Maruti Jimny vs Mahindra Thar: The Battle of Off-road SUVs
In January 2023, the Auto Expo witnessed the grand entry of Maruti Suzuki’s Jimny, a new addition to its lineup of off-road SUVs. This was a special moment for Maruti, but it also created a stir in the market. The Jimny was seen as a direct threat to the Mahindra Thar. It was expected that Maruti’s new SUV would reduce Thar’s market share. However, recent figures suggest that the Jimny is underperforming, and Thar continues to dominate.
Jimny Sales Decline, Thar Continues to Thrive
In November 2023, Jimny witnessed a decline of nearly 45% in its sales. Initially, it received robust bookings, but the past few months have seen a shortage of new customers. Last month, only 1,020 units of Jimny were sold, compared to 5,810 units of Mahindra Thar. Let’s look at why consumers are not choosing Jimny over Thar.
Why Thar Overpowers Jimny
In many aspects, Mahindra Thar was twenty-one times better than Maruti Jimny. Let’s see how Thar managed to maintain its dominance even after the arrival of Jimny.
Size: Undoubtedly, Mahindra Thar is bigger than Maruti Jimny in terms of size. Its road presence is also more formidable than Jimny. The width and height of Jimny are less than Thar, and Thar also has more ground clearance.
Engine: Maruti Jimny comes only with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine. In contrast, Mahindra Thar offers a 1.5-liter diesel engine, a 2.2-liter diesel engine, and a 2.0-liter petrol engine, providing customers with several options according to their needs.
Roof: The roof of the Mahindra Thar could also be a reason behind Jimny’s declining popularity. Many off-road SUV buyers prefer the soft-top roof available in Thar. Jimny only has a hardtop roof, which is also available in Thar.
Price Factor
There’s still a preference for the old Jeep in India. Mahindra Thar continues the legacy of Jeep. Nowadays, if someone wants to buy a Jeep, they prefer Thar. Moreover, price is also a factor that gives Thar an edge.
The starting ex-showroom price of Mahindra Thar is 10.98 lakh rupees. On the other hand, the starting ex-showroom price of Maruti Jimny is 12.74 lakh rupees. Maruti recently launched the Jimny Thunder edition for a limited period, which starts at an ex-showroom price of 10.74 lakh rupees.
Summary
- Maruti Suzuki’s Jimny, launched at the Auto Expo in January 2023, was seen as a direct threat to the Mahindra Thar.
- However, recent sales figures suggest that the Jimny is underperforming, with a 45% sales decline, while Mahindra Thar continues to dominate.
- Factors such as size, engine options, roof preference, and price give Thar an edge over Jimny.
- The starting ex-showroom price of Mahindra Thar is 10.98 lakh rupees, compared to Maruti Jimny’s 12.74 lakh rupees.
