5-Door Off-Roader: Mahindra Thar VS Maruti Suzuki Jimny VS Force Gurkha

The lifestyle vehicle category is slowly gaining traction in the Indian market, all thanks to the growing community of off-road enthusiasts coupled with the diligent efforts made by carmakers in bring some exciting and capable products likes the Mahindra Thar and the Force Gurkha. Spied testing multiple times on Indian tarmac, the 5-door version of the Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny are likely launch by the first half of 2023. Although the exact specs of these SUVs are still unknown, this quick comparison will give you a brief idea about their differentiating factors.

Mahindra Thar 5 Door VS Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5 Door VS Force Gurkha 5 Door: Dimensions and Seating Configuration

Sporting an extra pair of doors and tons of practicality, these SUVs will be poles apart from each other in terms of dimensions. We expect the Maruti Suzuki Jimny to have the smallest overall length, measuring at 3850 mm and maintain its sub-4 meter stature to evade the extra taxation for vehicles above 4 meters in length. On the other hand, the Force Gurkha is likely to be the longest SUV in it segment measuring over 4.5 metres in length. The next best will be the Thar 5-door which is speculated to have the same underpinnings as the recently launched Scorpio N which measures 4.4 metres in length.

In terms of seating configuration, the Thar and Jimny are expected to come with a 5-seater layout sporting bench seat for the 2nd row. On the other hand, the Gurkha is expected to come in 6, 7 and 9-seater configurations, with captain seats for the 2nd row and a jump seat for the last row. 

Read Also: Force Gurkha - The redefined 4x4 competitor

Mahindra Thar 5 Door VS Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5 Door VS Force Gurkha 5 Door: Powertrain and Off-road hardware

• Power output is indicative based on the current 3 door model.

Under the hood, all three SUVs will use the same powertrain setup as their current 3 door versions. The power output is also expected to remain identical with very little chance of minor retuning. The Mahindra Thar will be the only vehicle to offer both a 2.0-litre mStallion petrol engine and a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine option paired to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. Powering the Jimny will be a 1.5-litre K15C petrol engine with a mild hybrid system and will be made available with both manual as well as automatic transmission. Finalyy, the Force Gurkha 5 Door will make use of the 2.6-litre diesel engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. 

In terms of off-road equipment, all three SUVs are based on rugged ladder frame chassis making them extremely capable off the road. Even in their 5 door versions, we expect the same story to continue with a more capable 4WD system, differential locks, a low-range transfer case and a sturdy suspension set-up. However, the increase in wheelbase and overall dimensions will likely see a minor trade-off in terms of break-over angle.

Read Also: Mahindra XUV400 VS Tata Nexon EV MAX

So which 5-door off-roader are you most excited for?