The Mahindra Thar has once again proven its dominance in the Indian SUV market by outselling the Maruti Suzuki Jimny by an astonishing 24 times in April. According to recently released sales figures, Mahindra dispatched a total of 6,160 units of the Thar, a significant leap from its closest competitor.
In the same month last year, Mahindra Thar’s sales stood at 5,302 units, indicating a year-on-year growth of 16 percent. Meanwhile, on a month-on-month basis, Thar saw a modest 2 percent increase compared to its March sales of 6,049 units. This consistent growth is particularly notable considering that the Thar has been on the market since August 2020.
On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny experienced a decline in sales, with only 257 units sold in April. This represents a 19 percent decrease from its March sales of 318 units. Since its launch in June 2023, Jimny has struggled to gain traction, in stark contrast to the consistent popularity of the Mahindra Thar.
Several factors contribute to Thar’s sustained success and Jimny’s struggle. One key advantage for the Thar is its variety of engine options. It offers both petrol and diesel engines, while the Jimny is limited to a single 1.5-litre petrol engine. The Thar also provides customers with the flexibility of choosing between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. Jimny, however, comes exclusively with four-wheel drive, which may not suit all buyers.
Price is another significant factor. The base 2WD variant of the Mahindra Thar starts at Rs 10.55 lakh, with the 4WD variants beginning at Rs 13.87 lakh. In contrast, the Jimny starts at Rs 12.74 lakh, with its top-end model priced at Rs 15.05 lakh. This price difference makes the Thar more attractive to budget-conscious buyers.
The Thar’s more powerful engine options also play a role in its popularity. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine generates 150 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, while its 1.5-litre turbo diesel makes 119 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. The Jimny’s 1.5-litre petrol engine, in comparison, produces 105 PS and 134 Nm of torque.
Additionally, the Thar offers both hardtop and soft-top configurations, whereas the Jimny is only available with a hardtop. The upcoming 5-door version of the Thar, likely to be named the Armada, is expected to further boost its appeal, offering more practicality and additional features such as ADAS, an electric sunroof, and a larger instrument cluster.
In summary, the Mahindra Thar’s diverse options, competitive pricing, and more powerful engine choices contribute to its overwhelming popularity compared to the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. With the upcoming 5-door Thar, the gap between the two SUVs is poised to widen even further.
