Leaked images of five-door Mahindra Thar surface; set to debut on 15 August.

• Available with both gasoline and diesel engine options

Improved list of features compared to the three-door Thar.

What’s the latest update?

It has arrived at last! Well, kind of… The highly awaited five-door Mahindra Thar, also known as the Thar Armada, has been revealed before its scheduled debut on 15 August. The exposed photos show the front and side view up to the B-pillar, along with a red color that seems to be a tad darker than the one available on the three-door version.

The facial features align with the spy shots from the past year, validating a fresh Thar family design with circular shape, LED lights, and C-shaped DRLs integrated into the unit. The fender-mounted indicators, fog lamps, and six-slat grille can also be seen, with the grille helping it distinguish itself from the three-door model.

The latch design, traditional door handles, and Thar inscription on large wing mirrors are further highlighted in the second photo. All of these design cues, taken directly from the three-door Thar, will assist in establishing a cohesive family identity for both cars.

List of additional features.

It is anticipated that Mahindra will greatly enhance the features of the five-door model by adding a 360-degree camera shown in the photos, climate control with rear vents, a larger touchscreen infotainment system, digital cluster, connected car technology, level-2 ADAS, powered and ventilated front seats, and a split-folding second row for more storage space.

Powertrain and rivalry

The powertrains of the Armada will be used in the three-door model, including a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel with both a six-speed MT and a six-speed AT. Different versions come with a complete 4WD system, which we tested thoroughly at the 2023 CarWale Off-road Day.

This car will be an important addition for Mahindra since it will fall in the same price range as the XUV700 and Scorpio N, and is likely to attract customers away from both models because of its unique selling points. It will also compete against vehicles such as the MG Hector Plus, Hyundai Alcazar, and the Force Gurkha five-door.