Planning To Buy The Force Gurkha? Pros And Cons

Force Motors first showed the new-gen Gurkha SUV at the Auto Expo 2020. The company has taken its time to launch the rugged 4x4 in the country and now that it's here, there is so much to admire it for. Priced at Rs. 13.59 lakh, the Gurkha has come a long way since it first made its way into the Indian market. The 2021 Gurkha retains its boxy silhouette but looks a tad more upmarket than its predecessor. The body panels and edges look more even now and there are new modern elements which we generally see on current models nowadays. Even the cabin has been thoroughly upgraded with better materials and it gets most of the features you expect in a lifestyle off-roader. So, if you are in the market to buy one, we list out the pros and cons for you.

PROS

1. The 2021 Force Gurkha is spawned by the modular architecture platform and continues being a purpose-built off-road SUV more than a lifestyle off-roader.
2. It does look more modern and upmarket now with elements like the new single-slat grille with Gurkha branding, LED Pro Edge headlights with integrated DRLs which is a segment-first, LED indicators among others
   

   Broken roads are comfortably despatched! 205 mm ground clearance is good enough to tackle most tough situations

3. The cabin of the of the Force Gurkha is finished in midnight black with dark grey theme upholstery. It also comes with a new gear lever and 4X4 lever, moulded floor mat, panoramic side windows, captain seats, armrest for the rear passenger.
4. There is a new Kenwood sourced 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and Navigation with true mirroring via USB.
5. In terms of safety, it gets features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensor, cornering lamp, one-touch lane change indicator, tyre pressure monitoring system and follow-me home & Lead me headlights among others.

Cons

1. The look and feel of the cabin is still Spartan and the plastics quality along with the materials used could have been better!
2. Ergonomically, the Gurkha isn't the most ideal SUV. The gear-shifter is placed a little further forward, so you have to reach out for it!
   

   The interior sees significant updates! Dashboard still feels spartan

3. There is no petrol engine on offer and neither is there an option of an automatic transmission on the Gurkha
4. The 5-speed gearbox though feels like a decade old and could have been better calibrated to offer smoother shifts