Thar OG 2026 Review: Who Should Buy it?

By Eram Warsi • Published on 23 Sept 2026

The 2026 Mahindra Thar OG may look like another facelift, but there is much more happening underneath that familiar boxy body. Compared with the previ...

The 2026 Mahindra Thar OG may look like another facelift, but there is much more happening underneath that familiar boxy body. Compared with the previous generation three-door Thar, the new Thar OG gets a new M_Glyde 4G platform, revised rear suspension with Watts Link, DAVINCI damping, electric power steering, wider track, more powerful 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines, terrain modes and an electronic locking differential. It also gets a fresher cabin, LED lighting, larger 19-inch wheels and better safety equipment, including six airbags and all-wheel disc brakes on the ZXT.

However, even the top-spec ZXT does not get a 360-degree camera, and several modern convenience features that buyers now expect in an SUV are still missing. You get a rear-view camera and front parking sensors, but no surround-view system.

What Has Changed in the Thar OG?

The biggest change is not the grille or those flashy 19-inch alloys. It is the mechanical package.

Mahindra has moved the Thar OG to its M_Glyde 4G architecture and added a new rear PENTALINK suspension with Watts Link. DAVINCI damping with Frequency Dependent Damping is also claimed to improve ride comfort.

The other major change is the addition of electric power steering.

This matters because the old Thar's hydraulic steering could feel heavy, particularly when parking or making tight turns. The new electric setup should make daily city driving easier.

The Thar OG also gets a wider track and improved NVH insulation, so Mahindra has clearly tried to make the three-door Thar less tiring to live with every day.

The Engines Are More Powerful

Mahindra has retained the three-engine strategy, but the larger engines now produce more power and torque.

Engine	Power	Torque	Drivetrain
1.5L Diesel	119 PS	300 Nm	RWD
2.0L Turbo Petrol	162 PS	330 Nm	RWD/4WD
2.2L Diesel	152 PS	330 Nm	RWD/4WD

The biggest change here is that the 2.2-litre diesel is now available with RWD as well, giving buyers another option between the smaller diesel and the full 4WD setup.

For serious off-road use, the 2.2-litre diesel with 4WD remains the more relevant combination. For someone who mostly drives in the city and wants the Thar experience, the petrol makes more sense on paper.

The Thar Finally Gets Better Equipment

The outgoing Thar had a cabin that sometimes felt like Mahindra had asked the question, "How little can we get away with?"

The Thar OG fixes some of that.

The LXT gets a 26.03 cm touchscreen, colour MID, electrically adjustable ORVMs, cruise control, rear wiper and washer, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The ZXT adds wireless charging, leatherette upholstery, LED lighting and 19-inch alloy wheels.

There is also a second-row armrest with cupholders, which is the sort of small addition that matters more when you actually live with the car.

Safety Has Improved, Too

This is another important upgrade.

The top ZXT gets:

Six airbags
Four HPTS airbags
Front parking sensors
Rear-view camera
TPMS
All-wheel disc brakes
ESP 9.3
Rollover mitigation

However, there is a strange gap here.

There is still no 360-degree camera.

That is particularly noticeable because the Thar has a tall bonnet, upright body and chunky exterior dimensions. A surround-view camera would have made parking and tight trails much easier.

Mahindra has added front parking sensors and a rear camera, but buyers stepping into the top variant still do not get the complete camera system that has become common in many similarly priced SUVs.

So, Who Should Buy the Thar OG?

The Thar OG makes the most sense for someone who actually wants a three-door lifestyle SUV.

You should consider it if:

You want the classic Thar design in its newest form.
You regularly go on trails, beaches, mountains or rough roads.
You want a compact 4WD SUV rather than a large family SUV.
You enjoy driving and want the 2.0 petrol or 2.2 diesel.
You want something more capable off-road than the average urban SUV.
You do not need maximum rear-seat practicality.

The new electronic locking differential and terrain modes make the Thar OG more serious off-road hardware than its lifestyle image sometimes suggests.

Who Should Not Buy It?

If your Thar will spend 95% of its life between home, office, mall and school, think carefully.

The three-door layout still compromises practicality. Rear access is not as convenient as a five-door SUV, and the cabin space is not the main reason to buy this car.

There are also feature gaps.

No 360-degree camera, no large modern ADAS package and no attempt to turn the Thar into a technology-heavy urban SUV.

That is intentional to some extent. Mahindra has improved the Thar without turning it into something completely different.

Thar OG vs Thar Roxx

This is probably the biggest question for buyers.

The Thar OG is the enthusiast's Thar.

The Thar Roxx is the family Thar.

If you have four or five family members, frequently carry luggage and use the SUV as your primary vehicle, the five-door format of the Roxx is naturally more practical.