The new Force Gurkha is now more powerful than its competitor - Mahindra Thar diesel.
Published on Apr 29, 2024 03:17:00 PM
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After a long wait, Force has finally revealed the 2024 Gurkha SUV. Now available in 3-door and 5-door guises, the former is a direct rival to the Mahindra Thar. Here’s a specifications comparison between the two off-roaders.
| Force Gurkha vs Mahindra Thar: dimensions, off-road stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Force Gurkha 3-door | Mahindra Thar | ||
| Length | 3965mm | 3985mm | |
| Width | 1865mm | 1855mm | |
| Height | 2080mm | 1844-1855mm | |
| Wheelbase | 2400mm | 2450mm | |
| Ground clearance | 233mm | 226mm | |
| Front/rear track | 1547mm/1490mm | 1520mm/1520mm | |
| Turning circle diameter | 10 metres | 11.8 metres | |
| Approach angle | 39 degrees | 41.8 degrees | |
| Departure angle | 37 degrees | 36.8 degrees | |
| Breakover angle | 28 degrees | 27 degrees | |
| Water wading | 700mm | 650mm | |
Considering that the Mahindra Thar is only available with a 3-door format for now, it's only fair to compare it with the Force Gurkha 3-door. That said, the Thar is 20mm longer than the new Gurkha 3-door, while the latter is 10mm wider. The Gurkha is also over 225mm taller than the Thar, but the Mahindra SUV has a 50mm longer wheelbase.
Moreover, the new Force Gurkha has a wider front track but a narrower rear track, while it also has a shorter turning circle diameter and 50mm extra water wading capacity as compared to the Thar. The Mahindra SUV has a kerb weight ranging between 1774-1783kg, while the Gurkha has a gross vehicle weight of 2800kg. In addition, the Gurkha has better breakover and departure angles, but the Thar has a superior approach angle.
| Force Gurkha vs Mahindra Thar: powertrain, suspension | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Force Gurkha 3-door | Mahindra Thar 2.2 | Mahindra Thar 1.5 | |
| Type | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel |
| Capacity | 2596cc | 2184cc | 1497cc |
| Power | 140hp | 132hp | 119hp |
| Torque | 320Nm | 300Nm | 300Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual/6-speed auto | 6-speed manual |
| Front/rear suspension | Independent double wishbone with coil springs/Multi-link with pan hard rod & coil springs | Independent double wishbone with coil springs/Non-independent multi-link rigid axle & coil springs | Independent double wishbone with coil springs/Non-independent multi-link rigid axle & coil springs |
| Drive layout | 4WD | 4WD | RWD |
| Front/rear differentials | Manual locking differential/Manual locking differential | Brake locking differential/Mechanical locking differential | Brake locking differentia/NA |
The 2024 Gurkha gets the same Mercedes-sourced 2.6-litre diesel engine, however, it is now tuned to produce 140hp and 320Nm. This engine is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission with a standard four-wheel drive configuration.
Since the Force Gurkha is only available with a diesel engine, we are comparing it only with the diesel engines of the Thar. The Mahindra Thar’s 2.2-litre diesel engine generates 132hp and 300Nm, and can be had with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 6-speed torque converter automatic. While 4WD is standard, the Thar is also available with a smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine that makes 119hp, and comes with a rear-wheel drive setup.
Both models come fitted with transfer cases that let you shift from two-wheel drive to either four-wheel drive high or low ratios, as standard. The Thar comes with an ESC-based brake lock differential at the front and auto mechanical locking differential at the rear, both of which are managed by on-board computers. However, the Gurkha allows you to manually lock the front and rear differentials.
The Mahindra Thar diesel is currently priced from Rs 11.25 lakh for the RWD version and Rs 15 lakh onwards for the 4x4 variants, going up to Rs 17.60 lakh for the top-end LX Earth Edition hard-top automatic variant. Given the Thar's length and it's smaller sub-1,500cc diesel engine, the Thar RWD enjoys tax benefits under the sub-4-metre class, while a lack of 4x4 hardware also results in a lower price tag. Prices for the new Force Gurkha to be revealed in a few days.
All prices, ex-showroom India
Also see:
2024 Force Gurkha 5 door review: Bigger is better
2024 Force Gurkha video review
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