wrangler, including round headlights (a Jeep hallmark) – but these may yet be altered to further differentiate the Thar from any Jeep vehicle.

Our renders offer one idea of how that change might be styled.

Reports from the sub-continent also suggest the five-door Thar will ride on the new chassis that underpins the Scorpio 4x4 wagon that was just launched in Australia, and we expect the driveline to be carried over as well. That means the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine and Aisin six-speed transmission with part-time four-wheel drive system.

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Mahindra sources would also not rule out electric powertrains for the Thar as it moves to implement EVs in to its existing and future products.

Mahindra is working toward introducing five new EVs to its global range, but whether they make it to Australia is yet to be confirmed and will depend on the take-up of EVs and the associated infrastructure to make them popular here.

The five-door Thar is expected to be released in India in the very near future and the Australian side of the business has indicated it would like to add the Thar to its growing fleet. Just don’t expect the Thar to be the off-road vehicle the Wrangler is; though with its IFS and lower centre of gravity, it should be a better on-road drive.

On the back of the just-launched Scorpio 4x4 wagon and the impending release of the XUV700 medium SUV, Mahindra is expanding its portfolio to entice more Australian buyers in a market hungry for SUVs and 4x4 utes.

Five-door Thar imagined

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Mahindra Thar 5-door rendering | WhichCar.com.au

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Mahindra Thar 5-door rendering | WhichCar.com.au

Below: the current Thar in its existing 3-door form

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