Mahindra Thar ROXX vs Force Gurkha 5-Door — Battle Worthy?

Going by the sales numbers, this comparison isn’t relevant. But sales numbers don’t always define how good a car is. We have witnessed how capable the Force Gurkha is, leaving aside its shortcomings inside the cabin. There’s a new entrant in town, which might grab all the whatever meagre sales that the Force Gurkha is securing. Here is a Mahindra Thar ROXX vs Force Gurkha 5-Door specs comparison.

Engine options

The Force Gurkha gets a big old diesel engine — 2.6-litre diesel engine — generating 140PS and 320Nm of peak torque. It comes paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The ROXX gets plenty of options for the powertrain — a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with direct injection, which can be paired to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed speed torque convertor, and a 2.2-litre diesel engine, paired to the same set of gearboxes. The Thar ROXX gets 4WD with only the diesel drivetrains and not the petrol ones. The Gurkha comes in just one variant, which obviously gets a 4WD system. 

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Interior & features

The cabin experience in both these SUVs varies drastically. The Gurkha is a no-nonsense off-roader, which reflects a clear objective in the mindset of its designers — make a durable and pure off-roader. Thankful to this approach, there is an all-black interior with plastic all-around. It does get a handful of creature comforts, including a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, LED headlamps, and a TPMS. 

The Mahindra Thar ROXX, as you might have read earlier, gets tons of features such as a 9-speaker HARMAN KARDON sound system, a 10.25-inch dual-screen setup on the dashboard, 360-degree cameras, panoramic sunroof, 6-way electronically adjustable driver seat, front ventilated seats, recline function for rear seats, leatherette seat upholstery, and more.

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Wheels, ground clearance & water wading depth

The Force Gurkha 5-Door gets 18-inch alloy wheels, providing the Gurkha a ground clearance of 233mm. Mahindra, as usual, has maintained secrecy with its ground clearance figures. The Thar ROXX, however, gets 18-inch steel, 18-inch alloy or 19-inch alloy wheels, depending on the variant opted for. The Mahindra Thar ROXX water wading capacity stands at 650mm, while the Gurkha boasts an added 50mm of water wading depth, taking it to 700mm!

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Variants and colour options

The Gurkha 5-Door is available in just one variant with four colour options to choose from — green, black, white and red. That’s right, normal colour names, not some fancy monikers. The Thar ROXX, on the other hand, comes with six broad trims and a total of 18 variants. Mahindra Thar ROXX colour options are Stealth Black, Tango Red, Everest White, Deep Forest, Nebula Blue, Battleship Grey and Burnt Sienna.

Force Gurkha 5-Door vs Mahindra Thar ROXX price

The Force Gurkha 5-Door is priced at Rs 18 Lakh (ex-showroom). The Thar ROXX price starts at Rs 12.99 Lakh, going up till Rs 22.49 Lakh for the AX7L diesel AT 4WD variant. The Thar ROXX 4X4 price starts at Rs 18.79 lakh, which is actually for the mid-level MX5 trim. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Delhi.

Which one should you buy?

It is no doubt that the Force Gurkha is a super capable off-roader, and it has been very successful in proving the same. But it is an SUV that is strictly meant for that purpose. The Gurkha would not be a comfortable car for the city, plus the interior of the Gurkha is crude and lacks basic modern features. The Thar ROXX, on the other hand, strikes a balance between being a intra-city commuter and a reliable companion for your adventurous weekend getaways. It retains its off-road capabilities along with providing a comfortable and tech-loaded cabin. The ROXX would appeal to a wider audience while the Gurkha is aimed at a niche group of customers, but these people would swear by the capabilities of the Gurkha. Having said that, Force does need to upgrade the Gurkha in terms of interior quality and features to keep up with the current market standards as well as justify the price that it is demanding.

Note: The comparison is based on the specifications of both these cars and we are yet to drive them side-by-side in order to provide a hands-on test report.