Mahindra Thar 5-door will launch in our market on August 15, 2024, and the upcoming Force Gurkha 5-door will rival it. In recent times, we have spotted both these anticipated SUV testing across a diverse range of terrains and weather conditions. Generally speaking, the Thar is bound to be slightly more premium with tons of new-age features and a relatively more premium cabin. On the other hand, the Gurkha is a barebones and utilitarian SUV. Nonetheless, both these are extremely capable off-roaders. That is their attraction. For now, let us take a look at the details of what the Thar will offer over the Gurkha in the 5-door guise.
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5 Features of Mahindra Thar 5-door Over Gurkha 5-door
Choice of Powertrains
The upcoming Thar will share the platform with the Scorpio N and offer comparable powertrain choices. This means it can come equipped with either a 2.0-litre mStallion turbo petrol engine or a 2.2-litre mHawk turbo diesel engine, with both manual and automatic transmissions available. These engines may undergo tuning adjustments specific to the Thar. Additionally, it will incorporate advanced off-road technology to conquer various challenging terrains. Presently, the 3-door Thar is priced between Rs 11.25 lakh and Rs 17.60 lakh, ex-showroom. It’s anticipated that the 5-door variant will carry a considerably higher price tag. On the other hand, the Gurkha will most likely carry a single powertrain option.
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Premium Interior
The cabin of the Mahindra Thar 5-door will be more premium than the Force Gurkha 5-door. This is true for the dashboard pattern, door panels, centre console, and just about every other component. Thar has always been much more comfortable and modern in comparison to the Gurkha. This is true particularly for the existing Thar which was launched in 2020. The Indian automaker has taken things to the next level with this Thar in terms of cabin features, comfort, safety and convenience. That will carry through to the upcoming 5-door iteration as well. That is one area where the Gurkha still lags behind. It offers an absolutely basic cabin.
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Sunroof
Interestingly, the Indian car customers’ obsession with sunroof is at an all-time high. As a result, car companies are forced to offer sunroofs even in mid-level trims of their vehicles. If the spy shots are anything to go by, we also spotted a test mule of the Thar 5-door with a sunroof. Now, we know that people will be taking the Thar to exquisite locations during their off-road excursions. Hence, they would want to stand out of the sunroof to take in the mesmerizing views. However, we must mention that you must only do so when the vehicle is stationary. Again, we don’t think Ford Gurkha will offer a sunroof in its upcoming 5-door guise.
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More Variants
Mahindra will make the Thar 5-door more accessible to a wider range of potential customers. In fact, it even offers the Thar in a RWD version currently. It ensures that people get the taste of the vehicle at enticing price points. Apart from that, there will be many variants on offer. Hence, the customers will be able to choose the best option for them according to their preferences, usage and budget. That is a handy aspect to woo more customers. On the other hand, the Gurkha current comes with just one fully loaded trim. We expect the 5-door model with the same offering as well. Hence, the buyer will be forced to go with a single trim.
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Better Features
Finally, the Thar 5-door will boast tons of modern amenities. These include things like a 10.25-inch Infotainment Display, 9-speaker H/K Audio System, 19-inch Rims, Ventilated Front Seats, Powered Driver’s Seat, Panoramic Sunroof, Digital instrument Cluster, Wireless Charging, All 4 Disc Brakes, LED Headlamps and Fog Lamps, LED Taillamps, ADAS with 360-degree Camera, Rear AC Vents and Type-C Charging Ports, 7 Airbags, BLD and Electronic Locking Differential, Traction Control, Automatic AC and more. This makes the 5-door Thar more favourable for people with family. The Gurkha 5-door will barely have these convenience and comfort functions.
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Author’s Note
There are just three rivals in this segment in our market – Maruti Jimny, Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha. Each of these have their own strengths and weaknesses. With the Jimny already available in the more practical 5-door version, the Thar and Gurkha are currently offered in 3-door guises. Hence, a more practical version is necessary to draw new customers in. That is the reason why we have spotted both these SUVs testing rigorously in the 5-door version. Mahindra and Force want to ensure that they test these thoroughly because the owners will take them to extreme conditions. These SUVs can’t afford to be anything less than absolutely reliable. Let us see how well the customers respond to these SUVs once they go on sale.
