If you’ve read our comparison of the Force Gurkha Explorer and the Mahindra Thar from a few months ago, you already know where to put your money. The Gurkha has the edge over the Thar in a few areas – it has a quieter cabin with comparatively better ergonomics, nicer ride quality (thanks to the independent front and multi-link setup at the rear) and more precise off-road mannerisms, especially in hardcore environments. But then the Thar still emerged the winner for being easier to drive and live with, overall, and its more powerful 107hp, 2.5-litre motor which fared better on the highway, as compared to the Gurkha’s wheezy 85hp, 2.6-litre motor.
How do they compare on power?
It’s the area of performance that Force Motors has decided to address, and it’s bound to excite the mud-slinging enthusiasts amongst you. The Force Gurkha Xtreme gets a Mercedes-Benz-licensed OM611 2.2-litre, common-rail diesel engine, a unit that has previously done duty on the W210 E-Class and the now-discontinued Force One SUV. This engine, which also happened to be Mercedes’ first common-rail diesel, was replaced by the OM646 (W211 E 200 CDI/220 CDI) but was similar in its overall architecture.
The Force Gurkha Xtreme will get this motor in a very healthy spec, too, producing 140hp at 3,800 rpm and 321Nm of peak torque at 1,600-2,400 rpm. A Mercedes-Benz G32 five-speed manual transmission will be paired to this motor and four-wheel drive will be standard, with front- and rear-differential locks. In comparison, the Mahindra Thar’s 2.5-litre diesel engine is 33hp down on the Xtreme and it produces 247Nm of torque from 1,800-2,000 rpm. It also only gets a mechanical (read automatic) rear-diff lock which takes away from precise controllability in low-traction situations.
| Powertrain | ||
| Force Gurkha Xtreme | Mahindra Thar | |
| Engine | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel |
| Displacement | 2148cc | 2498cc |
| Power | 140hp | 105hp |
| Torque | 320Nm | 247Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
What about off-road numbers?
The Gurkha already boasted proven underpinnings in terms of off-roading, so the Xtreme has its work cut out for it. Unlike the Explorer, though, the Xtreme offers 5mm lower ground clearance (205mm now) – although it’s still higher than the Thar’s (200mm). It also runs on slightly wider tyres than the Explorer, now sporting 245/70 R16s. The Thar, meanwhile, gets 235/70 R16s.
The Xtreme also boasts a wider track than the Explorer – up by 40mm, to 1,530mm – and the Thar as well (1,445mm). Hardcore off-roaders take note – The Gurkha Xtreme also has the edge in approach, departure and ramp breakover angles. The Gurkha Xtreme’s 44-, 35- and 28-degree approach, departure and ramp breakover angles better the Thar’s 44-, 27- and 15-degree figures.
| Dimensions | ||
| Force Gurkha Xtreme | Mahindra Thar | |
| Ground clearance | 205mm | 200mm |
| Tyres | 245/70 R16 | 235/70 R16 |
| Approach angle | 44 degrees | 44 degress |
| Departure angle | 35 degress | 27 degrees |
| Ramp breakover angle | 28 degrees | 15 degrees |
All else being the same…
Other things being the same, here’s a bit on how the Gurkha Xtreme and Thar compare in the areas of on-road manners and comfort. On the road, the Gurkha fares better than the Thar in some aspects; primarily owing to its better ride quality and its hardtop (which makes for a quieter cabin). The Thar’s constantly fluttering standard soft-top can be an irritant if you are going to spend a lot of time on the highway. However, the Gurkha’s cabin looks rather dated – even though it offers better ergonomics especially in terms of its switches and controls. The Thar does have the more premium-looking dash – although engaging 4x4 requires you to bend down under the dash, which isn’t too comfortable.
Fit and finish on both, the Gurkha and the Thar, are nothing to write home about; although Force is expected to make crucial revisions for the Xtreme to change this. That said, both offer air-conditioning and power steering by the means of creature comforts, but nothing more. Force may now have the edge over Mahindra in this regard, by throwing in a few value-additions over the Thar.
How do they compare on price?
At present, the new 2.2-litre diesel will only make a debut in the three-door Gurkha Extreme; the five-door Expedition may have to wait a while for this update. However, the new engine is certain to hike the Gurkha’s price tag. You can expect it to be priced at around Rs 14 lakh (on-road) – substantially higher than the Thar CRDe’s on-road price of Rs 10.95 lakh.
Which of the two hardcore off-roaders would you pick for your mud-slinging adventures? Let us know in the comments section below.
from Autocar India https://ift.tt/2KkSI9r
No comments:
Post a Comment