Mahindra Thar OG: Price, Variants and What Has Changed in 2026

Mahindra has launched the 2026 Thar three-door as the Thar OG, priced from ₹10.32 lakh to ₹18.99 lakh (ex-showroom, introductory). This is the second major update to the three-door Thar in just over a year. Unlike a typical mid-cycle refresh, it brings changes that go under the skin: a new platform, revised suspension, electric power steering, more powerful engines and a longer safety kit list, albeit spread unevenly across the range.

The badge itself has changed too. Mahindra now calls the three-door model the “Thar OG” to clearly separate it from the five-door Thar Roxx, which has been on sale since August 2024.

So the real question for anyone tracking this car isn’t just “what’s the new price”; it’s what Mahindra has actually changed under the sheet metal, what’s carried over from the outgoing Thar, and what all of this means for someone deciding between the AXT, LXT and ZXT trims, or between the Thar OG and the Thar Roxx.

Mahindra Thar OG Price in India

The Thar OG is offered in three trims: AXT, LXT and ZXT, across 15 engine, transmission and drivetrain combinations. These are introductory prices, applicable to vehicles delivered up to November 30, 2026, after which prices may be revised. Deliveries begin October 11, 2026.

On-road prices will be noticeably higher than these ex-showroom figures, since RTO registration, road tax, insurance, and other statutory charges vary by state and city.

What Is the Mahindra Thar OG?

The “OG” name refers to the original three-door Thar format, used here to distinguish it from the five-door Thar Roxx.

The Thar OG succeeds the three-door Thar that has been on sale since 2020 and received its previous facelift in 2025. The Thar OG retains the same ₹10.32 lakh starting price as the previous model, despite the mechanical and equipment changes. 

The Thar OG does not replace the Thar Roxx; both continue side by side as separate body styles within the same nameplate family. The three-door Thar OG remains the smaller, more affordable, more overtly off-road-oriented product, while the five-door Roxx targets buyers who want more cabin space and everyday usability.

What Has Changed in the 2026 Mahindra Thar?

Only differences confirmed across Mahindra’s launch communication and independent reporting are listed. The sections below explain what matters most.

New Platform, Suspension and Chassis Changes

The biggest underlying change is the move to Mahindra’s M_Glyde 4G platform, the same architecture that underpins the Thar Roxx. Mahindra says this platform offers greater structural stiffness than the previous Thar’s underpinnings.

At the rear, the Thar OG now uses a Pentalink suspension with a Watts Link across the range, instead of the simpler rigid-axle arrangement on the outgoing model. Mahindra says this controls lateral movement of the rear axle more effectively, the kind of change that typically helps a live-axle SUV feel more composed on uneven surfaces and through corners.

Frequency Dependent Damping, which Mahindra brands “DAVINCI dampers,” is reserved for the ZXT trim rather than offered across the range. These dampers respond differently depending on the frequency of bumps, softer for small, frequent inputs like broken tarmac, firmer for larger, occasional inputs like a pothole. Mahindra claims this improves ride comfort while maintaining control, though independent road-test verification is still pending at the time of writing.

Engine and Performance

The Thar OG continues with three engines, two of which are more powerful than before.

2.0-litre turbo-petrol (mStallion): 162PS and 330Nm, up roughly 10PS and up to 30Nm over the outgoing unit. Available with manual or automatic gearboxes; RWD is automatic-only, 4WD is offered with either.

2.2-litre diesel (mHawk): 152PS and 330Nm, up roughly 18PS and 30Nm. Like the petrol, available in RWD (automatic only) and 4WD (manual or automatic), the RWD-automatic combination is new for this generation.

1.5-litre diesel: Unchanged at roughly 117-119PS and 300Nm, paired exclusively with the 6-speed manual and RWD, and offered only on the AXT.

Mahindra has increased power and torque on the petrol and larger diesel; that part is confirmed. Whether this translates into a noticeably faster or more refined driving experience on the road is something that still needs independent road-test verification.

4WD and Off-Road Hardware

4WD availability is unchanged in principle; it remains restricted to the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel, on LXT and ZXT. The 1.5-litre diesel AXT stays RWD-only.

What’s new is the Electronic Locking Differential, offered on the 4WD versions of LXT and ZXT. The ELD works by locking the rear differential to limit wheelspin when one wheel loses traction, which can help in situations such as an off-camber trail or loose mud and sand.

Alongside this, dedicated Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes are offered on the 4WD LXT and ZXT, adjusting throttle response and traction-control calibration for each surface. Select RWD variants (the RWD petrol and RWD diesel-automatic) get a simpler “Terrain Assist” function instead. A brake-locking differential and automatic hub locks are also part of the off-road toolkit.

For someone who drives regularly on trails or loose surfaces, the ELD and terrain modes are the more meaningful additions here, though buyers should note they’re tied to specific 4WD variants rather than the whole range.

Features and Technology

Equipment is layered by variant rather than uniform across the range.

• AXT gets electric power steering, push-button start, a height-adjustable driver seat, rear AC vents, and 18-inch steel wheels.
• LXT adds a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, cruise control, electrically adjustable ORVMs, a rear wiper/washer, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
• ZXT adds a wireless charger, front and rear disc brakes, a rear-view camera, TPMS, front parking sensors, new 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps with DRLs, and LED fog lamps with a cornering function.

The touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity and cruise control, both available from LXT upward, are the additions that matter most for everyday usability. Manual air-conditioning continues rather than a fully automatic climate system.

Safety Features

Equipment varies sharply by variant rather than being standard across the board.

• AXT and LXT carry 2 front airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, and front disc/rear drum brakes.
• ZXT adds four HPTS (Head, Pelvis, Thorax, Shoulder) side-impact airbags, taking the total to 6 airbags, along with disc brakes at all four corners, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and a rear-view camera. Front parking sensors are standard only on the ZXT.
• ESP 9.3 (covering rollover mitigation, traction control, hill-hold control and vehicle dynamics control) is standard from the AXT upward, across the range.

In short: the six-airbag, all-disc-brake package that’s been widely reported as a headline change is a ZXT-specific upgrade, not a range-wide one. Buyers choosing AXT or LXT get the 2-airbag, front-disc/rear-drum setup that the previous Thar also offered.

On crash-test ratings: the previous-generation Thar scored 4 stars in Global NCAP testing. The Thar OG has not yet been independently crash-tested at the time of writing, so any expectation about its score would be speculation rather than a confirmed rating.

Exterior and Interior Changes

Exterior: All variants get a redesigned grille with ‘Thar’ branding, new LED tail-lamps, revised bumpers and an ‘OG’ badge on the tailgate, along with a wider track than before. LED headlamps with C-shaped DRLs and LED fog lamps with a cornering function, along with the new 19-inch alloy wheels, are specific to the ZXT; the AXT continues with halogen headlamps and 18-inch steel wheels. Two new colours, Artemis Silver and Jeans Blue, join the existing six-shade palette.

Interior: The dashboard layout, three-spoke steering wheel, circular AC vents and toggle-style switches carry over largely unchanged. The ZXT gets Truffle Brown leatherette upholstery and a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel; rear passengers across variants get added armrests with cupholders. Mahindra also claims additional NVH insulation for reduced cabin noise, which will need independent verification once the car is driven.

2026 Thar OG vs Previous Thar: What Has NOT Changed?

• The three-door body style and boxy silhouette
• The overall off-road-first design philosophy
• The same three engine options, with the 1.5-litre diesel’s output identical to before
• The 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission choices
• The general dashboard architecture
• Manual air-conditioning rather than an automatic climate system

This is a substantial technical and equipment update layered onto a familiar core Thar, not a ground-up redesign.

Thar OG vs Thar Roxx

The Thar OG is the three-door version. The Thar Roxx is the five-door version, launched in 2024 with a wheelbase roughly 300mm longer, at a starting price of ₹12.99 lakh for the base petrol manual variant (₹13.99 lakh for diesel), offering more rear-seat and boot space alongside the same basic Thar off-road character.

In practice, the three-door Thar OG suits buyers who prioritise a compact footprint and a more focused off-road setup, with a lower entry price. The five-door Thar Roxx suits buyers who need rear-seat practicality for a family or regular passengers, while still wanting the Thar’s SUV character. Neither is objectively better; they serve different use cases within the same brand.

What Do You Get for the Thar OG Price?

At ₹10.32 lakh, the entry-level AXT gets the 1.5-litre diesel engine, 6-speed manual gearbox and RWD, along with electric power steering, ESP with rollover mitigation, and the same 2-airbag, front-disc/rear-drum safety setup as the previous Thar’s base variant.

Moving to LXT (from ₹12.99 lakh) opens up the full engine and drivetrain range, including 4WD, along with the touchscreen, cruise control, and off-road electronics like the ELD and terrain modes on 4WD versions.

The ZXT (from ₹13.99 lakh, up to ₹18.99 lakh for the 4WD diesel automatic) is where the meaningful safety and comfort upgrades land: 6 airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, front parking sensors, FDD dampers, and the Truffle Brown leatherette interior.

Which Thar OG Variant Makes Sense for Different Buyers?

For buyers who want the lowest entry price: The AXT, 1.5-litre diesel, manual, RWD, at ₹10.32 lakh,  with a limited engine, feature, and safety-kit set by design.

For buyers who want an automatic: The 6-speed automatic is available with the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel, on LXT and ZXT, in RWD or 4WD depending on the engine.

For buyers who want 4WD: 4WD is restricted to the petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines, on LXT and ZXT only.

For buyers who want more technology and safety equipment: The ZXT carries the fullest equipment list, 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, front parking sensors, FDD dampers and the newest interior trim.

For buyers who will mostly drive in the city: The 2.2-litre diesel RWD-automatic combination (LXT or ZXT) gives access to the larger engine and an automatic gearbox without opting for 4WD hardware.

Final Verdict

The 2026 Mahindra Thar OG carries forward the familiar three-door Thar formula while reworking its underpinnings, a new platform, revised rear suspension, electric power steering, and stronger petrol and larger diesel engines. 

The AXT and LXT retain the lower safety specification, while the six-airbag and four-wheel-disc package is concentrated on the ZXT. Buyers should factor this variant-wise split into their decision rather than assuming the headline safety and equipment gains apply at every price point.

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Komal Thakur

AUTHOR & EDITOR

Hi, I’m Komal Thakur, an automobile content writer at Cars Bikes Hub with 1 year of experience in creating informative and reader-friendly blogs and articles about cars, bikes, electric vehicles, automotive news, vehicle comparisons, and the latest industry trends.