New Force Gurkha 4X4 review, test drive

Plastic quality and fit-and-finish are better than the Mahindra Thar's, but that's not saying much anyway. You'll find plenty of gaps between the dash panels, and lots of cheap bits. The driving position is mixed bag too– the steering wheel slopes away from you (much like a truck's), there's no seat height or steering rake adjust, and slotting the long-throw five-speed ’box into the dog-leg first is quite a stretch. That said, the Gurkha's seats, its moulded roof lining and the bright, airy interiors are quite nice by off-roader standards. You access the forward-facing rear seats by lifting the front seats out of the way (the soft-top version has conventional side-facing seats). Sit on the high seats and you'll discover they have plenty of legroom, width and thigh support. However, owing to their high-set position, tall passengers might find their heads brushing against the roof lining. 

Twist the key, the engine catches almost immediately and settles into a gravelly idle. The clutch, you will find, is heavy but progressive in the way it engages. Stretch to slot into first, get off the clutch and you'll find the Gurkha moves off with surprising zest. However, it's soon time to stretch again and shift to second as the engine only revs to a disappointingly low 3500rpm.The Gurkha feels incredibly short geared(which is why it feels so responsive) andwhile this last bit gives you incredible throttle control off-road, it translates to plenty of gearshifts on the road.