Mahindra & Mahindra introduced the Thar RWD variants at an introductory starting price of Rs 9.99 lakh in January 2023. Currently, the Thar AX (O) Hard Top diesel RWD, LX Hard Top diesel RWD, and LX Hard Top AT RWD petrol variants are available at Rs 11.35 lakh, Rs 12.85 lakh, and Rs 14.10 lakh, respectively. To challenge the Mahindra Thar RWD, Force Motors will soon introduce the Gurkha 3-door off-road SUV with a rear-wheel drive (RWD) setup.
The new variant of the Gurkha is expected to be priced around Rs 14-15 lakh, while its other variant is currently available at Rs 16.75 lakh. Given the long waiting period for the Mahindra Thar RWD, the upcoming Force Gurkha RWD is likely to gain a sales advantage over its rival.
No other changes will be made to the new RWD variant. It will continue to feature the same design language and features. It will come with the same 2.6L diesel engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. This engine delivers a claimed power output of 132bhp and 320Nm of torque.
In May 2024, Force Motors rolled out the 5-door version of the Gurkha at Rs 18 lakh. As of now, it doesn’t have any direct rivals, though the forthcoming Mahindra Thar Armadadue on August 15, 2024, will be a competitor. The 5-door Gurkha comes with a 2.6L Mercedes-sourced diesel engine that’s tuned to generate 140bhp and 320Nm of torque.
Compared to its 3-door version, it is 91bhp more powerful. Key features include a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a digital instrument cluster, tilt and telescopic steering adjust, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear camera, powered ORVMs, and more. The Force Gurkha 5-door version is currently available at Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom).
