The Mahindra Thar 4X4, particularly the petrol variant, is notorious for its low fuel efficiency. Recently, however, an owner transformed his Thar petrol 4X4 by fitting it with a CNG kit, making it India’s first automatic Thar running on CNG. This Delhi-based owner shared his unique experience of driving this modified off-roader.
A video posted on YouTube by RNK Autos showcases this Mahindra Thar 4X4 automatic with a CNG kit. The video begins with the host introducing the owner and then discussing his experience of installing and using CNG in the Thar.
The owner reveals that his decision to buy the Thar was spontaneous—he didn’t consider other options, as a conversation with someone inspired him to purchase it the very next day. A frequent traveler to the mountains, he has taken the Thar to Ladakh four times and accumulated 50,000 km in just a year.The owner explains that he drives roughly 70,000-80,000 km annually. To cut down on fuel costs, he installed an 8 kg CNG tank with a direct injection kit. Previously, he owned a Honda Accord with a CNG kit, also an automatic, which he drove up to 5.75 lakh km.
CNG Mileage
Though he hasn’t measured exact mileage, he notes that the Thar’s 8 kg CNG tank lasts about 200 km at a steady highway speed of 80-90 kmph. In mixed city and highway conditions, the range drops to 150 km, and in purely city driving, it’s around 80-100 km. Even with these ranges, he’s saved significantly on fuel compared to the petrol variant’s 7-10 kmpl mileage.
CNG Kit Installation and Performance
The video shows the neat installation of the CNG components, including the reducer and ECU, with no visible extra wiring or pipes. When driving, the host notes that there’s minimal loss of power, and the owner points out that while CNG kits are often seen as less reliable in automatics, careful driving ensures smooth performance without issues.