The Mahindra Thar, with its instantly recognizable no-nonsense styling and rugged off-road nature, has caught the hearts of Indian adventure enthusiasts. Its powerful engine and uncompromising road presence offer thrills, if not the best fuel efficiency. That’s where most owners pause: can the Thar be tamed to return mileage figures close to what Mahindra claims?
Whereas ARAI-tested mileage offers one benchmark, real figures tell a different story, especially in city traffic or highway stretches. This blog aims to fill the gap for you, offering you doable and tested tips to achieve better mileage from your Mahindra Thar without sacrificing performance.
Mahindra Thar ARAI Mileage
As per Mahindra’s official claims, the ARAI-certified mileage for the Mahindra Thar varies slightly based on the engine and transmission options:
- Petrol Manual: 15.2 km/l (ARAI)
- Petrol Automatic: 14.5 km/l (ARAI)
- Diesel Manual: 16.94 km/l (ARAI)
- Diesel Automatic: 16.55 km/l (ARAI)
It’s important to note that these figures are obtained under standard test conditions. In real-world scenarios, especially in city or off-road driving, your Thar’s mileage is likely to differ due to traffic, load, terrain, and driving habits.
Mahindra Thar City Mileage
Real-world mileage figures often fall short of ARAI numbers, and the Mahindra Thar is no exception. Based on reports from Thar owners and automotive test drives:
- Petrol Manual (City): 9-10 km/l (approx.)
- Petrol Automatic (City): 8-9 km/l (approx.)
- Diesel Manual (City): 11-12 km/l (approx.)
- Diesel Automatic (City): 10-11 km/l (approx.)
These numbers vary with driving style, road conditions, AC usage, and traffic conditions. Heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic, hard braking, and idling decrease the fuel efficiency even more, which many urban Thar users have noticed.
Factors that Impact Mahindra Thar City Mileage
There are certain factors that influence the Mahindra Thar city mileage. Those are as follows:
- Frequent stop-and-go traffic: City traffic often leads to constant braking and acceleration, which increases fuel consumption.
- Heavy vehicle weight: The Thar’s rugged build and 4×4 components add to its kerb weight, making it naturally less fuel-efficient in slow-moving traffic.
- Short sommutes: Regular short-distance trips don’t allow the engine to reach optimal operating temperature, reducing mileage.
- Aggressive driving style: Sudden acceleration, hard braking, and inconsistent speeds are major fuel guzzlers.
- AC usage: Using air conditioning in low-speed traffic significantly adds to fuel consumption.
- Underinflated tyres: Low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance, reducing mileage.
- Idle time at signals: Idling during long red lights or traffic jams wastes fuel unnecessarily.
How to Improve Mahindra Thar City Mileage
Here are some ways to improve Mahindra Thar city mileage:
- Avoid sudden acceleration and harsh braking. Maintain a steady pace, especially in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
- In the manual variants, upshift early (but not too early) to keep RPMs low and fuel usage efficient.
- Turn off the engine if you’re going to be stationary for more than 60 seconds.
- Some newer Thar models may have driving modes, use Eco mode in city traffic to conserve fuel.
- Check your tyre pressure regularly to reduce rolling resistance.
- Don’t carry heavy accessories or gear unless necessary for the trip.
- When possible, opt for ventilation instead of full-blast AC during city drives.
- Avoid peak traffic hours if your schedule allows, less congestion leads to smoother and more fuel-efficient driving.
Mahindra Thar Highway Mileage
On highways, the Thar is more fuel-efficient because of less gear shifting, less idling, and smoother speeds. While it’s no fuel-saving hatchback, owners of Thar do report a vast improvement in mileage during highway cruising.
- Petrol Manual (Highway): 12-13 km/l (approx.)
- Petrol Automatic (Highway): 11-12 km/l (approx.)
- Diesel Manual (Highway): 14-15.5 km/l (approx.)
- Diesel Automatic (Highway): 13-14.5 km/l (approx.)
Factors that Impact Mahindra Thar Highway Mileage
While highways offer better driving conditions than city roads, there are several things that can influence the Mahindra Thar’s mileage nonetheless. From your speed to your load, these things can make a huge impact on your mileage numbers.
- Cruising speed: Speeds above 100 km/h drastically reduce fuel efficiency due to higher air resistance.
- Use of cruise control: Not using cruise control on long, straight highways can lead to inconsistent speeds and reduced mileage.
- Tyre type and pressure: All-terrain tyres and low pressure increase rolling resistance.
- Vehicle load: Carrying extra cargo or passengers adds to the vehicle weight, demanding more fuel.
- Wind resistance: Roof racks, off-road mods, or open windows create drag and hurt efficiency.
- Aggressive overtaking: Frequent acceleration and braking while overtaking reduces mileage.
- Engine condition: A poorly maintained engine or clogged air filter reduces combustion efficiency.
How to Improve Mahindra Thar Highway Mileage
Highway driving is a great chance to stretch your fuel tank, but if you drive responsibly. With some minor tweaks to your driving habits and some model-specific modifications, you can efficiently boost your Thar’s mileage during highway drives.
- Stick to a cruising speed between 80-90 km/h for optimal fuel efficiency.
- When possible, use cruise control on flat stretches to maintain consistent speed.
- Avoid overloading the boot or roof racks unless absolutely necessary.
- Open windows create drag, reducing fuel efficiency at higher speeds.
- Ensure tyres are inflated to recommended PSI before hitting the highway.
- Smooth overtakes and gradual acceleration help conserve fuel.
- Stick to smooth, well-maintained roads instead of offbeat, bumpy detours.
Summary
The Mahindra Thar is not a fuel-efficiency champion, but by adopting the right practices even so, you can squeeze out more kilometers per litre. Be it the petrol or diesel variant, streamlining your ways for city driving and highway driving alike can yield real returns.
Small tweaks like smooth acceleration, frequent check-ups of tyres, and removing unnecessary weight can save you thousands of rupees in the long term. And on long drives, maintaining a constant speed and prudent usage of features like cruise control help a lot towards maximizing your Thar’s highway mileage.
FAQs about Mahindra Thar Mileage
Q. What is the real mileage of Mahindra Thar in city driving?
Real owners report a real-world mileage of approximately 8-12 km/l, depending on the fuel type and transmission. The diesel versions perform better than petrol in city driving.
Q. Does driving in 4×4 mode have any effect on Thar’s mileage?
Yes, driving in 4×4 does a significant blow to mileage since it engages more drivetrain components and thus burns fuel. It must be reserved for off-road use.
Q. Does accessory fitting like roof racks or bull bars reduce mileage?
Yes. Additional weight and aerodynamic drag from these accessories can reduce your mileage, especially on highways.
Q. Is manual or automatic Thar more fuel efficient?
Manual models tend to give better mileage than automatic models, both in city and highway conditions.
Q. How often should I have my Thar serviced so that my mileage is good?
Regular servicing every 10,000 km (or as recommended) keeps your engine, air filters, and fuel system clean, which has a direct impact on mileage.
