The Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar are two popular lifestyle off-road SUVs in the Indian market. Both models feature a ladder-frame chassis, four-wheel-drive capability and rugged exterior styling. However, their dimensions, body proportions and practical usability are quite different.

While the Mahindra Thar offers a wider and taller body with greater ground clearance, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny gets a longer wheelbase and a five-door layout. These differences can influence cabin space, road presence, manoeuvrability and off-road performance.

For buyers planning to purchase an adventure-focused SUV cars, understanding these measurements can help determine which model better suits their requirements.

1. Maruti Jimny vs Mahindra Thar: Dimensions Comparison

The Mahindra Thar has a slightly longer body, significantly greater width and more height than the Maruti Jimny. However, the Jimny has a longer wheelbase, which is an interesting difference between these two off-roaders.

2. Length: Which SUV Is Longer?

The Mahindra Thar measures 3,995 mm in length, while the Maruti Suzuki Jimny measures 3,985 mm.

This gives the Thar a length advantage of just 10 mm, which is almost negligible in everyday driving.

Both SUVs have compact overall lengths compared with larger lifestyle vehicles, making them relatively manageable on narrow roads and in urban environments.

However, their different door configurations create an important practical distinction. The Jimny has five doors, making rear-seat access easier, while the three-door Thar focuses more on its traditional off-road SUV design.

3. Width: Mahindra Thar Has a Clear Advantage

Width is where the Mahindra Thar establishes a significant advantage.

The Thar measures 1,870 mm in width, compared with 1,645 mm for the Jimny. This means the Mahindra SUV is 225 mm wider.

The wider body gives the Thar a more muscular road presence and potentially provides more lateral cabin space.

The Jimny, meanwhile, has a narrower body that can be useful when navigating tight trails, narrow streets and restricted parking spaces.

For buyers who prefer a broad and imposing SUV appearance, the Thar has the advantage. The Jimny's compact width may appeal more to drivers who regularly travel through narrow roads.

4. Height: Mahindra Thar Offers a Taller Profile

The Mahindra Thar stands 1,855 mm tall in its LXT variant, while the Maruti Jimny has a height of 1,720 mm.

This gives the Thar a height advantage of 135 mm.

The taller profile contributes to the Thar's commanding road presence and upright SUV appearance. It also gives the vehicle a more traditional off-road stance.

The Jimny has a comparatively compact body, although its upright design still provides good visibility for the driver.

For buyers who prefer a taller and more imposing SUV, the Mahindra Thar is the larger option.

5. Wheelbase: Maruti Jimny Is Longer

Interestingly, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny has a longer wheelbase than the Mahindra Thar.

The Jimny gets a 2,590 mm wheelbase, whereas the Thar has a 2,450 mm wheelbase. This means the Jimny has a 140 mm longer distance between its front and rear wheels.

A longer wheelbase can contribute to improved straight-line stability and provide more flexibility in cabin packaging.

The Jimny's longer wheelbase is particularly interesting because it comes with five doors and a more accessible rear passenger area.

The Thar's shorter wheelbase, meanwhile, is combined with its traditional three-door layout and off-road-focused proportions.

6. Ground Clearance: Mahindra Thar Sits Higher

Ground clearance is an important measurement for an off-road SUV because it determines how much space is available between the vehicle's underside and the road surface.

The Mahindra Thar offers 232 mm of ground clearance, compared with 210 mm for the Maruti Jimny.

The Thar therefore has a 22 mm advantage in ground clearance.

This can be useful when driving over rocks, uneven roads, deep ruts and other challenging surfaces.

The Jimny also offers respectable ground clearance for adventure driving, but the Thar has the numerical advantage.

Ground clearance alone does not determine off-road capability. Approach angle, departure angle, breakover angle, tyres, traction systems and vehicle dimensions also play important roles.

7. Boot Space: Jimny Offers a Practical Advantage

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny offers a boot capacity of approximately 211 litres with the rear seatbacks in their standard position, increasing to 332 litres when the rear seats are folded.

This provides some flexibility for carrying luggage, shopping bags and travel equipment.

The Mahindra Thar's three-door configuration makes rear-seat access and luggage management different. Mahindra does not provide a directly comparable official boot-capacity figure in the specifications referenced here.

For buyers who regularly travel with family or need additional luggage flexibility, the Jimny's five-door layout is a practical advantage.