New Mahindra Thar takes on Toyota Fortuner 4X4 in a classic tug of war

The all-new Mahindra Thar that was launched in the Indian market last year has become one of the most successful cars in recent times. The high demand for the all-new Thar has created an extended waiting period that lasts for months in several cities. The all-new Mahindra Thar is one seriously capable vehicle but is it as powerful as the Toyota Fortuner? Well, here is a video that shows pre-facelift Toyota Fortuner 4X4 automatic and Mahindra Thar 4X4 MT in a head-on tug-of-war to check which one is more powerful.

Both Mahindra Thar and Toyota Fortuner in the video offer 4X4 drive layout. There are three rounds in this video that uses three different modes. In the first round, both the vehicles are in 4X2 mode, in the second round both the vehicles are in 4X4 High Mode and the in the last round, both of them are put in 4X4 L mode.

In the first round, the Toyota Fortuner and the Thar did not pull each other across the line. The video shows that both the vehicles have the traction control turned off. The rear tyres of the Mahindra Thar move every few seconds but the Toyota Fortuner’s rear wheels occasionally move and when it fails to find the traction, it stops. The first round is conclusive and both the vehicles are awarded one point each.

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In the second round, both the vehicles are put in the 4H mode. It is a four-wheel-drive in high ratio. This mode powers all the four wheels and is used in tricky situations like driving on snow, slippery mud and more such conditions. In this round, the Fortuner easily pulls the Thar across the line as the Thar is struggling to find grip.

In the third round, both the vehicles are put in the 4L model, which is a four-wheel-drive low ratio mode. In this mode, both the vehicles remain stationary for a few moments at first. However, the sheer power of the Toyota Fortuner pulls the Thar across the line easily.

Mahindra Thar Vs Toyota Fortuner

Both the vehicles used here are powered by diesel engines. The Thar gets a 2.2-litre mHawk engine that generates a maximum power of 130 Bhp and peak torque of 300 Nm. It gets a five-speed manual transmission and a 4X4 drive layout. The Toyota Fortuner is powered by a massive 2.8-litre engine that generates a maximum power of 174 Bhp and 450 Nm of peak torque. The Fortuner gets a 6-speed automatic transmission. Thar gets CEAT A/T 255/60 R18 tyres. The Fortuner gets Bridgestone dual-terrain hybrid tyre with 265/60 R18.

The weight of the Fortuner is much higher than the Thar, which gives it an added advantage. With more power, heavier weight, the Toyota Fortuner is definitely a difficult competitor for the Thar. We are sure about the tyres but Bridgestone dual-purpose hybrid does provide more grip than the CEAT that the Thar offers. With so much of advantages, the Fortuner flexes its muscles and takes away the win as a piece of cake. In pure off-roading conditions, both the vehicles will probably perform in a similar way and will conquer similar terrains.

Also read: Mahindra Alturas gets much cheaper than the Toyota Fortuner thanks to 3 lakh discount