[brraj]

We could get test drives of Thar 2020 on road but couldn't test it in offroad track.
I was excited when i was offered to test drive Thar 2020 in bangalore's offroad track Dirty Drivez.
Thanks to Dirty Drivez and Mahindra PPS Motors bangalore who have made this happen.
We got to drive Thar diesel manual base AX variant which did not include roll cage, brake lock differential, cruise control and lot more..



My Observation after test driving Thar 2020
- The capability and comfort are leaps and bounds ahead of previous gen Thar.
- Good to know that they are providing Ceat CZAR All-Terrain Tyres in stock form.
- Looks like fitting 35" tyres are bolt on, lets wait and watch.
- There is one flaw which we found - the radiator is placed way lower than the previous gen Thar. This should be rectified with bigger tyres I guess.
- Even though ABS and EBD come as standard for all variants it locked the wheels while braking in a slope.
- Coil spring setup is a bonus for offroaders.
- Surprisingly water did not seep in while water wading, Unlike previous gen Thars.
- Mahindra should have also released the 5 door version of the Thar, they could have seen bookings greater than 9000.
- Thar is a serious competitor not just for Force Gurkha but Wrangler as well. People who want to buy the Wrangler will definitely give the Thar a second thought.
- Gears are so easy to shift, be it low range or higher one.
- Thar could clear all the obstacles of dirty drivez track in stock form itself.
- There is a lot of mod potential is what I hear from a veteran.

If i was in market to buy 4x4 it has to be Thar Diesel automatic LX variant (top end model)

People who like driving Thar 2020 in offroad track can contact Dirty Drivez or PPS motors Bangalore.

Price list Bangalore.


Now let the pictures and videos do the talking

[brraj]

Gaurav Gill testing Thar 2020

[brraj]

Video Time..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg-nTjLH7qg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC3fMpNJGXk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnjzPCFCMZI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAxDQt8HS6Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd52TaOlbfk

The END.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[amol4184]

Finally an AX drive!
This version (AX) looks ripe for custom jobs and mods. I love how it looks "raw" compared to LX. Just waiting for right accessories and tires to be put on. Excellent stuff!

[Vinod_nair]

Thanks @brraj for a dedicated thread for the base AX variant.

To complete the look, a winch in front with huge fog lights and sidestep covered with jute rope.

[Comrade]

Another BHPian also posted AX experience on the Thar First Drive thread.

Originally Posted by Sanjivvohra

Was at Dirty Drivz off road track near Bangalore, and realized Mahindra had a Thar LX for off road drive!
A great opportunity to TD Thar in an environment for which it was built. Thar did not disappoint on any of the obstacles. Drive was on 4x4 low.

Videos of the drive
https://Youtu.be/xCxZOsFe5WY

https://Youtu.be/gEkkOTGqSEU

Apologies in advance for video quality.

[Abbas]

The Obstacle are too tight. In a promotional display offroad track, spotting should not be needed. Was this a permanent offroad track or was it specially dug up for this event?

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by brraj

We could get test drives of Thar 2020 on road but couldn't test it in offroad track.
I was excited when i was offered to test drive Thar 2020 in bangalore's offroad track Dirty Drivez.

Lovely. Thanks for sharing. If Mahindra actively arranged for this event with the new Thar by investing some funds for the event - its excellent. Good to see the marketing team leveraging easily accessible facilities for showcasing the car & providing an opportunity to experience something beyond the usual mundane highway test drive offered by a dealership. Credit to M&M sales/marketing teams.

Originally Posted by Abbas

The Obstacle are too tight. In a promotional display offroad track, spotting should not be needed. Was this a permanent offroad track or was it specially dug up for this event?

The Dirty Drivez is a commercial facility in BLR that offers anyone to drive their 4x4 Jeeps in the obstacle courses for a payment. Its quite an enjoyable experience from what is shared by fellow BHPians on the forum post a visit.

[ron82x3]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Finally an AX drive!
This version (AX) looks ripe for custom jobs and mods. I love how it looks "raw" compared to LX. Just waiting for right accessories and tires to be put on. Excellent stuff!

Yes! I agree.
Though I am a top model car person. Even my last 2 cars are examples of me choosing top models almost blindly.
But if I were to buy a Thar it might as well be the AX Diesel manual convertible top!
Reason=Complete detox and the connection with the car.

Only gripe would be, the top model LX convertible isn't priced that far. Here again my top model personality kicks in

I like those macho steel wheels more. They are just a paintjob away from looking butch and perfect!

I'm still drooling over the new Thar

[Ragul]

In another conversation somebody said upsizing tyres would mess with ABS/EBD measurements calculations and proper functioning. How true is this? If someone buys the LX variant and downsizes the rims to 15" and upsizes the Tyres to return it to stock height would it matter?

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by ron82x3

Only gripe would be, the top model LX convertible isn't priced that far. Here again my top model personality kicks in

I like those macho steel wheels more. They are just a paintjob away from looking butch and perfect!

I'm still drooling over the new Thar

I got the price sheet in my town on Monday. One look and it's clear that Mahindra has priced the models cleverly (or rather, cunningly).
You go for AX-O petrol and then diesel is just 20k extra. You go for ST and then HT is just 10k extra. You go for MT and AT isn't too far
A lot of people are going to get shouted at by their SO once they see their partner who went out with 12l budget came home with 14l booking.

The biggest surprise for me though has to be almost minuscule difference between petrol and diesel. Have all other manufacturers been cheating us by charging 1l to 2l extra for diesel engines all these years? Or Mahindra is just taking a hit on diesels here. I hope these are not "introductory" prices.

I'm digging the steelies too. In fact I liked that Mahindra painted them white. Of course once novelty wears off, painting them is easy. Black would look great with bigger profile tyres.

[Miel]

IMHO, the 2020 Thar AX base model is great value for money. Compared to the outgoing Thar CRDe 4x4, you get a modern looking more powerful car with vastly superior design and engineering for slightly cheaper. Other plus points for the Thar AX base model include:

• By Bangalore prices, the base petrol AX is 1.45 Lakhs cheaper than the next higher variant, while the base diesel AX is 1.55 Lakhs cheaper than the next higher variant. The top end LX diesel is about 4 Lakhs more than both.
  
• Immense customization and mod potential for those wanting it for serious and frequent off-road use. The "Built! Not Bought" and the "No two Jeeps/Thars are the same" crowd might gravitate towards this variant. Tyre upgrades to high profile 18-inch preferred brand of offroad tyres, aftermarket hardtops, aftermarket alloy wheels of one's choice, electrical upgrades without worrying about messing with the complex circuity as in the LX variant - the list is endless.
• If aftermarket hardtops with removable panels materialize soon, the owners of this variant will be the happiest lot as there would be no factory-fitted HT or convertible top to ditch.
  
• The 6-seat layout allows it to be used as a 2 seater with superb cargo space, or as a people-mover for short distances as the occasion demands. The jump seats nicely fold out of the way in legendary Mahindra style. On a higher 4-seat variant you will feel bad ditching 2 seats for use as a 2-seater, or feel bad for the people sitting uncomfortably in the rear 2 seats, or feel bad about the rear 2 seats limiting the cargo space even when folded down.
  
  
• By not buying a top-end variant for 17 Lakhs, easier to fend off complaints from people asking you why it can't seat as many as Seltos/Creta or even a Bolero/Scorpio.
• Satisfy the itch for a butch "jeep" while saving a few lakhs for a primary car.

Here is a cool comparison that I found on the web. The data seems fairly accurate.

[Comrade]

For me, AX diesel is really VFM out of all variants. It has huge mod potential without wasting factory fitments, and I am hopeful there will be either oem or third party convertible top available soon for retrofitting. For me atleast, only following models make sense from pricing.

AX std petrol at 9.8L (misses out MLD)

AX diesel at 10.85L

LX diesel HT/CT at 12.9L

Auto diesel HT/CT at 13.7L

Rest all variants are carrots for upgrading to next or top most variant. The least sensible variant in the lineup is AX (o) which is just 50k cheaper than LX.

Wish there was AX diesel automatic at 11.65L. Would have been nice AT variant for those who feel like saving couple of lakhs at dealer, and spending that amount on personalizing.

[vigneshkumar31]

Very glad to see this initiative, to let people experience some real off roading capabilities on a track not meant only for promotions.
This initiative would make offloading accessible for the average Thar buyer not used to the offroad scene before.