2024 Force Gurkha 5 Door Review: Much Better Now But Still Too Hardcore

The new Gurkha has been improved and now there is a 5-door version with more space. Hence, while off-road it is still brilliant, it is now a much better car in terms of meeting the basics

The Gurkha is different from the sea of SUVs these days and it is as hardcore as they come. It is a proper ladder-frame beast with locking differentials and ground clearance which makes it tower over other SUVs. Rains? With 700mm water wading capacity you can pretty much go everywhere. Plus, it looks cool and yes, the desi G-Wagon moniker is well deserved and in 5-door form it looks even more massive.

The new Gurkha has been improved and now there is a 5-door version with more space. Hence, while off-road it is still brilliant, it is now a much better car in terms of meeting the basics. Yes, at Rs 18 lakh, the Gurkha 5-door is not cheap but for sheer looks, it does have a 'don't mess with me' attitude which goes down well plus it is more exclusive than its rivals.

The new Gurkha also gets 18-inch wheels and a jacked up 233mm ground clearance plus the snorkel makes it a beast which gets a ton of attention on our roads. Force Motors have also addressed the serious issue of lack of power with 140 bhp and 320Nm. Plus, I recall, the clutch will not have you wishing for leg surgery after a traffic jam.

The new 5-speed manual is easier to slot and the clutch is much lighter. That said, the engine is noisy and yes, the gears do have a long throw while the steering wheel is too large/commercial like. There is plenty of torque though and the new Gurkha cruises well now. It is much quicker and is a much more relaxing car overall. The driving position makes you somewhat stand in similar height to bus drivers and the view out is brilliant.

Also new is the addition of things which the earlier Gurkha lacked like an inside fuel lid opener, a dead pedal and a rear camera plus smartphone connectivity, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a digital driver display. It also gets powered mirrors. That said, you still miss a sunroof or cooled seats but you would not complain and neither will its target audience. However, an automatic could have increased its appeal more we think and should have been given along with 6 airbags which are missing.

The 5-door means there are actual usable rear seats and headroom is in advance along with a roof blower which cools the second row very well. Knee Room is less though but you do get an armrest while it does require a serious climb even for tall folks. Entry to the third row is via the tailgate but here, it is surprisingly roomy while luggage space takes a hit and that means a roof rack is needed. 

Off-road, the Gurkha is now even better, while it looks cool and gets the bare basics. However, it still remains an SUV for the committed off-road lover and it does not give you a load of features or even an automatic. Hence, it is still a hardcore off-roader's dream but being slightly more liveable now. If you want a third car or just for off-road fun while being decent for journeys back to home, the Gurkha is now a much more agreeable proposition. 

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