Maruti Suzuki Jimny Vs Mahindra Thar – Quick Comparison

Maruti Suzuki has finally launched the long-awaited Jimny SUV in India, giving one more option to lifestyle SUV buyers and off-road enthusiasts in the country. As such, here is a quick comparison between the Mahindra Thar SUV and the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV.

Design

Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the Mahindra Thar are attractive-looking SUVs. However, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny comes with a more conventional 5-door layout, whereas the Mahindra Thar sports a 3-door layout.

Price

Prices for the Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV starts from Rs 12.74 lakh (ex-showroom) for the ‘Zeta’ trim with manual transmission and goes all the way up to Rs 15.05 lakh (ex-showroom) for the ‘Alpha’ trim dual-tone colour options and automatic gearbox.

Though prices for the Mahindra Thar SUV start from Rs 10.54 lakh (ex-showroom), prices for the 4X4 variants start from Rs 13.87 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base petrol variant. Also, the top-spec model with the diesel powertrain, automatic gearbox, and MLD costs Rs 16.78 lakh (ex-showroom).

Practicality

Thanks to the 5-door layout, the newly launched Maruti Suzuki scores very high on practicality. This layout makes getting in and out of the 2nd-row lot more easier and convenient compared to the 3-door layout of the Mahindra Thar SUV.

Space

The Mahindra Thar SUV can only seat four adults at best. Moreover, the rear seats are not very suitable for long drives. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny can seat 5 adults even though it is a bit of a squeeze.

Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki claims that the Jimny SUV has a maximum boot space of 219 litres with the second-row seats up. On the other hand, Mahindra is yet to reveal this figure.

Off-Road

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny has a ground clearance of 210mm, whereas the approach, departure, and breakover angles stand at 36, 47, and 24 degrees, respectively. In comparison, the Mahindra Thar’s ground clearance stands at 226mm, whereas the approach, departure, and breakover angles stand at 41.2, 36, and 26.2 degrees, respectively.

Dimensions

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV measures 3,985mm long, 1,645mm wide, 1,720mm tall, and sports a wheelbase of 2,590mm. On the other hand, the Mahindra Thar SUV measures 3,985mm long, 1,820mm wide, 1,855mm tall and the wheelbase stands at 2,450mm.

Powertrain

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 103bhp and 134.2Nm of peak torque. Gearbox options include a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed torque converter unit.

The Mahindra Thar SUV is offered with three engine options. The least powerful of the lot is the 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine that pushes out 117bhp and 300Nm of torque. However, this powertrain does not sport four-wheel drive and comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The Mahindra Thar 4X4 variant packs in a more powerful 2.2-litre, turbocharged diesel engine that produces 130bhp and 300Nm of torque. This engine can also be specified with a 6-speed automatic transmission as well.

Other than these engine options, there is also a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine with 150bhp and 300Nm of peak torque. However, the torque output is increased to 320Nm when this engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Thoughts About Maruti Suzuki Jimny & Mahindra Thar SUVs

Both the Mahindra Thar SUV and Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV use a robust ladder frame chassis and a proper four-wheel-drive system. However, both these SUVs could not be any more different at executing a similar task.

While the Thar comes out as a large and heavy SUV that relies on brute torque, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny on the other hand is a very light and practical SUV with more space for its passengers.