Published : 23 September 2026
Read Time : 5 min
Author: Siddharth
The new Mahindra Thar OG may look like a heavily updated version of the outgoing Thar, but some of its most important changes are underneath the body. Mahindra have reworked the frame, suspension, dampers and steering to improve its ride, handling and stability.
Mahindra claim these changes make the Thar OG more comfortable on the road without compromising its off-road ability. We have not independently verified these improvements yet, so let’s look at what has changed and what each update is designed to achieve.

The Thar OG is based on Mahindra’s M_Glyde 4G body-on-frame platform. It continues to use a separate ladder-frame chassis but gets high-strength steel, revised frame geometry and sections with a thinner gauge.

Mahindra quoted the following improvements over the previous frame:
A stiffer foundation should allow the suspension and steering to work more consistently. It is also intended to reduce unwanted flex when the SUV encounters broken roads or uneven terrain.
The basic suspension architecture remains familiar. The Thar OG continues to use independent double-wishbone front suspension and a solid rear axle.

However, Mahindra have revised several components within this layout. The front suspension uses a combination of softer bushes for ride comfort and stiffer bushes for more direct steering response. It also gets taller steering knuckles, which Mahindra say improve steering feel and cornering ability.
At the rear, the Thar OG gets a Pentalink suspension with a Watts link. The outgoing Thar used a multilink solid rear axle with coil springs and a stabiliser bar.

A Watts link controls the sideways movement of a solid rear axle as the suspension moves up and down. It is designed to keep the axle more accurately centred beneath the vehicle. Mahindra say this arrangement should reduce unwanted lateral movement and improve stability while cornering.
The rear dampers are also mounted farther apart, with a quoted span of 1003mm, to help control body roll.
The Thar OG gets what Mahindra call Davinci damping technology. The system uses a revised piston-valve design to vary the damping force according to suspension movement.

At low piston speeds, the dampers are designed to provide greater resistance and control larger body movements. At higher piston speeds, they can reduce damping force to absorb sharper impacts more comfortably.
This approach is intended to balance body control with ride comfort instead of using a single damper setting for every situation.
Frequency Dependent Damping (FDD) distinguishes between lower-frequency body movement and higher-frequency wheel movement.
In simple terms, it is designed to control body movement during cornering and direction changes while allowing the wheels to absorb smaller, faster bumps. The standard Davinci dampers are available across the range, but FDD is exclusive to the ZXT variant.
The Thar OG switches to electric power steering across all 3 variants.

Mahindra say the new steering system requires less effort and offers better on-centre response, improved returnability and greater precision. The steering rack has also been moved closer to the wheel centre to improve steering linearity.
The lower steering effort should make the Thar easier to manoeuvre in traffic and through tight off-road sections. However, its actual feedback and consistency will need to be assessed in a road test.
Mahindra have widened the Thar OG’s track, with the front and rear track now measuring 1580mm. A wider track is generally intended to improve lateral stability and reduce body roll while also giving the SUV a broader stance.

The AXT and LXT RWD variants get 255/65 R18 highway-terrain tyres, while the LXT 4WD gets 255/65 R18 all-terrain tyres. The ZXT gets larger 255/60 R19 all-terrain tyres. While the 19-inch wheels add visual presence, ride quality will also depend on how effectively the new dampers compensate for their lower-profile sidewalls.
Mahindra have introduced several other mechanical and electronic changes alongside the revised chassis and suspension.
The LXT and ZXT 4WD variants get an electronic locking differential on the rear axle. It can lock both rear wheels together to help the Thar move when one wheel has limited traction.

These variants also get Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes. The modes alter the traction control, steering, automatic transmission shifts and accelerator response for different surfaces. The RWD versions of the LXT and ZXT with the 2.0L petrol and 2.2L diesel engines also get Terrain Assist and Zip and Zoom drive modes.
All variants get electronic stability control with rollover mitigation, traction control, hill hold and hill descent control. AXT and LXT variants carry over the previous front disc/rear drum brakes setup, while the new ZXT variant gets disc brakes all around.
The 2.0L turbo petrol and 2.2L diesel engines are more powerful too:
Both now produce 330Nm of torque, which should translate to stronger acceleration on the road and improve performance over steep or loose terrain.
On paper, Mahindra have addressed several areas that influence how a body-on-frame SUV behaves. The Thar OG combines a lighter and stiffer frame with revised suspension geometry, a Watts link, new dampers and electric power steering.

These changes are intended to improve ride comfort, steering precision, cornering stability and control over uneven terrain. However, their real-world effectiveness can only be judged after driving the Thar OG on familiar roads and comparing it with the outgoing model. Stay tuned!
Also Read: 2026 Mahindra Thar OG Launched At Rs. 10.32 Lakh
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Associate Editor
Siddharth enjoys understanding why certain cars click with buyers and figuring out what makes people actually stop and read or watch automotive content. He also has a soft spot for cars that may not always make logical sense, but still leave a lasting impression. Travelling, photography and exploring new cuisines are among his other passions.

























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