The Mahindra Thar 3-door has been caught testing several times with enough changes to confirm this is more than a colour update. A launch before the end of 2026 looks realistic based on how frequently the test mules have been spotted. The front end is getting a clear design pull from the Thar Roxx, the interior is expected to finally catch up with the rest of Mahindra's current lineup and Level 2 ADAS is likely coming in — something the 3-door has been missing entirely. Expect a price increase of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 across the range, with the facelifted Thar likely sitting between Rs 13 lakh and Rs 22 lakh on-road.
New Mahindra Thar: What We Know So Far
The front end will be the biggest visible change — a six-slat grille, updated circular LED headlamps and C-shaped DRLs that are
clearly borrowed from the Roxx. The sides will likely be largely the same as the current car and the rear may get refreshed LED taillamps. It's a deliberate design alignment with the bigger sibling rather than an independent direction, which makes sense given how well the Roxx has been received visually.
Inside is where the update matters more for daily usability. The facelift is expected to bring a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, digital instrument cluster, Electronic Parking Brake, ventilated front seats and a 6-way powered driver seat — all things the Roxx already has but the 3-door currently doesn't. Level 2 ADAS and a 360-degree camera are also expected to come in with the update. The current 3-door has a 4-star Global NCAP rating. With ADAS and additional safety hardware on board, there's a reasonable chance that score improves when tested again.
Engines, Competition and the Internal Rivalry
No powertrain changes are expected — the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol at 150 bhp and 320 Nm, the 2.2-litre diesel at 130 bhp and 300 Nm, and the smaller 1.5-litre diesel at 117 bhp and 300 Nm for RWD trims may all carry over. Manual and automatic gearbox options will also likely continue, as do both 4x4 and RWD configurations.
The external competition — Force Gurkha and Maruti Suzuki Jimny — remains the same. But the more interesting challenge is the Thar Roxx itself, which offers more cabin space, better highway stability and now a largely similar feature set. If the facelift pushes top-end 3-door pricing too close to the Roxx's entry point, Mahindra will need to be careful about how it draws the line between the two — because buyers who can stretch their budget will simply move up, and the 3-door's main advantage has always been its price gap over the Roxx.
