Overview: The 2025 Thar Facelift Makes a Quiet Yet Notable Return
Mahindra has unveiled the 2025 Thar facelift, bringing refreshed aesthetics, two fresh color options, and a clarified lineup that emphasizes hard-top variants. While the mechanicals remain largely consistent with the outgoing model, the design tweaks and pricing structure position the Thar to compete effectively in the sub-segment of rugged, go-anywhere SUVs in India. The two new exterior colors—Danko Red and Petalship Grey—give buyers an appealing palette alongside the established options, with specific styling updates that keep the Thar’s signature silhouette intact.
New Colors and Exterior Design Details
In a deliberate nod to personalization, the 2025 Thar facelift introduces Danko Red and Petalship Grey as its color options. A notable styling cue is that the front grille is carried out in the body color, blending seamlessly with the overall color theme. The bumper treatment remains dual-tone, preserving the Thar’s rugged character while offering a more refined front-end appearance. Exterior lighting, including headlamps and tail lamps, as well as the alloy wheels, carry forward the familiar design language with no sweeping changes to the silhouette beyond the color and grille treatment.
Powertrains and Transmission: No Mechanical Overhaul
The facelifted Thar keeps the same engine lineup and transmission choices as the current generation. Buyers can choose among a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine delivering around 152 horsepower, a 1.5-liter diesel engine producing 119 horsepower, and a 2.2-liter diesel engine that makes about 132 horsepower. Transmission options remain as before, with a manual and automatic box available depending on the engine and variant. There are no changes to the engine options or gearboxes, ensuring familiar performance characteristics for existing Thar customers and potential buyers who value straightforward, proven powertrains.
Variants, Features, and Pricing: Five Trim Levels
Five variants form the 2025 Thar lineup: AXR RWD, LXT RWD, LXT RWD AT, LXT 4WD, and LXT 4WD AT. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) family remains the entry point for many buyers, while the top-end models add four-wheel drive and automatic transmissions for those seeking extra capability. A key market note is that, unlike the prior generation, the facelift currently arrives with hard-top configurations only. Soft-top versions have not yet been announced for this facelift cycle.
The entry-level AXR RWD variant is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom. This is a Rs 32,000 reduction from the starting price of the previous Thar’s base variant, reflecting Mahindra’s effort to widen accessibility while keeping the core 4×4 personality intact. The AXR RWD version is configured with the 1.5-liter diesel engine and manual gearbox, aligning with buyers who prefer a simpler, more economical setup. The 2.0-liter turbo petrol and 2.2-liter diesel options are not offered on this base variant, focusing the AXR RWD on a compact powertrain choice.
The LXT RWD variant is offered with the 1.5-liter diesel engine paired with a manual gearbox, priced at Rs 12.99 lakh ex-showroom. For buyers who want an automatic, the LXT RWD AT variant is priced at Rs 13.99 lakh ex-showroom and is available exclusively with the 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine in automatic form.
For those seeking enhanced off-road capability and versatility, the LXT 4WD and LXT 4WD AT variants are positioned at Rs 14.69 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh ex-showroom, respectively. These top-end trims offer both the 2.0-liter petrol and the 2.2-liter diesel engines, providing a broad range of power and torque options while maintaining the Thar’s rugged, go-anywhere character. Notably, the top-end price is roughly Rs 38,000 higher than the corresponding top-end price of the previous model, reflecting incremental costs associated with the facelift and upgraded trim.
Availability: Hard Top Only for Now
In a move that aligns with the current consumer emphasis on weatherproof practicality, the 2025 Thar facelift is offered with hard-top configurations across the lineup. Soft-top variants, which were once a common option, have not been announced for this facelift cycle yet. This choice underscores Mahindra’s strategy to present a more robust, all-season capable vehicle right from the showroom floor.
What This Means for Buyers
For buyers, the 2025 Thar facelift preserves the familiar engine lineup and transmission choices that Thar enthusiasts rely on while refreshing the visual language with new colors and refined exterior detailing. The shift to body-colored front grilles and dual-tone bumpers complements the existing rugged stance, making the Thar visually fresh without sacrificing its core identity. With five variants across RWD and 4WD configurations, there is a clear path from the value-oriented AXR RWD to the feature-rich LXT 4WD AT, enabling buyers to tailor capability, convenience, and price to fit their needs. The hard-top-only approach simplifies production and order timing, with Mahindra’s pricing strategy aiming to attract new buyers while giving existing customers a familiar, proven platform with tasteful updates.
Bottom Line
The 2025 Thar facelift is less about dramatic mechanical shifts and more about a refined design, targeted color choices, and a clearer variant structure. For buyers prioritizing reliability, off-road capability, and the iconic Thar experience, the five-variant lineup—paired with strong engine options and the availability of both manual and automatic transmissions—continues to offer compelling value in the competitive compact SUV space.
