This paper presents a third harmonic injection (THI) based nonlinear controller for a wide speed range operation of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drive. Due to magnetic saturation, constant motor parameters lead to an unsatisfactory performance for the controller. Therefore, an adaptive backstepping based nonlinear controller is developed for an IPMSM drive to achieve high dynamic performance coping with parameter uncertainties. A sinusoidal THI technique is integrated to increase the dc bus utilization, which facilitates a higher operating speed range. The field control permits extended speed range utilizing the reluctance torque and field weakening. Stability of the control law state variables are demonstrated through Lyapunov stability criterion and global asymptotic stability of the drive is assured through the application of criterion supported by Barbalat's lemma. Feasibility of the proposed drive is tested in both simulation and experiment for laboratory 3.73 kW IPMSM drive. A performance comparison of the proposed THI-based nonlinear controller is shown with conventional benchmark tuned PI controller, and nonlinear controller without THI. Rapid convergence to command speed, reduction in speed oscillations over the rated speed, and a visible reduction in phase current with THI is achieved through the proposed drive.