New Force Gurkha 4X4 review, test drive

We get a quick impression of Force Motors' new off-roader.

Published on Apr 11, 2013 07:54:00 PM

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Make : Force

Model : Gurkha

Off-road enthusiasts will remember the Gurkha from 2008. Force Motors, then Bajaj Tempo, made an off-road vehicle based heavily on the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon, mainly for export. A limited number (40 to be precise) were sold to the Indian public between 2008 and 2010, after which it faded away. Now, spurred on by the increased interest in adventure sports and off-roading, Force Motors has come up with this updated Gurkha, aimed at the off-road crowd. It is Force Motors second offering after the Force One.

The official name is Force Gurkha E.O.V. 4x4x4. In English that means Extreme Off-road Vehicle and the three 4s stand for a vehicle that has four-wheel drive and can take on four seasons and four kinds of terrain; silly name, but does it live up to it?

The specs are impressive though. For Rs 8.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top-end Gurkha Hard-top, there is some serious mud-plugging kit on offer. Standard equipment includes mechanical differential locks for the front and rear axles, a snorkel that allows it to go swimming in water 550mm deep, a transfer case with low-ratios and all-terrain tyres mounted on alloy wheels borrowed from the Force One.