I have driven Maruti Wagon-R for a long time. And then upgraded to Mahindra XUV. Almost after driving it passionately for over 100,000 km, I bought Mahindra Thar. This is in fact the first time that I am so inspired to write a review about my rides.
I booked the Thar LX CT edition on October 16, 2020. After a long wait, I took the delivery on 27 Feb 2021 from VVC Motors, Kothaguda, Hyderabad. My Sales Rep (Vijay) has been updating me from time to time about the delays and expected date of delivery. I have negotiated well with the dealer and got a good price! I am happy that Vijay did not push me hard on accessories and allowed room for negotiation on the insurance, etc. Overall, I had a pleasant experience.
My family was super happy. Especially they were excited about the convertible option and enjoyed the open-jeep experience. It was a bit difficult for my mom to get-in/get-out, especially the second row. She was very comfortable in the front row.
Accessories (done at Xenex, Madhapur & the dealer - VVC Motors):
* Steering wheel Cover
* Skid plate - Bimbra
* Dead pedal - Bimbra
* Leg padding - Bimbra (both for driver and passenger)
* Front (one) and back (two) armrests - Bimbra
* Seat Covers
* 7D Floor Mats
* Front and back mud flaps @ VVC
* SS Door Sill Protector @ VVC
* Rearview camera @ VVC
* Rain-visors @ VVC
The real fun came when I took it to Chikmagalur coffee plantations over the weekend. I was a little concerned about various niggles mentioned on various threads here. The SA recommended going on a long trip, preferably after the first service, which is 1000km. I couldn’t wait till then to take it for a spin - this new toy was too much fun to wait for that long. So, I dared to take it for the 1600 km round-trip adventure.
Started on Friday at 4.30 am from Hyderabad along with my colleague. Reached our homestay near Chikmagalur around 5.30 pm. The total drive time was roughly 11 hrs since we did not want to cross 100 KMPH. Google Maps routed us through some random roads, away from the high-ways, at times. For the first time, I was happy about it. These roads tested Thar’s suspension and ride quality. I was impressed with the way it handled the rough roads.
We had too much fun at the resort. We were a group of 9 colleagues and they were all very excited to see my new ride. Although it may not appear like the brightest idea now, my decision to take all my colleagues at once, on a fun-ride into the forest rough roads, was one of the best experiences for all of us. All my colleagues stood up in three rows (on the second-row seat, on the second-row floor, and the first row). Of course, it wasn’t the most comfortable accommodation since everyone was crammed into the little space available, but the ride quality was excellent and it was extremely easy for me to drive. We all had a wonderful time.
The next morning we went for long-drives into the forest, of course, only 4 people this time in the Thar. Looking at my friends’ excitement, I just couldn’t stop myself from giving up my driving pleasure and offering them the driver’s seat. Oh, boy! What a joy to see their face while they were driving!! They thoroughly enjoyed and were greatly surprised at how easy it was to manoeuvre the ride. In fact, one of them told me that she was thinking of booking a Thar and this trip has definitely made her seriously think about it.
The next day, we started back to Hyderabad at 9.30 am and reached home at 1 am. We stopped by at the backwaters of the Bhadravati river in the forest and took the 4x4 for a spin there. I tried the 4H and 4L modes on the muddy banks of the river. That was the first time ever I tried going ‘real’ off-road. The vehicle got stuck because I was turning the wheels and my friend suggested keeping them straight. And I could get it out in no time. Although I wanted to try it in the river, my friend strongly suggested against it since we did not know the terrain and there was no one around to help. Looking back, I think I did the right thing by listening to him.
We took longer routes (Chitradurga-Bellary-Kurnool) instead of a straightforward one (Shimoga-Anantapur). The roads we took were BAD! We couldn’t cover over 30-40 kmph for several hours. But I was happy because those roads put Thar to the full test. Again, I was very impressed with the way Thar handled these roads. Very smooth.
What I liked the most:
* The steering was light and easy
* Controls felt natural to me (perhaps since I was coming from XUV)
* Ride quality was superb, not only in the forest but also on the highway (I felt it was better than my XUV at times)
* Automatic drive mode is excellent
* The water pressure to clean the windshield is very good (double/triple the pressure I have seen in XUV)
* Road visibility was good
* Brakes are excellent. There were several speed-breakers that turned up on the village roads and I could bring to complete zero in a very short distance
* No niggles experienced during the entire trip
* Overall driving experience was better, smoother, and easier than my XUV
* Head turner - especially in the remote areas when you are going in open-top
* Good road presence and grip at top speeds
* Acres of space in the first row - especially the passenger seat.
* I loved the audio system and the speakers' placement on the top. Good bass, when you set it up right in the settings.
* Powerful AC. Even on a scorching afternoon, we could manage with the AC control in the first level.
* Dashboard is simple and elegant. The ODO has many screens and options
* I could fit 9 adults, all standing in the open-top mode!! The ride was brief in the forest area, including light off-roading, but full of excitement and fun!!
What could have been better:
* The soft top makes a rain-on-the-shed kind of noise when you cross 80 KMPH on a highway. I did not feel it’s a big issue because after the first hour or so, my mind canceled that noise. Moreover, if I played music at high volume, this noise couldn’t be heard.
* Luggage space: We could fit two cabin suitcases, my camera bag, and a few other bags in the boot, which was good to start with for two passengers. But if there are more, people should pack tight.
* No grab handle. Makes it a little difficult for the passengers to get-in.
* Under thigh support for the driver could be better
What’s not good:
* Fitting of the top cover. The zips were not of great quality. The back stitching was torn in just a few uses. It takes practice to both remove and fix the convertible top. Could be engineered better.
* OVRMs have to be manually closed. That’s not ideal - it should be automatic.
* No fuel lid opener from inside
* Android Auto has many problems and patchy. For example, I was streaming music and answered a call. After I end the call, the control goes back to the radio instead of android auto and streaming music. The connection was also not smooth. Definitely needs improvement.
* Glove box is extremely small! No storage space at all.
* The skid plate is not iron/aluminum - I changed it to Bimbra
* No dead pedal. Very bad for the long drive, especially the limited legroom available for the driver - I got one from Bimbra which is very comfortable.
* Radio quality. Even in the city, the radio reception is poor perhaps due to the antenna
* No climate control.
* The headlights are not powerful enough for the high-way drive.
In summary, the first 10 days of experience of the Thar have been excellent for me! The ride quality was surprisingly smooth in the city, on the highway as well as on the rough-terrain-like forest roads. After serving me loyally for over 8 years and giving me the great pleasure of driving for over 100k km, I think my XUV is going to get a well-deserved break with Thar taking over as the primary ride for me. Of course, XUV is my preferred choice to ferry more people or any ride with my mom.
Based on the reviews here, I thought it wouldn’t be wise to take the Thar on 1000+ km long trips since the ride wouldn’t be comfortable. This trip proved that my assumption was wrong. As I said, I liked the ride quality so much that sometimes I felt it was better than XUV. So, I am going to plan trips to the deserts of Rajasthan, snow peaks of the Himalayas and perhaps North-East too!!
The first service experience has been fantastic. I gave the car at 10 am in the morning. They are done with the full service promptly by 2 pm. The quality of the service was good and Charan (VVC Motors, HITEC City) took a personal interest in ensuring timely service.
I am exploring 4x4 off-roading tracks near Hyderabad. Any suggestions would be of great help to me. Also, I am looking to learn the off-roading techniques. Any groups in Hyderabad that I can join, and/or any events that are happening in/around Hyderabad would be great fun. Looking forward for your recommendations.
I am on cloud nine, for now, planning many trips for the year. The trip to Goa is just around the corner! Just can’t wait!!