Mahindra Thar 5-Door vs Force Gurkha 5-Door : For many decades, the Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha would be perhaps handed down as best among adventure enthusiasts in India for terrains that are rugged or off-roading. They have excellent overland capabilities and ruggedness, thus have their fair share of loyal fans. However, having launched their 5-door versions, it is really exciting. The new entries will be introduced in 2025, and excitement has soared. These are to ally hard-core off-roading with family practicality. But which one brings the better package? Let us find out.
The Mahindra Thar 5-Door has muscular yet fashionable features preserving the DNA of the 3-door version while gaining added practicality through extra dimensions and added doors. Modernity speaks through LED lights, alloy wheels, and bigger stance. The same rugged, boxy, old-school lines and heavy-thick frames comprise the Force Gurkha 5-Door which appeals to purists. It snorkels, straight body lines, and high stance make it look like true mountains fighters.
It is expected that both 2.0L turbo-petrol and 2.2L diesel powertrains will accompany Thar 5-door. They are combined by a manual and an automatic option. It has a 4×4 with a low-range gearbox, making quite the capable off-roader. The Gurkha 5-Door has a 2.6L diesel engine and is paired with a manual gearbox to account for performance. While it will leave something to be desired compared with Thar’s cross-country ability, it is also reasonably stout and very well endowed with low-end torque and off-road gear ratios, making it much more reliable in extremes.
The interior of the Thar 5-door might most probably be expensive with a big touchscreen and advanced versions of seats and rear AC vents apart from safety features like six airbags. It manages all the modern features with the rugged character. The Gurkha 5-Door keeps things simple with a functional cabin, hardwearing materials, and, above all, just the essential features. Certainly, it is not as premium as the Thar, but highly focused in making a point about practicality in tough usage.
An entry price for the more upscale segment, about ₹15-18 lakh, appears reasonable for Mahindra to sell the 5-Door as it becomes more expensive due to the brand value and features associated with it. The entry price for the Force Gurkha 5-Door will be between ₹14 and ₹16 lakh, making it even more interesting for hardcore off-roader enthusiasts.
Considering all the above, if one were looking for a powerful modern machine with brilliant resale value, probably, one should consider Mahindra Thar 5-Door. However, if one looks for all these off-roading skills mixed with rugged simpleness, the Force Gurkha 5-Door will never disappoint. Both are true to their adventurist spirits but attract a separate group of customers.