6 Key Differences Between Maruti Jimny and Mahindra Thar
Delhi : Small, rough, and somewhat off-roading cars have a distinct appeal in most parts of the world. The fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny has been enormously popular in different global markets since its introduction in 2018, and those who couldn't get their hands on it, especially Indian customers, were really upset. However, Maruti brought the small adventure vehicle over for Auto Expo 2020, and the automaker has since said that it is looking into creating a five-door version for the Indian market. The recent popularity of the second-gen Mahindra Thar (which has a seven-month waiting list!) which is a three-door option may convince Maruti to sell the Jimny in a global-spec variant as well.
Thar's engines are more powerful
Mahindra offers both petrol and diesel engines in the Thar, whereas the Jimny is only available in Europe with a 1.5-litre petrol engine. Even if Maruti provided the India-spec Jimny with the BS6 1.5-litre diesel engine, it would be less powerful than the Thar. Here are the precise figures:
Jimny is much lighter than Thar
The Thar and the global-spec Jimny are both three-door vehicles, although the Mahindra is much larger. Even if we consider that Maruti will be engineering a longer 5-door variant, the Jimny would still lose in terms of breadth and height to the Thar.
Maruti would like to keep its off-roader in the sub-4m SUV range, akin to the Thar, therefore overall length will probably be similar. However, because it is also substantially lighter, the Jimny's small size helps balance out the aforementioned lack of performance. The heaviest Jimny weighs 1,110kg, whereas the diesel-AT Thar has a kerb weight of 1,783kg.
It is important to note that the Mahindra Thar outperforms the Suzuki Jimny in terms of safety. The Jimny received a three-star rating in the Euro NCAP tests despite having more airbags and automated emergency braking whereas the Thar received four stars in the Global NCAP crash tests.
Jimny resembles a tiny G-wagon, while Thar resembles a Jeep
Yes, design is a subjective subject. However, since Suzuki launched the model, parallels between the Jimny and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class have proliferated on the internet. The round headlamps and boxy proportions give it the appearance of a small G-wagon. Meanwhile, the Thar is considered a classic Jeep and is frequently compared to the more expensive Jeep Wrangler. Both take a unique approach to the same raw charm. While the Jimny strives for a more premium appearance, the Thar has a classic aesthetic that appeals to its audience.
Jimny does not have the option of a convertible soft-top or a fixed hard-top
Mahindra equips the second-generation Thar either a convertible soft-top or a permanent hard top from the factory, increasing its versatility. It caters to both adventure seekers and those seeking a combination of pragmatism and lifestyle. In contrast to the fitted tops of the Thar's rear part, the Jimny only comes with a single piece hardtop.
Off-road by the numbers
Both vehicles come standard with 4WD and a low-range transfer case. Because we don't yet have figures for the future 5-door Jimny, let's look at the off-road dimensions of both SUVs' three-door versions:
The Thar has more ground clearance and can wade through water than the Jimny. The Suzuki has a much steeper departure angle, while the Mahindra has a superior off-road approach angle. Both cars have extremely comparable breakover angles, although the Jimny has a 1-degree advantage over the Thar.
Jimny will be a higher-end option.
In comparison to most SUVs, the cabins of the Jimny and Thar have a utilitarian air to them. Mahindra updated the Thar's cabin with roof-mounted speakers, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a multi-information display in the centre of the instrument cluster. The Jimny's cabin, on the other hand, appears more luxury due to its materials, design around the instruments, and options such as auto AC.
The Suzuki comes standard with a slew of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and six airbags. The India-spec Jimny may lack certain safety measures, but it may still receive more premium equipment than the Thar, such as LED headlamps.
