Comparing the Kia Carens and the Mahindra Thar side by side helps you weigh how each car fits your driving needs before you decide. In terms of pricing, the Kia Carens is available at ₹1,364,000, while the Mahindra Thar is priced at ₹999,000. On the engine front, the Kia Carens comes with a 1497 cc (Petrol) / 1493 cc (Diesel) unit compared to the Mahindra Thar's 1997 cm3, producing 113 bhp @ 6300 rpm (NA) / 158 bhp @ 5500 rpm (Turbo) / 114 bhp @ 4000 rpm (Diesel) and 112kW @ 5000 r/min respectively. Fuel efficiency stands at 16.50 kmpl (Petrol AT) / 21.42 kmpl (Diesel MT) - ARAI for the Kia Carens versus 15.2 kmpl for the Mahindra Thar. The full specification, pricing and feature breakdown for both cars is available in the table below.
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
Engine & Performance |
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| Battery | — | 12V heavy-duty automotive electrical architecture |
| Displacement | 1497 cc (Petrol) / 1493 cc (Diesel) | 1997 cm3 |
| Drive Type | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | RWD/ 4WD |
| Engine Type | Smartstream G1.5 NA / G1.5 Turbo / U2 1.5 CRDi Diesel | 2.0 L mStallion Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDi) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 Litres | 57 L |
| Fuel Type | Petrol / Diesel | Petrol / Diesel |
| Gearbox | 6-Speed MT / 6-Speed iMT / 6-Speed AT / 7-Speed DCT | 6‑speed (MT/AT) |
| Mileage | 16.50 kmpl (Petrol AT) / 21.42 kmpl (Diesel MT) - ARAI | 15.2 kmpl |
| Number of Cylinders | 4 | 4 |
| Power | 113 bhp @ 6300 rpm (NA) / 158 bhp @ 5500 rpm (Turbo) / 114 bhp @ 4000 rpm (Diesel) | 112kW @ 5000 r/min |
| Starter | Push Button Start | keyless engine ignition system |
| Torque | 144 Nm (NA) / 253 Nm (Turbo) / 250 Nm (Diesel) | 320Nm @ 1500-3000 r/min |
| Transmission Type | Manual / Automatic / DCT / iMT | Manual / Automatic |
Dimensions & Weight |
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| Boot Space | 216 Litres (all rows up) | 257 l |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 2010 kg | 2110 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 195 mm | 226 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1445 kg | 1650 kg |
| Length, Width, Height | 4540 mm / 1800 mm / 1708 mm | 3850 mm, 1820 mm, 1855 mm |
| Seating Capacity | 6 / 7 | 4 |
| Wheelbase | 2780 mm | 2,450 mm |
Comfort & Interior |
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| Adjustable Steering | Tilt & Telescopic | Hydraulic Power Steering column with mechanical Tilt adjustment only; telescopic adjustment is omitted |
| Auto-Dimming IRVM | — | Manual day/night anti-glare internal rearview mirror adjustment toggle |
| Central Locking | Yes | Speed-sensing automatic central door-locking logic |
| Climate Control | Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control | Heavy-duty manual air conditioning unit paired with newly introduced rear AC vents |
| Cluster | 10.25-inch Digital Cluster | 4.2-inch colored digital driver's data hub paired with analog dials |
| Cruise Control | Yes | Steering wheel-mounted electronic speed cruise controls |
| Electrically Adjustable Seats | — | No |
| Infotainment System | 10.25-inch Touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay | Upgraded floating 10.25-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay profiles |
| Keyless Entry | Yes | Smart remote central keyless locking fob |
| Power Adjustable ORVMs | Yes | Power-adjustable exterior side mirrors standard on higher-spec configurations |
| Power Windows | Yes | Front doors only (switches mounted logically on the center console layout) |
| Push Start | Yes | No |
| Rear AC Vents | Yes - Rear + 3rd Row | Rear AC air ventilation modules to improve back row cooling |
| Rear Seat Armrest | Yes | No |
| Seat Upholstery | Leatherette (top) / Fabric | Premium, heavy-duty black fabric or washable vinyl upholstery built to repel water and trail dirt |
| Sound System | Bose 8-Speaker Audio (top) | Roof-mounted 4-speaker and 2-tweeter system layout designed to maintain audio clarity during open-top conversion |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sunroof (top variants) | Hard Top |
| USB Ports | Yes | Dedicated front dashboard fast-charging USB ports |
| Voice Command | — | Smart voice recognition logic built into the center touchscreen module |
| Wireless Charger | Yes (top) | No |
Exterior & Lighting |
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| Body-Colored Bumpers | Yes | Dual-tone bumpers featuring scratch-resistant deep charcoal cladding panels for off-road protection |
| DRLs | LED DRLs | Bumper-integrated LED Daytime Running Lights paired with fender-mounted turn indicators |
| Fog Lamps | Yes | Front bumper-integrated round Halogen fog lights |
| Headlight | LED Projector Headlamps | Classic round Halogen headlamps with an integrated manual leveling switch |
| ORVMs with Turn Indicators | Yes | No |
| Rear Wiper & Defogger | Yes | Fully integrated into the glass window section of the rear opening tailgate |
| Roof Rails | Yes | No |
| Tail Lamp Type | LED Tail Lamps | Full-LED signature rectangular rear tail lamps |
| Tyre Size | 215/60 R17 | 255/65 R18 |
| Tyre Type | Radial, Tubeless | Radial Tubeless |
| Wheel Type | 17-inch Alloy Wheels | Steel, Alloy |
Safety |
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| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Airbags | 6 Airbags | Dual front airbags |
| Brake Assist | Yes | Hydraulic Brake Assist logic |
| EBD | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic Stability Program (ESP) | Yes | Yes |
| Hill Hold Assist | Yes | Standard incline descent control and slope-holding safety lock framework |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts | Yes | Dedicated anchoring brackets mounted directly into the rear seats |
| Rear Parking Camera | Yes - 360° Camera | Yes |
| Rear Parking Sensors | Yes | Bumper-flush sonar proximity sensors |
| TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) | Yes | Advanced Tyre Pressure Monitoring System featuring a unique Tyre Direction Monitoring System to display steering wheel orientation |
Other Specifications |
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| Color Options | Clear WhiteAurora Black PearlImperial Blue | Stealth BlackDeep ForestEverest WhiteTango RedBattleship GreyGalaxy Grey |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.1 | — |
| Reviewer Name | Motoautiv Expert | — |
