Force Gurkha Vs Mahindra Thar: Detailed Comparison

Even the full-size SUVs like Toyota Fortuner are capable off the road but this segment is something that is accessible to almost every carbuyer. Not going to lie but, both Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha are some of the best compact offroaders anyone can have in today’s world, especially in India. Are you someone looking for robust SUVs that are capable both on and off the road? Well, check out this comparison between Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha and figure out which one suits you better.

Force Gurkha

Starting with the underrated Gurkha first. It was introduced back in 2008 with an ultimate motive to act as a Mahindra Thar rival. Of course, it couldn’t outshine its rival but again, you can’t deny the fact that it is as capable as any other off-roader available in India.

Under the hood, the 2021 Force Gurkha comes powered by a Mercedes sourced 2.6-litre diesel engine known for producing a decent 90BHP and 250Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties for this unit are currently managed by a sole 5-speed manual gearbox that ultimately means that there’s no automatic transmission on offer.

Just like the Thar, even this one is available with a 4WD system as standard.

Ground clearance of the new Gurkha stands at 205mm but because of the snorkel, it comes with a water wading capacity of a massive 700mm. A new set of LED headlights, multiple USB charging sockets, a manual air conditioner and even a new touchscreen infotainment system has been added to the feature list for the first time. Further, basic safety aids such as dual airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts and a tyre pressure monitoring system are also there to ensure occupants safety.

Pros

• Off-road capability
• Modern features onboard

Cons

• No petrol variant
• No AT variant either

Mahindra Thar

Replacement still not found! And, it’s not that easy to find one. Apart from the controversy that Thar looks like the Jeep Wrangler, there was nothing much to say. Being an affordable ride, it is still one of the best selling SUVs available in India with the second-gen model getting immense love for the overall design language.

Available with two engine options, the all-new Mahindra Thar is for everyone. The first one is obviously a potent 2.2-lite four-cylinder diesel engine that churns out a decent 130HP with a peak torque of 300Nm.

Similar to it is a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that has made its debut with the new Thar. The overall output from this unit is currently rated at 150BHP and 300Nm while being paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Interestingly, the torque is even higher with the automatic gearbox.

With a higher ground clearance of 226mm, Thar is literally unmatched. However, several features such as a large 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, roof-mounted speakers, multi-functional steering wheel and an analogue instrument cluster with MID screen makes it even practical when compared to the outgoing first-gen model. Let’s talk about safety, Mahindra has packed the new Thar with tons of practical aids including dual airbags, EBD and rollover mitigation as standard.

Pros

• Two engine options
• Low NVH levels

Cons

• Ride quality
• No comfort on offer

Force Gurkha Vs Mahindra Thar: At A Glance