2021 Force Gurkha vs Mahindra Thar
Force has finally revealed the production-spec Gurkha, ahead of its launch on 27th September However, the Gurkha is not the only body-on-frame, three-door, made-in-India off-roader in our market, as the Mahindra Thar gives it perfect competition in this segment. Now that we have the technical specifications for both, it’s only fair that we compare the two, to see which comes out on top.
Dimensions
You will have to wait till we compare the two off-roaders in the real world. But we can at least get a rough image of both the cars, by looking at their technical specifications.
Thar beats the new Gurkha in every category, as it has a better approach angle (by 4.8 degrees), departure angle (by 3.8 degrees), break-over angle (by 2 degrees), and has better ground clearance (by 21mm). The new Gurkha gains back some ground in with its higher water wading credentials (rated at 50mm more) and its tighter turning circle (less by 0.5 meters)
The new-gen Thar has a considerable weight advantage over the Gurkha, as the Thar is roughly 390kg lighter than its rival.
Engine, Gearbox, and Suspension
Looking at these diesel powertrains, it is the Mahindra Thar that impresses with its 130hp, 2.2-liter mHawk turbo-diesel engine. Not only does it make 39hp more than the Gurkha’s Mercedes-derived 2.6-litre unit, but it puts out 50Nm more torque as well. In terms of gearbox options, the Gurkha is solely available with a 5-speed manual, while the Thar offers a 6-speed manual as well as a 6-speed automatic gearbox, giving the Thar another advantage.
Force has dropped 140hp, from its 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine offered in old Gurkha Xtreme, as that would have been a closer match for the new Thar’s diesel engine.
The Thar also comes with a whole lot of electronic safety features like Hill-start assist, Hill descent control, and ESC-based brake lock differential at the front, and auto mechanical locking differential at the rear. As convenient as these features are, this system is managed entirely by the onboard computers and doesn’t give you any individual control. The Gurkha on the other hand provides much more control as it allows you to manually lock the front and rear differentials, though it lacks the other electronic safety nets.
NOTE: We have not taken Thar’s 150hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine into consideration in this comparison as the Gurkha is only offered with a diesel powerplant.
Major Updates on the Force Gurkha
- The 2021 Gurkha gets a redone exterior, including new glass panes, fog lamps, and LED headlamps.
- The cabin has a dark grey theme, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen and manual AC.
- Will be powered by a 2.6-liter diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual.
- Likely to be priced from Rs 13 lakh (ex-showroom).
