Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - Comparison

The comparison between the Mahindra Thar and the Jeep Rubicon is like selecting a warrior on the battlefield as the two are the segment leaders when it comes to hardcore off-road vehicles. While they have a huge price difference between them, it may be intimidating at first to decide which one is most suitable for your off-road adventures. On that note, it is time to compare the main distinctions in the three-door Thar, the upcoming five-door Thar Armada and, of course, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. 

Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Technical Specifications

Car	Mahindra Thar	Mahindra Thar 5 Door (estimated)	Jeep Rubicon
Engines	1.5-litre diesel, 2-litre turbo petrol, 2.2-litre diesel	1.5-litre diesel, 2-litre turbo petrol, 2.2-litre diesel	2-litre turbo petrol
Power	117 bhp, 150 bhp, 130 bhp	117 bhp, 200 bhp, 130 bhp	268 bhp
Torque	300 Nm	300 Nm, 370 Nm, 400 Nm	400 Nm
Length	3985 mm	4662 mm	4867 mm
Width	1820 mm	1917 mm	1931 mm
Height	1844 mm	1857 mm	1864 mm
Wheelbase	2450 mm	2750 mm	3007 mm
Price (ex-showroom)	Rs. 11.35 lakh - Rs. 17.20 lakh	Rs. 13 lakh - Rs. 21 lakh	Rs. 71.65 lakh

Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Exterior

The Thar looks and feels almost macho with a boxy structured muscular body, making both the three-door and the upcoming five-door SUVs equally desirable. It does resemble the front fascia of the Jeep SUV to some extent. The Rubicon, on the other hand, is considerably longer at 4,867 mm and has a much more menacing look especially due to its iconic round headlights. Talking about the ground clearance, the Thar and Wrangler Rubicon have a ground clearance of 226 mm and 237 mm, respectively.

Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Interior

While the Thar’s design is heavily utilitarian, it has introduced some better creature comforts than the older versions. It features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system as well as other features like cruise control, roof-mounted speakers and steering-mounted controls. Furthermore, the Rubicon takes things a notch higher with a more luxurious interior that includes a bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen display, cruise control, better qualities of material used and positioning of controls towards the driver. 

Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Engines

This is where the real fun begins. The Thar has two diesel engines on offer - 1.5-litre and 2.2-litre - that make 117 bhp and 130 bhp, respectively, with sufficient 300 Nm of torque perfect for off-roading. It also features a 2-litre turbo petrol engine that makes 150 bhp and 300 Nm as well. Going by the engine capacity, it offers good mileage which can be ideal for long rugged journeys. The Wrangler Rubicon is more muscular with a robust 2.0 petrol engine producing 268 bhp and 400 Nm for those challenging trails.

Mahindra Thar Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Dimensions

Thar is a three-door offering from Mahindra and is considered a sub-compact off-road vehicle with its under 4-metre length. The five-door version will provide even better legroom and comfort to the passengers, therefore, it is suitable for long trips with both friends and family. As for the Wrangler Rubicon, which is only available in five-door format, the 4.8 mm structure of the car sits on a 3007 mm wheelbase, making it significantly longer than the three-door Thar.

Verdict

As the saying goes, it is the buyer’s choice or in other words, it depends on what you as a buyer want or need. Without a doubt, both of these offroaders are extremely capable offroaders and come with a host of engines and transmissions. If you need a reasonably affordable car with off-road capabilities and very good fuel consumption, Thar is perfect. The three-door version is best suited for two people as the rear is usually used for storing luggage, especially on long trips. With the five-door Thar just around the corner, we expect it to be priced between Rs. 13 lakh to Rs. 21 lakh, still affordable in its segment.
 
Simply put, in its segment and price point, the Rubicon is king if the characteristics you seek are the power, comfort and all-out luxuriousness of an authentic off-road SUV. However, both are capable off-roaders and it clearly depends on your budget when deciding between the two.

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