Force Gurkha 5-Door has finally entered the fiercely competitive off-road SUV category with its promise to offer a mix of ruggedness and practicality. In this blog, take an in-depth look into what makes Gurkha special-from the design down to performance and features. Let’s dive into the varied aspects that make it different from its competitors.
Design and Exterior Features
The all-new Force Gurkha 5-Door draws styling cues from the legendary G Wagen and indestructibly styled. Round headlamps with modern LEDs and fog lamps round it off for an authentic look; indicators are positioned atop for better visibility.
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature on the outside is the snorkel, factory fitted to emphasize its off-road capability. Its side profile resembles its 3-door cousin, imposingly structured to speak volumes of strength.
The Gurkha has one of the best clearances in its class with 233mm ground clearance and is well capable of negotiating challenging terrains. The styling is very off-roadish, to say the least, from the rear as well, with a spare wheel mounted on the rear end for its functionality as well as style factor.
Comfort and Utility inside the Car
Getting inside a Gurkha 5-Door, one is sure to notice that it is an interior sans frills and utility has been given a greater importance than luxury. There is a simple design dash that comes with all basic toggles and makes the operation easy. However, this may disappoint those buyers who crave for higher-order infotainment options.
While not the most premium interior around, it does hold up to off-road beatings quite nicely. The five passengers easily fit on board with the option to fold the rear seats for maximum boot space, considered among the best in class.
While the Gurkha does feature some must-haves inside, such as air conditioning and 12-volt charging ports, it can be considered as fairly basic inside when pitted against its rivals in this price bracket. Adding touchscreens and reverse park cameras are some of the aftermarket options of infotainment systems for anyone looking to upgrade its connectivity, though.
Performance and Drive
Force Gurkha 5-Door draws power from a 2.6-liter diesel unit mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox for able performance both on the road and off it. The torque is sufficient to take on such rough grounds.
The best part of driving Gurkha has to be the phenomenal off-road capability. With higher ground clearance and strong tyres, it can strut across rock-strewn pathways and muddy trails without any complaints. It feels every inch an off-roader with its solid build quality rounding off the driving experience nicely.
However, on the road, the case is somewhat different. While the Gurkha is stable, its ride does get a little bouncy at times-which again leads to its off-road lineage. Gear shifts are, for the most part, smooth, while some may find the odd struggle during slotting a tad annoying. The visibility from the driver seat is, however, good enough that one can do U-turns and tight maneuvers easily.
Gurkha vs Competitors: How Does It Stack up?
It holds up rather well against its key rivals, the Mahindra Thar and Maruti Jimny, but it also shows its weaknesses. Each one has its strong points, and thus, all of it boils down to the fancies of the buyer.
• Mahindra Thar: The Mahindra Thar is noted for its more modern features and better on-road performance; for buyers desiring to balance comfort and performance, this is arguably the most desirable alternative to the Gurkha.
• Maruti Jimny: The Jimny is compact and agile, hence good for both urban driveability and off-roading. At the same time, it cannot be expected to offer as much interior space as its rival, the Gurkha.
• Force Gurkha: The Gurkha isn’t really loaded with luxury or technology like some of its rivals, but off-road capability and toughness are places where nothing can beat it. Final Verdict
The Force Gurkha 5-Door is definitely an off-road SUV, with a strong build and function over form. It will be very ideal for adventurers who want a car to take them through the most difficult terrain. Potential buyers, though, will have to weigh its basic interior features against a bit more technologically advanced competitors.
In the end, the Gurkha 5-Door will be quite capable off the road and might not disappoint in the market. The different styling, practical features, and performance further create a strong case in favor of people who give importance to ruggedness for the feel of adventure in their drive.
