Mahindra Thar safer than Jeep Wrangler

Global NCAP has awarded the new Mahindra Thar a four-star safety rating, eclipsing the three-star ANCAP rating achieved by its most direct rival, the Jeep Wrangler.

Revealed for the first time in August, the all-new Mahindra Thar has been confirmed for Australian release next year and a pre-production version is currently undergoing local design certification.

“It’s definitely coming to Australia in 2021,” a Mahindra spokesperson told carsales today.

“The milestones for any new vehicle launch in Australia are homologation approval by DOTARs and then production for this market at the factory.

“We are working through both of these and will announce launch details as they reach completion.”

Australia is on track to become the first export market for the Indian-built Mahindra Thar, which will be much higher-tech but just as capable as the outgoing model that was never sold here because it didn’t meet local safety requirements.

All that changes with the new model, which is about the same size as the Jeep Wrangler and also looks a lot like it with a seven-slot grille flanked by a pair of round indented headlights, but will be closer in price to the Suzuki Jimny (currently priced from $25,990).

Mahindra has always said its Roxor and Thar designs deliberately and legitimately mimicked the original Willys Jeep, which it produced in India in the 1940s under a licence that continues today – despite the fact Fiat Chrysler Automobiles now owns the Jeep brand.

Global NCAP described as “encouraging” the four-star rating it awarded the new Mahindra Thar for both adult and child occupant protection, despite the fact it comes standard with only two front airbags.

“Mahindra’s commitment to safer cars is once again displayed for consumers and shows that it is possible to offer good safety performance in the Indian market,” said Global NCAP secretary general Alejandro Furas.

“It is encouraging to see manufacturers that also offer high levels of protection for children travelling in their vehicles. The Thar demonstrates the capacity of Mahindra to improve its fleet safety.”

Global NCAP said the Mahindra Thar “comfortably passed regulatory requirements” after a UN95 side impact test, which is mandatory for a five-star safety rating and can be requested by any car-maker.

However, Global NCAP said the UN95 assessment was “not considered in the scoring as the Thar did not reach the required points in the frontal impact to achieve a five-star result”.

Global NCAP also criticised the lack of electronic stability control (ESC), which has been mandated in Australia since 2011, in India’s entry-level variant.

“ESC is not fitted as standard on the Thar and although the model met minimum regulatory requirements, the car showed an unstable dynamic behaviour. Global NCAP recommends a review and improvement,” the authority said.

“Driver and passenger’s head and neck showed good protection. Driver’s chest offered adequate protection and passenger chest showed good protection. The structure was rated as stable but the footwell area was rated as unstable, not being capable of withstanding further loadings.

“Both adult knee areas were optimised to reduce significant injuries. Both child occupants received almost full protection during the test.”

The Mahindra Thar is not offered with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which is required for a five-star ANCAP rating in Australia, where the latest Jeep Wrangler was originally awarded a one-star safety rating because it lacked AEB and blind spot monitoring.

However, the Thar that comes to Australia should come with ESC with rollover mitigation, electronic brake force distribution, ABS brakes, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist and hill descent control.

Australian specs are yet to be confirmed but a host of new mod-cons are also likely, including a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights, rear parking sensors, roof-mounted speakers and cruise control.

Unlike the Jeep Wrangler, the Mahindra Thar is strictly a two-door, but is available in India with three roof options (hard-top, convertible and fixed soft-top) and two rear seating configurations – traditional forward-facing and twin side-facing seats.

It also features two-tone bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels with 255/65 all-terrain tyres and the choice of six bright paint colours: Red Rage, Mystic Copper, Napoli Black, Aquamarine, Galaxy Grey and Rocky Beige.

Like the Wrangler and Jimny, the new Mahindra Thar is based on a rugged ladder chassis with independent front and multilink rear suspension.

Ground clearance (226mm), wading depth (650mm), approach angle (41.8 degrees), departure angle (36.8 degrees) and ramp-over angle (27.0 degrees) are all claimed to be class-leading.

Both of its turbocharged four-cylinder engines, including a 110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre petrol unit and a 95kW/320Nm 2.2-litre diesel, are matched to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, part-time four-wheel drive system, two-speed transfer case and rear differential lock.

Mahindra Australia is also expected to release the first automatic version of its Pik-Up in 2021, followed in 2022 by all-new XUV and Scorpio SUV models.