Life begins wherethe road ends.

Driving on surfaces that aren't paved: trails, forest tracks, rock, mud, sand, snow and water crossings. It ranges from gentle dirt roads to technical rock crawling.

The goal isn't speed. It's control: reading the terrain, choosing a line and getting through without damage.

• Mud: pick a line, keep steady momentum and use gentle throttle. Wheel spin digs you in.
• Water: walk the crossing first to check depth, current and the bottom. Go slow and steady, never stop halfway, and know your vehicle's wading depth.
• Rock: go slow in low range, place each wheel deliberately, use a spotter and protect the underbody.
• Snow: smooth inputs, low speed and a low gear. Carry a shovel and recovery gear.
• Hills: descend in a low gear, avoid hard braking, and don't turn side-on to a steep slope.
• Night: slow down, add auxiliary lights and only drive routes you know.

The Mahindra Thar is a body-on-frame 4x4 with a low-range transfer case (the "4 Low" in many of our titles), and the 4x4 versions offer a locking rear differential. Features vary by variant and model year.

This build adds a bull-bar front bumper with LED fog lamps, a four-light roof bar, round LED halo headlights, black alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres, fender flares, side steps and a rear-mounted spare.

Carry a recovery strap or kinetic rope, soft shackles, gloves, a tyre inflator and gauge, a puncture kit, a shovel, a torch, a first-aid kit, water and offline maps. A winch helps if you have one.

Lowering tyre pressure a little gives more grip and a bigger contact patch on rock, sand and mud. Don't go too low, and re-inflate before you drive on tarmac.

• Don't go alone into remote areas, and tell someone your route.
• Stay on existing tracks and respect local laws, protected forests and private land. Many places need permits.
• Keep your speed within your control, and wear seatbelts.
• Take your rubbish with you and leave the trail as you found it.
• Our clips are cinematic. Don't copy stunts, and take a proper off-road course before tackling hard trails.