[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40997084644/[/flickr]
The interiors get a beige treatment for an airy and upmarket feel
Interiors – The cabin of the Thar Wanderlust remains identical to that of the standard Thar. While the Daybreak edition got red accents for its interiors, the Wanderlust edition does the job with beige interiors which will be appreciated by some buyers. The dual-tone dashboard houses the same 3-spoke steering wheel (but finished in beige while the standard Thar gets a black unit), three-pod instrument cluster, aftermarket heads-up display and a touchscreen aftermarket infotainment system as well.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40997084724/[/flickr]
Legroom at the rear is limited but gullwing doors look super cool
Getting in and out of the Thar Wanderlust is a big task for short people
The Sparco front racing seats are supportive but not at all suitable on long drives because they are quite stiff. The rear seat doesn’t get headrests and isn’t all that comfortable because of limited legroom. Ergonomics is where the Thar lacks terribly and that continues with the Wanderlust as well. The placement of pedals and the gear lever continue to remain the same as in the standard Thar. Surprisingly, the SUV gets an electric sunroof that works really well!
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40815635745/[/flickr]
The low end performance is quite strong for off-road usage
Performance – There are no mechanical changes in the Thar Wanderlust and it is powered by the familiar 2.5-litre CRDe diesel engine borrowed from the regular Thar. This oil burner churns out 105 BHP of power at 3800 RPM and 247 Nm of torque at 1800-2000 RPM. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that channels power to all four wheels with an option of 4×2 as well. Of course, there are 4H and 4L modes for optimum off-road performance. The NVH of this engine is quite poor as you can hear clatter all the time and the gearbox is quite notchy too. However, power delivery is instant with minimal turbo lag, which makes it quite strong at the low-end, adding to effortless performance off the road.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/40815632865/[/flickr]
The NVH levels are poor and the loud clatter of the engine easily filters inside the cabin
The CRDe engine is fantastic but the heavy modifications on the car bog down its performance
The top-end performance of this engine is numb and it only shines in terms of mid-range and low-end output. The heavy weight of the Wanderlust limits the highway performance and driving at triple digit speeds in this machine doesn’t inspire confidence at all. Where it feels effortless though is off-road, the car feels so rugged that it can take the rough patches like nobody’s business with its fantastic low-end grunt.
