Mahindra Thar OG Variants Explained: Which One Should You Buy?
Mahindra Thar OG prices from ₹10.32 lakh to ₹18.99 lakh. AXT, LXT and ZXT explained: what each adds, what it misses, diesel vs petrol, 4x4 or not, and our pick.
Variant ladder starting ex-showroom prices, our pick in orange
The new Mahindra Thar OG is advertised from ₹10.32 lakh (ex-showroom). But at that price you get no music system, no camera and only two airbags. And after road tax and insurance, that base Thar costs roughly ₹12 lakh on the road (an approximate figure; it varies a lot by state).
Our short answer: for most buyers, the ZXT 1.5 diesel manual at ₹13.99 lakh is the right Thar. It has six airbags, a rear camera and almost everything else. If you want 4x4, keep about ₹3.5 lakh more ready.
Below, we explain why, and which variant each kind of buyer should avoid.
Mahindra Thar OG price list
| Grade | 1.5 Diesel RWD Manual | 2.2 Diesel RWD Auto | 2.2 Diesel 4x4 Manual | 2.2 Diesel 4x4 Auto | 2.0 Petrol RWD Auto | 2.0 Petrol 4x4 Manual | 2.0 Petrol 4x4 Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXT | ₹10.32 lakh | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| LXT | ₹12.99 lakh | ₹16.49 lakh | ₹16.43 lakh | ₹18.00 lakh | ₹14.77 lakh | ₹15.60 lakh | ₹17.23 lakh |
| ZXT | ₹13.99 lakh | ₹17.49 lakh | ₹17.49 lakh | ₹18.99 lakh | ₹16.09 lakh | ₹16.60 lakh | ₹17.75 lakh |
All prices ex-showroom (October 2026). RWD means rear-wheel drive (2WD). Check the latest price with your dealer.
- The 1.5 diesel comes only with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive.
- For a diesel automatic or any 4x4, you need the 2.2 diesel (or the 2.0 turbo petrol).
- The petrol RWD is automatic only.
The basics
- Size: 3995 mm long, with 232 mm of ground clearance, and it can wade through 650 mm of water.
- Seats: it is a 4-seater, and you have to slide a front seat forward to get into the back. Don’t buy it as a family car.
- Engines: 1.5 litre diesel, 2.2 litre diesel and 2.0 litre turbo petrol.
- Grades: AXT, LXT and ZXT.
Safety
The good news: ESP (with rollover mitigation), hill hold, hill descent control, ISOFIX and a roll cage are standard on every Thar OG.
The catch: six airbags come only on the top ZXT. The AXT and LXT have just two.
Variant by variant
The monthly figures below are the extra EMI for each step, assuming a 5-year car loan at 9% interest (every ₹1 lakh adds about ₹2,075 a month).
1. AXT: ₹10.32 lakh
It comes in only one version: 1.5 diesel, manual, rear-wheel drive.
What you get: ESP, rear parking sensors, push-button start, keyless entry and rear AC vents. You also get 18-inch steel wheels, vinyl seats and manually adjusted mirrors.
What you miss: no music system or speakers, no camera, no steering audio controls, no cruise control, no rear wiper, and a basic tubular side step instead of a moulded one.
Stop here if: your budget is fixed and you plan to modify the car your own way later.
2. LXT: +₹2.67 lakh (about ₹5,500 more per month)
₹12.99 lakh with the 1.5 diesel manual.
What it adds: a 26 cm (10.25-inch) touchscreen with wireless Android Auto, 4 speakers and 2 tweeters, cruise control, steering controls, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, fabric seats, electric mirrors and a rear wiper and washer. The automatic and 4x4 options start here. LXT 4x4 versions also get all-terrain tyres, terrain modes and an electronic locking differential.
What you miss: still only two airbags, no rear camera, and halogen headlamps.
Our view: skip the LXT 1.5 diesel. Spend ₹1 lakh more and the ZXT gives you a lot more.
3. ZXT: +₹1 lakh (about ₹2,075 more per month)
₹13.99 lakh with the 1.5 diesel manual.
What it adds: six airbags, a rear camera, front parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring. You also get LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, a wireless charger, leatherette seats, 19-inch alloys with all-terrain tyres and rear disc brakes.
What you miss: honestly, nothing much at this price.
Stop here if: you want the best Thar for the money. Airbags can never be added later, which is why this is our pick.
Diesel, automatic or 4x4?
This is the most important decision. Moving from the 1.5 diesel to the 2.2 diesel adds about ₹3.5 lakh to the price, or about ₹7,250 a month in EMI.
Why such a big gap? Mahindra doesn’t say, but it is most likely tax: the 1.5 diesel and the car’s sub-4-metre length should put it in India’s lower small-car GST slab, while bigger engines are taxed more. If you want a diesel automatic or 4x4, though, the 2.2 is your only diesel choice.
Two price quirks worth knowing:
- The LXT 2.2 diesel 4x4 manual (₹16.43 lakh) is slightly cheaper than the LXT 2.2 diesel RWD automatic (₹16.49 lakh).
- On the ZXT, the 2.2 diesel RWD automatic and the 2.2 diesel 4x4 manual cost exactly the same: ₹17.49 lakh.
A simple rule: buy 4x4 only if you actually go to the hills, snow or real off-road trails. For city and highway use, the 1.5 diesel RWD is enough.
Cheapest automatic: the LXT petrol automatic at ₹14.77 lakh.
Features at a glance
| AXT | LXT | ZXT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP, hill hold, hill descent control, roll cage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Rear parking sensors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear camera, front parking sensors | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Touchscreen + speakers | ✗ | 26 cm, 4 + 2 tweeters | 26 cm, 4 + 2 tweeters |
| Cruise control, steering controls | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tyre pressure monitoring | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Headlamps | Halogen | Halogen | LED, with LED fog lamps |
| Wireless charger | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Seats | Vinyl | Fabric | Leatherette |
| Wheels | 18” steel | 18” alloy | 19” alloy, all-terrain tyres |
| Engines | 1.5 diesel | All three | All three |
| Automatic / 4x4 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Our pick: ZXT 1.5 diesel manual
₹13.99 lakh, ex-showroom.
Quick picks for every buyer:
- Lowest budget: AXT (₹10.32 lakh). Remember that it doesn’t even have a music system.
- Best value for city and highway: ZXT 1.5 diesel manual (₹13.99 lakh).
- Need an automatic for traffic: LXT petrol automatic (₹14.77 lakh).
- Serious off-roading: ZXT 2.2 diesel 4x4 manual (₹17.49 lakh).
The Thar OG starts at ₹10.32 lakh, but the right Thar for most people costs around ₹14 lakh.
Quick answers
What is the price of the Mahindra Thar OG?
₹10.32 lakh to ₹18.99 lakh, ex-showroom.
Which Thar OG has six airbags?
Only the ZXT. The AXT and LXT have two airbags.
Which is the cheapest automatic Thar OG?
The LXT 2.0 petrol automatic (rear-wheel drive), at ₹14.77 lakh.
Which is the cheapest 4x4 Thar OG?
The LXT 2.0 petrol 4x4 manual, at ₹15.60 lakh. The cheapest diesel 4x4 is the LXT 2.2 diesel manual at ₹16.43 lakh.
Can I get the 1.5 diesel with 4x4 or an automatic?
No. The 1.5 diesel is manual and rear-wheel drive only.
Is the Thar OG a family car?
Not really. It is a 4-seater, and getting into the back means sliding a front seat forward.
Not sure which variant suits you? Write to us with your budget and how many kilometres you drive a month, and we will help you choose.
This article reflects our personal opinion and is for information only. Prices are ex-showroom and features are from the manufacturer's published information on the date above; both can change without notice, and EMI and running-cost figures are estimates. Please confirm everything with an authorised dealer before buying. Full disclaimer.