Force Gurkha 5-Door Version Launched in India: 4×4 Option with 7-Seater SUV, More Powerful Engine Than Mahindra Thar, Starting Price ₹18L
On May 2nd, Force Motors unveiled the 5-door version of its off-roader SUV, Gurkha, in India. The company had earlier launched the 7-seater SUV on April 29th, with a starting price of ₹18 lakh (ex-showroom). Bookings for the vehicle have commenced, requiring customers to pay a token amount of ₹25,000 through official dealerships to secure their orders.
The new Gurkha variant, in addition to its 3-door version, will offer a longer wheelbase by 425mm. Force Motors accompanies the Gurkha with a 3-year/1.5 lakh km warranty, inclusive of 4 free services and 1 year of complimentary roadside assistance. The 5-door Gurkha will compete against the likes of the 5-door Thar and Maruti Jimny in the market.
Gurkha 5-Door: Exterior Design
The design of the Gurkha 5-door model is as boxy as its 3-door counterpart, but with two additional doors and a longer wheelbase. At the front, it features circular LED DRLs along with round LED headlights flanked by two-slat grilles bearing the Gurkha badging. Below the grille sits a stylish black bumper with a small air dam in the center and round fog lamps on both sides.
Its lengthened side profile incorporates square-off wheel arches, factory-fitted snorkels, roof rack (optional), and new 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The rear fender sports 4×4 badging. At the rear, you’ll find a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, LED tail lights, and Gurkha and Force branding. The SUV comes in four color options including purple, red, white, and black.
Force Gurkha 5-Door: Interior Updates
The dashboard of the Force Gurkha 5-door model remains similar to the older model, but it now boasts a new 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity in place of the previous 7.0-inch unit.
Notable updates in the cabin include improved seating comfort and updated upholstery. In the 5-door Gurkha, the second row features a bench seat, while the third row offers captain’s seats.
When it comes to features, it includes a digital driver display, power-adjustable ORVMs, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, roof-mounted rear vents, manual AC, and power windows all around.
For passenger safety, the car comes equipped with dual front airbags, three-point seat belts, traction control, hill-hold assist, and a rear camera with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which also monitors the pressure on the spare tire.
New Gurkha with 4-Wheel Drive Option
The Force Gurkha 5-door model comes with a 2.6-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine, which is also available in the 3-door version. The company has retuned this engine, increasing its power by 50%. It now generates 140PS of power instead of the previous 90PS, and torque has been boosted to 320Nm from 250Nm.
This engine has been sourced from Mercedes-Benz. It features an auto start-stop system, enhancing the mileage of the new Gurkha. Inzer Gurkha makes it more powerful than the Mahindra Thar, which has a 2.2-liter diesel engine producing 132hp power and 300Nm torque.
For transmission, the 5-door Gurkha will be equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox and a low-range transfer case, continuing with a four-wheel-drive train. On its center console, there’s a shift-on-the-fly 4WD knob next to the driver’s seat. An automatic gearbox is also available in the Thar.
