Force Gurkha 5 Door 4X4: India’s First Woman Owner Takes Delivery [Video]

Force has begun deliveries of the recently launched Gurkha 5 door. Standing at an introductory price of Rs 18 lakh, ex-showroom, the 5-door Gurkha packs ample value for the money it commands. The video of India’s first Gurkha 5-door delivery has now been posted on the brand’s official YouTube handle. It shows the first woman five-door customer taking delivery of the new vehicle.

The Gurkha 5-door featured in the video wears Red. There are a total of four colours available: Red, Green, White, and Black. The customers seem to be very happy about their buy and can be seen complementing the vehicle. Force Gurkha holds high respect and acceptance among off-roaders. The 5-door version adds a chunk of usability to the capable off-roader. It features minor styling changes, the addition of two additional doors, an increased wheelbase, and improved cabin livability.

The Gurkha 5-door comes with LED headlamps and DRLs, a company-fitted snorkel, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, a functional ladder to access the roof rack, and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. On the inside, there is now a 9-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, manual AC, four power windows, TPMS, and a digital driver’s display. The SUV comes with a solid build and a slew of safety equipment. It gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and more.

The 5-door Gurkha is powered by the same engine as the 3-door. The 2.6L diesel engine now produces 140 hp and 320 Nm. A 5-speed manual remains the only transmission on offer. The 4×4 hardware is offered as standard.

Force Gurkha 5-door vs Mahindra Thar Roxx

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is undoubtedly Gurkha’s strongest rival. Both the SUVs are eyeing the same pie and there’s a lot that differs between the two. The Gurkha 5-door is shorter than the Roxx with a smaller wheelbase. The Roxx takes the lead in width as well. However, the 5-door Gurkha is taller by 172 mm!

The top-spec Thar Roxx rides on 19-inch wheels while the Gurkha has 18-inch wheels. However, to note here is that the lower variants of the Roxx come with 18-inch wheels. Another upper hand the Gurkha has over the Thar is in the ground clearance. It has a ground clearance of 233mm, the best in the segment. We are not sure about the exact numbers of the Thar Roxx. However, it is evidently less, likely around 210 mm.

Off-roading Ability: Both the Gurkha and Thar Roxx are capable off-roaders. The 5-door Gurkha has a higher ramp-over angle, while the approach and departure angles are better on the Roxx. The water wading of Gurkha is about 700 mm, the best in the segment, while the Thar Roxx can do around 650 mm.

Ride Quality:  Mahindra Thar Roxx would take the lead in ride quality offered. The M Glyde platform with its advanced design and tech like FDD,  strikes a sweet balance between ride comfort and road/off-road manners. The Roxx can thus be used as an everyday vehicle and for long drives. The Gurkha, on the other hand, is better had as a niche vehicle and for shorter hauls if with five on board.

Engine Options: The Gurkha 5 door is available with just a single engine option- the Mercedes-sourced 2.6L diesel. However, the Mahindra offers both petrol and diesel engine choices. If we are to pit diesel against diesel, the Gurkha, despite its larger 2.6L engine, produces less torque than the 2.2 mHawk’s 370 Nm. The Thar also offers the choice of an automatic transmission.