Maruti Suzuki Jimny Vs Mahindra Thar: The Battle Of Legacy

Maruti Suzuki Jimny has been revealed at the Auto Expo. It is all set to launch by mid-May 2023. While it is already at the showrooms for display and booking, the prices are yet to be revealed. Once launched, it will be locking horns with the mighty Mahindra Thar. So, does the Gypsy legacy flag bearer has what it takes to dethrone the top-selling offroader in India? Let's find out.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny vs Mahindra Thar: Performance comparison

The Jimny is going to offer Suzuki's K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 104.8ps of power at 6,000 RPM and a maximum torque of 134.2NM @ 4,000rpm. There is no diesel engine on offer currently. On the other hand, Mahindra Thar is offering 3 engine options: mHawk 130 CRDe diesel, D117 CRDe diesel and the Stallion 150 TGDi Petrol. The performance figures for these engines are as follows:

• mHawk 130 CRDe Diesel: 131ps @3,750 RPM | 300 NM @1,600-2,800 RPM

• D117 CRDe Diesel: 118.5ps @ 3,500 RPM | 300 NM @ 1,750-2,500 RPM

• Stallion 150 TGDi Petrol: 150ps @ 5,000 RPM | 300 NM @ 1,250-3,000 RPM (Manual) | 320 NM @ 1,500-3,000 RPM

Thar performs better, But.....

It is clear from the above that Mahindra Thar offers better performance statistics. But, do note that Mahindra Thar has a kerb weight of around 1,750 kgs while the Maruti Suzuki Jimny weighs 1,200 kgs only. There still is a large gap between the power and torque figures that might put Jimny a few miles behind in this comparison.

However, Mahindra Thar gives a mileage of 10 to 15.2 kmpl against Maruti Suzuki Jimmy which gives 18 to 20 kmpl. The K15B engine that you get with Jimny is currently offered with XL6 and Ertiga.

Both offroaders are offered a 4WD powertrain. As for the transmission the Mahindra Thar gets a 6-speed manual as a standard and an optional 6-speed torque converter. Maruti Suzuki Jimny gets 5-speed manual transmission as standard and a 4-speed AT as an option. It surely seems that Thar takes the lead in the transmission arena as well.

Comparison of Jimny and Thar features:

Both the offroaders get a touchscreen infotainment system. Jimny gets a 9-inch SmartPlay infotainment and the Thar gets a 7-inch touchscreen. Both have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Other features include cruise control, steering-mounted controls, semi-digital instrument cluster, rear parking sensors and electric ORVMs.

On the safety front, Mahindra Thar has been able to achieve a 4-star rating at the Global NCAP crash test. It is the safest off-roader in India currently. Maruti Suzuki Jimny's 3-door version scored a 3-star rating at the Euro NCAP, but do note that the 5-door version is yet to be tested.

Jimny has safety features such as ESP, hill hold assist, hill descent control, brake LSD, 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, overspeed warning, speed-sensing auto door lock and a rearview camera.

Mahindra Thar offers similar safety features and additional features such as TPMS, panic braking signal and snow chain provision for tyres. Thar does not offer 6 airbags. You will get only dual-front airbags in this off-roader.

Comparison of Jimny and Thar for their offroading capabilities

Mahindra Thar surely offers better offroading capabilities when compared to Maruti Suzuki Jimny.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny vs Mahindra Thar: Conclusion

Thar is for those who prefer a rugged experience while Jimny is a no-nonsense more than just a basic off-roader. However, Jimny is no match for the capabilities of Thar. Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar though might be 4X4 offroaders should not be considered arch-rivals. Thar offers a 4-seater 3-door configuration while the Jimny gets a 5-door configuration with the same seating capacity.

Read more on the Park+ website

You can know more about both the offroaders as well as other cars at the Park+ website and Park+ app. Download the Park+ App for more information.