2026 Mahindra Thar OG Launched: What Has Changed From the Old Thar?
Mahindra has launched the updated three-door Thar OG in India, bringing significant mechanical and feature upgrades to the popular lifestyle SUV. While the overall three-door silhouette remains familiar, Mahindra has made major changes underneath the skin, including a new platform, revised suspension, electric power steering, more powerful engines and additional off-road technology.
The 2026 Mahindra Thar OG starts at ₹10.32 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹18.99 lakh. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on October 11, 2026. The introductory pricing is applicable to vehicles delivered until November 30, 2026.
New M_Glyde 4G Platform
One of the biggest changes is the platform.
The Thar OG moves to Mahindra’s M_Glyde 4G body-on-frame platform, which is also used by the Thar Roxx. According to Mahindra, the new architecture has greater structural stiffness than the outgoing Thar.
The increased stiffness is intended to improve the SUV’s stability and driving behaviour while retaining the rugged body-on-frame construction associated with the Thar.
Suspension Gets a Major Upgrade
The rear suspension has also been substantially revised.
The Thar OG gets a Pentalink rear suspension with a Watts Link, replacing the previous setup. The Watts Link helps control lateral movement of the rear axle, which can contribute to improved stability and control through corners.
The SUV also gets Mahindra’s DAVINCI damping technology across the range. The top-spec ZXT variant additionally gets Frequency Dependent Damping (FDD), which is designed to respond differently to slower body movements and sharper bumps.
Mahindra says the revised suspension is aimed at improving ride comfort without compromising the Thar’s off-road ability.
Hydraulic Steering Replaced by Electric Power Steering
Another major mechanical change is the steering system.
The outgoing Thar used hydraulic power steering, while the Thar OG gets electric power steering (EPS) across all variants.
The electric system is expected to reduce steering effort, particularly during low-speed manoeuvring and parking. Mahindra also says the new setup improves steering precision and the steering wheel’s return-to-centre behaviour.
More Powerful Petrol and Diesel Engines
Mahindra has also increased the output of two of the Thar’s three engine options.
The 2.2-litre mHawk diesel now produces 152hp and 330Nm, up from 134hp and 300Nm in the outgoing model.
The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol now produces 162hp and 330Nm, compared with 152hp and up to 300Nm previously.
The entry-level 1.5-litre diesel continues to produce 119hp and 300Nm. It is available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The larger petrol and diesel engines are offered with six-speed manual and six-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions, depending on the variant.
New Electronic Locking Differential
For off-road driving, the Thar OG gets an Electronic Locking Differential (ELD) on its four-wheel-drive variants.
The system can electronically lock the rear axle to help transfer power to the wheel with better traction when the vehicle encounters low-grip conditions.
The SUV also gets dedicated Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes, which are available on the 4WD versions of the LXT and ZXT variants.
Safety Equipment Has Also Been Updated
Safety is another area where the Thar OG receives significant additions.
The top-spec ZXT gets six airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, tyre-pressure monitoring and a rear-view camera. Front parking sensors are also available on the ZXT.
An updated ESP 9.3 system with functions including rollover mitigation, traction control, hill-hold control and vehicle dynamics control is standard from the AXT variant upwards.
However, the six-airbag setup and all-wheel disc brakes are not standard across every variant.
Exterior Design Gets a Refresh
The Thar OG retains the familiar boxy three-door design but receives several styling changes.
At the front, it gets a new grille with Thar branding, redesigned LED headlamps with C-shaped DRLs and LED fog lamps with cornering functionality.
The front and rear bumpers have also been revised, while the rear gets new LED tail-lamps. The top-spec ZXT receives new 19-inch alloy wheels.
The SUV also gets new colour options, including Artemis Silver and Jeans Blue.
Interior Gets More Features
Inside, the basic layout remains familiar, but Mahindra has added several convenience features.
The Thar OG gets Truffle Brown leatherette upholstery, second-row armrests with integrated cupholders and additional equipment aimed at improving everyday usability.
Depending on the variant, features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, colour MID, cruise control, electrically adjustable ORVMs, rear USB charging and a six-speaker audio system.
The top-spec ZXT additionally gets a wireless charger and rear-view camera.
Thar OG vs Old Thar: Key Changes
| Feature | Old Thar | 2026 Thar OG |
| Platform | Previous body-on-frame architecture | M_Glyde 4G |
| Rear suspension | Previous setup | Pentalink + Watts Link |
| Damping | Conventional setup | DAVINCI damping |
| Steering | Hydraulic power steering | Electric power steering |
| Rear differential | Electronic brake-locking system | Electronic locking differential on 4WD variants |
| Terrain modes | No dedicated named modes | Mud, Sand and Snow |
| 2.2L diesel | 134hp, 300Nm | 152hp, 330Nm |
| 2.0L turbo-petrol | 152hp, up to 300Nm | 162hp, 330Nm |
| Safety | Earlier equipment package | Up to six airbags, all-wheel discs and expanded ESP features |
| Starting price | ₹10.32 lakh* | ₹10.32 lakh* |
*Ex-showroom introductory pricing; applicable conditions vary.
Is the Thar OG Just a Facelift?
Despite retaining the familiar three-door shape, the changes go considerably beyond exterior styling.
The platform, suspension, steering, powertrain outputs, off-road electronics and safety equipment have all been updated. The result is a Thar that keeps the basic character and proportions of the existing model while receiving hardware and technology aimed at improving both everyday driving and off-road performance.
With prices starting at ₹10.32 lakh, Mahindra has also kept the introductory starting price at the same level as the outgoing model, although the variant structure and equipment have changed.