2020 Mahindra Thar Interior

Open and the door and you have to climb into the cabin. The doors shut in a much softer way and there’s nothing of the old thunk sound that the older Thar had. The interior of the new Thar feels thoroughly new age and nothing like that of its predecessor which felt totally relic and ancient. If you thought the earlier Thar cabin was just too basic, well even I did too, the new one will totally wow you. It has every creature comfort that you need to use the Thar as a practical daily driver. Quality of materials is way better than before. There is a new instrument cluster with a digital MID display,  the new steering wheel comes with controls for audio, phone, cruise control (yes, the Thar now has cruise control) and can be adjusted only for height, a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system that is ‘drizzle resistant’, power windows, two USB ports, central locking and electrically adjustable ORVMs. The centre console is well laid out and ergonomically, everything has fallen in place. There are none of the shortcomings of the 1st gen model. The buttons have a nice finish and the materials feel built to last, which is important in a vehicle like the Thar. The faux carbon fibre elements around the AC vents add a nice touch. There is a storage area to keep your phone and cupholders near the hand brake lever as well. Power windows are also located in the centre because well, you can remove the doors. The gearstick is nicely finished and the 4×4 lever sits right next to it and within hand’s reach. In the earlier Thar, you had to bend down to access the 4×4 lever. There is a grab handle on the dashboard at the passenger side, that can aid when getting inside. The glovebox is very tiny and just enough to store small titbits. There is a permanent roll bar on the B pillar where the the roof mounted rear speakers are located. It also gets a roll cage.

Mahindra says that the interior of the new Thar can be hose washed after an off-road session, an there are removable drain plug to let the water through. It comes with plastic floor covers too, but they get slippery when wet. Operating the pedals gets a bit risky then.

The front seats are also nice and have decent comfort. Bolstering is good and there is height adjust as well. They also feature adjustable lumbar support. For the first time, the Thar gets forward facing rear seats. These are standard in the LX trim and optional on AX. Accessing the rear after folding the front passenger seat isn’t an easy task. You literally have to squeeze through to get in. And the rear is good only for two passengers. There are three point seat belts and adjustable head rests for the rear seats too. There is a fair amount of legroom at the rear, though under thigh support could be better. Boot space is not something that can be boasted of in the new Thar. There is hardly any space, except for a couple of small stroller bags. The rear seats do drop down in a 50:50 split to free up space, but then a weekend trip with four on board and their luggage would be impossible to execute. Unless of course, you fit a carrier on the roof.

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