Don’t call it a comeback, because the Force Gurkha has been here for years. However, while it may not look like it, the 2021 Force Gurkha really is an all-new product, just like the Mahindra Thar that was completely reinvented last year. The Force Gurkha has been launched at a price tag of Rs 13.59 lakh (ex-showroom).
The 2021 Force Gurkha retains the looks of its predecessor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Force Motors says the Gurkha is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. And while it will look the same to the untrained eye, Force claims that every single body panel is new on the Gurkha. The grille gets bold Gurkha lettering, and the headlights are now full-LED units with DRLs. The pilot lamps are now placed on either sides next to the bonnet, and the tail lamps are also LED units. Force Motors will also offer accessories such as a windscreen bar, roof carrier, rear ladder, roof rails, all-terrain tyres, alloy wheels, and even rear child seats. There will be five colour options on offer — Red, Green, White, Orange, and Grey -- clearly taking inspiration from the crazy colour editions of the G-Wagen.
The 2021 Force Gurkha gets a new BS6-compliant OM616 2.6-litre turbo-diesel which produces 88.7bhp and 250Nm of torque. Now that would be a downer considering the outgoing Gurkha Xtreme 4x4 had 138bhp and 321Nm of torque on offer, but wait, there’s the first drive review of the 2021 Force Gurkha if you’re keen on impressions. The trump card of the Force Gurkha clearly has to be the differential locks on offer along with a low-ratio transfer case. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, and we hear an automatic transmission is on the way. Fingers crossed!
The revised interiors of the Force Gurkha now include new seats and a new dashboard. There is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a 4-speaker music system. You also get power windows, interior light dimming, and dual USB ports in the front and the rear. The rear gets captain chairs only — no bench on offer. Visibility from the rear is excellent thanks to the huge glass area, but the window itself cannot be opened. Rear passengers also get only lap belts on offer.
Speaking of safety, the 2021 Force Gurkha gets two airbags, rear parking sensors, cornering lamps, tyre-pressure monitoring system, and follow-me-home lamps among others.
The 2021 Force Gurkha is being offered in just one variant for now, and is priced at Rs 13.59 lakh. It’s no secret that the Force Gurkha is coming really hard at the Mahindra Thar, which is why a five-door variant and an automatic are slated for a future launch
Click here to read more about the first drive review of the 2021 Force Gurkha, and head over to our YouTube channel for more!