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