The 3-door Mahindra Thar was launched in October 2020, and it remains in production. It has become one of the most iconic off-road SUVs in India, combining retro style with modern tech.

The Thar is built on a ladder-frame / body-on-frame chassis, not a monocoque. That means a separate rigid frame under the vehicle supports the body. This style gives it strength and toughness — excellent for off-road use, rugged terrain, uneven surfaces. The flip side? It tends to have more body roll, slightly less smooth ride at highway speeds compared to crossover SUVs, and more weight. But if your road includes broken stretches, streams, mud, or even adventure trails, ladder frame is gold.

Thar has many things working in its favor. First, its looks: round headlamps, seven-slot grille, boxy rugged shape — retro but cool. Second, it taps into nostalgia: Mahindra’s lineage of Jeeps (CJ, MM540) is legendary. Third, it offers real off-road capability in a licensed SUV package (4×4, high ground clearance, robust chassis) at prices many can reach. Fourth, media, film and owner stories have made the Thar more than a car, it’s identity, rebel car, adventure car. It’s that vehicle people imagine driving through desert dunes, forest trails, or Chennai monsoon roads and living to tell about it.

The first generation Thar (launched around 2010) grew out of Mahindra’s legacy of producing rugged “jeep-like” vehicles (e.g. MM540). The old Thar had simpler features: basic interiors, fewer comfort features, analogue dials, basic doors or soft tops. The current 2020 Thar upgrades a lot: modern suspension (independent front double wishbone, multi-link rear with coil springs instead of older leaf/composite springs), better ride comfort, features like touchscreen infotainment, LED lighting, safety equipment, more variants (petrol/diesel, manual/auto), removable tops (hard top, soft top, convertible style). So the Thar evolved from rugged utilitarian off-roader to “rugged + somewhat civilized” adventure SUV.

MM540 was one of the ancestors of Thar. Mahindra produced the MM540 from around 1985 to 2005 (varied by model), which itself was an evolution of Mahindra’s Jeep licence lineage (CJ, etc.). MM540 was very basic, almost military/off-road focused: leaf springs, minimal creature comforts, rugged and simple. Thar inherits that DNA: it’s part nostalgia, part engineering. But modern Thar is far more than just MM540 with a stereo.

Yes, design conflict has been a thing. Jeep’s parent companies (Stellantis / FCA) have alleged that Mahindra’s Thar too closely resembles the Jeep Wrangler or Jeep’s design trademarks — things like the front grille, bumper style, small design cues. In some markets (Australia among them), Jeep has taken Mahindra to court arguing that Mahindra is infringing intellectual property rights. Mahindra has responded sometimes by saying no immediate plan to launch in those markets, or has removed teaser images, etc. So there is legal tension. Thar is iconic, but because certain design cues are globally recognized, copying or resembling too closely invites trouble.

Because of its look, its roar, and how it is often used. Thar has appeared in films, in crime-stories, in rural strongman legends, in city stories as “that SUV that can drive anywhere”. Some people believe owning a Thar projects power: seeing it drive up means attrition of smaller cars, road space, etc. In some regions, Thar owners have been associated with overconfidence, performing reckless driving. Media reports of accidents or misbehaviour sometimes focus on Thar drivers. So it has “notorious” status in popular culture — partly romantic, partly real, partly exaggerated.

Should buy if you value off-road capability, want a car that can take mud, water, and rough terrain, like adventure weekends, beach drives, or need to go to remote areas. If you want strong road presence and don’t mind compromises on comfort, fuel cost, space. Also good for enthusiasts, younger people who want a fun weekend ride more than a plush city drive. Avoid if your drive is mostly smooth city roads, frequent traffic jams, parking tight, you want high fuel efficiency, or comfort as priority over ruggedness. If your back complains easily, Thar’s ride can be firm.

Thar got 4 stars for adult and child occupant protection in the 2020 Global NCAP test, when tested in basic spec with two airbags. The updated Thar Roxx version has gone further, earning 5 stars in both adult and child safety in Bharat NCAP. This shows Mahindra has worked to improve safety with stronger structure and more safety tech.

Because Thar is tall, high clearance, and body-on-frame, it has a higher centre of gravity than many other SUVs. That increases risk in sharp turns or fast evasive manoeuvres. However, standard driving, responsible speeds, avoiding overloading, and features like ESC reduce that risk significantly. Official crash tests noted “unstable dynamic behaviour” in some scenarios, so driver caution is required. There is no large public record (in tests) of design being proven unsafe in normal conditions.