[Vasuki]

Originally Posted by GTO

In the last 12 months, the Thar has lost other features too, including adjustable lumbar support, a USB port etc.

On the contrary, Are they doing it deliberately for promoting the new 5-door Thar?

They might provide all these options in the 5-door version.

[pramods]

Is the mechanical diff lock the reason for worse fuel efficiency of petrol ? This is my thought, they realized the efficiency can be improved with removing this on petrol and still carry the 4x4 tag. The more powerful and heavier ScorpioN petrol gives 14 kmpl while my petrol Thar gives 8 kmpl.

-Pramod

[Auto70]

I bought my Thar LX Petrol MT last month which was manufactured in Sep 2022 (as per VIN). How can i check if it has been fitted with MLD? I have asked Mahindra sales but they are taking their own sweet time and there is no place here where I can actually lift the tire to see if it engages. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[VKumar]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Mahindra Thar 4x4 no longer comes with a mechanically locking rear differential as standard.

Dear Tushar

I would suggest you change the title to "Confirmed: Locking rear diff now optional on Thar"

Here is a screengrab from the official brochure confirming the same:

For an off road focused vehicle like Thar, this silent removal is indeed a cheap technique employed by Mahindra.

Originally Posted by GTO

But such cheap deletions also dilute it's image.

Mahindra very well knows that very few people even know what MLD is and most of the Thars are going to be used only on bad roads which the owners term as "off roading". So they cleverly removed a vital and expensive component which is away from the eyes of all and can only be noticed in that 1/10000 situations where a dire need of it is felt too!

[swunkjyn]

I am glad to say that the only thing I lost was the USB Port (Fast Charger). It was shocking to read that Mahindra removed a lot of features and yet, the price was increased. The same model, which costed me 15.5L OTR (Himachal registration) is now for 16.20L.

One similarity could be trying to cut the input costs or manufacturing cost.

XUV is not a 4WD but AWD in its top variant and that is limited to Diesel only.
Scorpio Classic was not launched with a 4WD.
ScorpioN does not have a Petrol 4WD but only Diesels do.

Maybe, Mahindra wants to give 2 variants in Petrol with Rear Lockers and without one. Something like build on order only.

[Auto70]

Originally Posted by Auto70

I bought my Thar LX Petrol MT last month which was manufactured in Sep 2022 (as per VIN). How can i check if it has been fitted with MLD? I have asked Mahindra sales but they are taking their own sweet time and there is no place here where I can actually lift the tire to see if it engages. Any suggestions would be helpful.

An update to my above comment. Dee Emm Mahindra from Gurgaon told me over a call that all petrol Thars with the new logo DO NOT have an MLD. Apparently they still have not checked against the VIN but were sure that above is the case. Can anyone else verify the same?

[Auto70]

Originally Posted by Auto70

I bought my Thar LX Petrol MT last month which was manufactured in Sep 2022 (as per VIN). How can i check if it has been fitted with MLD? I have asked Mahindra sales but they are taking their own sweet time and there is no place here where I can actually lift the tire to see if it engages. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Another update - as per a Tech Supervisor from Mahindra, over a call, I was told that those cars manufactured post 29 September 2022 (if I am not mistaken then VIN ending over 9122) DO NOT have MLD. Keep in mind that I spoke specifically wrt Petrol Thar. My car's date of manufacture is 21 Sept and hence, I am fortunate enough to have it included. Again, I think it is an unethical move from Mahindra towards unsuspecting customers!

[abhi9044]

Seems like Mahindra did learn something from Ford during their JV. TO SILENTLY DELETE FEATURES.

[84.monsoon]

MLD is a vital feature while offroading. I did an off road day with an off road club here. Whenever the surface is muddy or has loose soil, and one of the rear wheels is over it (with the other one on more solid ground) and starts spinning, the instructor asked me to give some more throttle As soon as rpms passed certain point, the wheel on solid ground engaged more strongly, and the vehicle pulled out. Without MLD, the vehicle would be stuck. As the Thar does not have mechanically switchable locking rear differential, th MLD is vital to try and get a similar effect.

[batish]

Btw what exactly does optional mean in Diesel version? Like does it need to be ticked while choosing variant? It can be mandatory for diesel like all diesel variants have it.

Mentioning optional seems like an accessory, something which can be added and AFAIK, this customisation isn't available in Mahindra yet.

[pavi]

I would like to take a different perspective here. I won't be commenting on whether the move is ethical or not. What I would like to wait and see is, how the market reacts to this change. Will it affect the sales of petrol variant, or people don't care about this and buy the Thar just for the 'other things' associated with it. I would strongly incline to the latter, and I would even say if such a move is made on diesel variant also, sales won't be affected a bit. All these things are just 'a matter' for creating new threads, and lot of bashing, nothing else.

[NTO]

Originally Posted by NTO

Food for thought….By the looks of it , even 4X4 could become optional. What if Mahindra plonks the 1.5 diesel from Xuv300 and release a Thar 4X2 variant claiming sub 4m tax benefits?

Looks like Mahindra took my idea
Thar 1.5 l diesel 4X2 spied

https://www.motorbeam.com/mahindra-t...-specs-leaked/

[sandeeprawat]

Originally Posted by AMG1

Echoing what I wrote in the Thar review thread, poor and cheap move by Mahindra if rumours are true. Simply diluting the Thar brand. Mechanical Diff is so important and has helped me in a number of tricky situations!

The rear Diff engages on many occasions and is quite sudden. It can take one by surprise if someone is new to Thar. But it’s such a lovely component that getting stuck in slush or deep depressions in ground is next to impossible for me generally. I actually have started enjoying and tricking the diff to work on slightly unpaved roads too! It’s quite fun when the rear suddenly is jolted to one side!

How much of a difference MLD really makes? Is BLD good enough?

Is it even worth inve(wa)sting so much money now on Thar 4x4 compared to RWD when even off-roading capability which was its only strongest suit is being reduced?

[AMG1]

Originally Posted by sandeeprawat

How much of a difference MLD really makes? Is BLD good enough?

Is it even worth inve(wa)sting so much money now on Thar 4x4 compared to RWD when even off-roading capability which was its only strongest suit is being reduced?

I am writing a thread and hope to make it live soon enough to answer your query and some more, all to showcase- Thar without MLD is like Cornflakes without milk.

Your query is now making me work double hard to finish the content!

Basically, to get out of really tricky situations (and once you have a Thar, we tend to unnecessarily find tricky situations on normal office routes too), MLD is what will push out and make one feel like an offroad hero. You can only go so far on 4X4 traction, maybe you can utilize momentum to some degree but when going gets really tough, then MLD engages and like an invisible hand of Superman, will push you by giving a solid shove! It's addictive, surreal, fun, and a relief. BLD is a big savior but it just can't match the torque levels MLD provides. Apologies, I got carried away

Thar still provides MLD in diesel versions as an option. You can check it in showrooms. Since, I have experienced MLD in real life and know the extra degree of freedom it imparts, I would wholeheartedly discourage people to buy version without it. However, Thar 4X4 without MLD still remains a highly capable offroader and you can easily add MLD in aftermarket. You live only once, and the things we love the most shouldn't be diluted in anyway. So, I suggest Thar should only and only be purchased in 4X4 guise (we will add that MLD later)

Please see these two videos attached from my recent weekend jaunt. You can see both MLD and BLD in action

https://youtu.be/9Y4k6GU9M70

https://youtu.be/SgOOyYpwt2o

[sandeeprawat]

Originally Posted by AMG1

I am writing a thread and hope to make it live soon enough to answer your query and some more, all to showcase- Thar without MLD is like Cornflakes without milk.

Nice videos. Every time one of the niggles/issues in these threads with Thar discourage me from taking final leap of faith, these videos always bring a smile. Such is the charm of unique Thar (or rather Jeep) design

Thanks for providing a really useful and more importantly practical opinionated answer.

Does adding aftermarket MLD void Mahindra warranty (or can we buy original Mahindra differential and get it installed in Mahindra dealership itself later and it helps with warranty)?
Also wondering if it could add to mechanical woes of car and increase maintenance headache since it is an additional mechanical add-on.