2021 Force Gurkha vs. Mahindra Thar: Which One Has The Better Specs?

Published On Sep 19, 2021 12:52 PM By Dhruv for Force Gurkha

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Does the new Force Gurkha have what it takes to take on the Thar in a head-to-head? We take a look…

The new Force Gurkha is upon us, and this time around, it is aimed squarely at the Thar. With a more updated design and a slightly improved feature list, does it have what it takes to take on the champion of the segment, the Mahindra Thar? We find out in this spec comparison:

Dimensions

Measurements	Force Gurkha	Mahindra Thar (LX Series)
Length	4116mm	3985mm
Width	1812mm	1855mm
Height	2075mm	1844 (Hard Top)
Wheelbase	2400mm	2450mm
Ground Clearance	205mm	226mm

The Gurkha is the longer vehicle here, although the Thar has a longer wheelbase and is also wider. The Gurkha, however, is taller, which will ultimately lead to a more spacious cabin.

Off-road angles

Angle	Force Gurkha	Mahindra Thar (LX Series)
Approach angle	37 degree	41.8 degree
Breakover angle	25 degree	27 degree
Departure angle	25 degree	36.8 degree
Water wading	700mm	650mm

The Thar has better approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Gurkha, however, can wade through more water and even comes with a factory-fitted snorkel.

Engine

Diesel Engines	Force Gurkha	Mahindra Thar
Displacement	2.6-litre	2.2-litre
Transmission	5-speed MT	6-speed MT/6-speed AT
Max Power	91PS	130PS
Peak Torque	250Nm	300Nm

We have only considered the Thar’s diesel engine for this comparison as the Gurkha doesn’t get a petrol engine. The Mahindra is more powerful and can be teamed with an automatic transmission, unlike the Gurkha.

FYI, the Thar also gets a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 150PS/320Nm, and it can be paired with manual and automatic transmission options. However, we haven’t considered that as well because of the reason stated above.

Features

Features	Force Gurkha	Mahindra Thar
Exterior	Full-LED headlamp with LED DRLs Front fog lamps 16-inch steel wheels Follow-me-home headlamps Side foot steps	LED DRLs Front fog lamps 18-inch alloy wheels LED tail lamps Side foot steps Follow-me-home headlamps
Interior	Bottle holders Dark grey door trims and seat upholstery Adjustable headrests for rear seats MID in instrument cluster	Bottle holders Dark fabric upholstery Adjustable-headrests for rear seats Utility hook on co-driver back seat MID in instrument cluster
Comfort and Convenience	Tilt and telescopic adjust for steering Manual AC Power windows Central locking 12V power accessory socket - front USB charging for front and rear passengers Cornering lamp Tyre pressure monitoring system	Tilt-adjustable steering wheel Electronic AC Lumbar support Cruise control Central locking Remote keyless entry Rear demister Tyre pressure monitoring system Electrically adjustable ORVMs
Safety	Dual front airbags ABS with EBD Rear parking sensors Speed sensing auto door lock	Dual front airbags ABS with EBD Rear parking sensors Speed sensing auto door lock ESP, TC ISOFIX child-seat mounting points 3-point seat belts for rear passengers
Infotainment	7-inch touchscreen Android Auto and Apple CarPlay 4 speakers	7-inch touchscreen Android Auto and Apple CarPlay 4 speakers 2 tweeters Steering-mounted audio controls BlueSense App Connectivity with smartwatch support
Off-roading equipment	4WD Low-range gearbox Front MLD (manual-locking differential) Rear MLD Snorkel	4WD Low-range gearbox Tyre direction monitoring system Rear MLD (mechanically locking differential) Front brake-locking differential (ESP-based) Off-road stats on the touchscreen such as altitude, compass, roll and pitch Hill hold Hill descent control

The Thar offers more features you’d find helpful for everyday driving, whereas the Gurkha has stuck with the basics. The former also one-ups the Gurkha in safety, offering ESP, ISOFIX mounting points, hill hold and descent control, and 3-point seat belts for rear passengers. But when it comes to off-roading tech, the Gurkha is the better choice here, considering it gets manual locking differential on both axles. Whereas the Thar only has a mechanical locking (auto) at the rear and an ESP-based at the front.

Price

SUV	Force Gurkha	Mahindra Thar
Price Range	Rs 13 lakh (expected)	Rs 12.78 lakh to Rs 15.08 lakh

All prices are ex-showroom.

For all of the above advantages, the Thar comes at a price that we believe will be higher than the Gurkha’s. It is also a touch better when it comes to the quality of materials used. The Gurkha has, however, closed the gap considerably when you look at its last-gen model. For these reasons, the Gurkha will continue to be an excellent offering for those looking for advanced off-roading performance with basic features. For everyone else, the Thar will make more sense.