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-   -   The 2017 Force Gurkha (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/185323-2017-force-gurkha-6.html)

I wonder what they did with Force One.

Was (or even is) that a very bad product ? But somehow, I don't see or didn't see much of active and aggressive physical campaigns. Only Big B and that Ad (that too is missing now).

That car I guess would have been or still is (with some face lift may be? and little aggressive pricing) easier product to sell compare to Gurkha.

A couple of Gurkha Explorer 4x4 videos are out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PbCRcegqCg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7-ygy30y0

The second video was quite cool. The message I got was that in a Gurkha,if you can't go where you want to go, back up and go back where you came from :).

Last one isn't a good one. Is it ?

As the car didn't get to cross that water filled ditch.

May be a bad off road driver ?

Hi All

Well couldn't resist test driving the Gurkha. Had shown interest on their website and got a quick call back and today went with a friend to test drive the Gurkha.

I have been driving the Thar for almost 6 years now, 75K on the Odo (all city and highway driving - no off roading per se - so an armchair offroader :).

First impressions : Definitely well built, must say more spacious than Thar, the AC is Brilliant, today it was especially hot but, we were very comfortable.

The sales person gave us Rs.500 and said - fill the diesel and get her the bill. :). To be honest the best test drive experience till date..

Off we go in the Gurkha with the Thar in the background.


First impressions - I actually felt that the cabin is significantly quieter than the Thar. The gear changes were fairly smooth. We got some good empty stretches on the road to push the Gurkha. The engine did not strain at all.





Commanding position - but Ergonomics of hand brake and other stuff is - well what can I say.

Whilst some folks have mentioned about the lack of overtaking capabilities as compared to Thar. I thought the difference wasn't much. In fact though it is much heavier and has lower BHP than Thar - while driving I did not feel it was under powered at all. Maybe just my experience.

I am of the opinion that one cannot have a hard code off roader and a daily drive. Simply because you need MT tyres, winches, Roll over cages and lifts/ suspension mods and additional safety fittings to get a good off roader and That you cannot use a daily drive.

When you go to some places - in Kerala / Coorg and few other places where you know you may not very comfortable taking a car - its good to have a vehicle will not get stuck and is still is comfortable for driving within the city - thats the segment - at least the stock Thar caters to.

But the most important aspect that is missing in That and Gurkha as well - I think @Samurai has summed it up well. This is really a bummer :(

Somehow - against all rationality- the soft top still appeals to me. I want to really check out the soft top version, effectiveness of the AC and we will see..

Thanks for reading!

Cheers
Carrot

I said the same thing about Thar 7 years go.

I find this very disturbing. The member handle is carrot_eater, yet you have signed the post as Carrot. How can carrot also be a carrot_eater, unless you are a cannibal... :Shockked:

Yes you did:). And as a moderator of this Forum - you need to point the issues out as they are, and let people decide. Sometimes the heart rules over the head and rationality is out of the window.

:) Not a cannibal at all - Ranjeet Singh.

There was a TV Reporter from one of the Auto Shows who came to my town to do a road test of the Gurkha. I took them to some nice locations to test drive the vehicle and my Thar DI with SZ Plus engine was the support vehicle to carry the rest of the crew, camera etc...

After the shoot, I took the Gurkha for a spin across some steep bad stretches of road. These are the my observations:

1) Despite the bulk the engine has decent bottom end Torque. Even on a fairly steep incline with 5 passengers on board and air conditioner running, it was able to pull in second. It is not amazingly fast, but has just enough bottom end grunt to keep going without straining. I never got a chance to drive it on open road, so I don't know how it will pe2form when trying to overtake at higher speeds.

2) The steering is now rack and pinion with only a single linkage between the steering box and the steering and from steering box the rack directly connects to the wheels. Steering is way more precise than the previous version and I think this issue has been fixed for good. The rake of the steering is also more car like and less leyland truck like.

3) The gearbox is also vastly improved. The shifts are more precise and I think it is on par with NGT530 now. This problem also has been addressed.

4) The suspension is brilliant. Way better than the Thar. Just soaks up bad roads well and.

5) The cabin is silent and you hardly hear any engine noise. Overall the engine has not a nice refined hum. Not the typical loud clatter of the Mahindra DI engines.

6) The chasis suspension is well build and looks solid. The only thing that I found is that they have designed some stupid tray like front skid plate which will actually make the vehicle get stuck rather than Skid. But I am sure this can be removed and replaced with a better designed one after market.

7) The dash is crude but whatever. One can live with it.

8) You can get a Front facing second row option which is referred to as (4+ Driver) in the Brochure. This will give you 3 seater 2nd row which is front facing. The front passenger seat will have to be flipped forward for access like in the older Gurkha and in the Tempo Traverller.

9) The Force guy told me that the FM2.2 and improved dashboard is under testing and will be launched in about 6 months after ARAI approval.

Overall, if you find the power sufficient, I think this is a decent buy compared to the Thar as it can be used as an all round vehicle. I am personally going to wait for the 2.2 which will hopefully come with revised dashboard and ABS/Air Bag.

Despite me being a harsh critic of Force, I must appreciate them for the changes they have made. Whatever they have done from Looks, Suspension, Steering, Gearbox, etc are spot on. There are three things they MUST address to compete with the Thar

1) More powerful Engine. Either bumping up power on the existing engine to 100bhp/26kgm Torque or putting in the FM2.2

2) Proper dashboard with better designed IP Cluster, AC Controls, Double DIN provision etc

3) Offer ABS and Air Bags or at-least ABS since it is already in the Force Traveller.

Thar DI & Gurkha Side by Side




Solid and Sturdy Suspension Components



Silly Front Diff/Guard Skid plate shaped so poorly that this will probably get you stuck. Best to remove and put a better designed on in place.

Did a quick comparison of Gurkha Expedition and Bolero SLE specs from a Bolero user's perspective. The GVWeight for Bolero is an approximation the Expedition being a D + 8 and Bolero D + 6.
The last row behind the TBHP logo is the Turning Radius.

-- Torqy

Force Gurkha Xplorer 3/5 Door with FM 2.2 Engine + ABS + Better Interiors can do good in the market.

If so, 3- Door will definitely dent Thar Sales.

5 door will be an excellent overland adventure vehicle on a budget. Reminds me of LR Defender more than Merc G-Wagen.

All said, once the news regarding FM 2.2 based under testing Gurkha spreads, it would be disastrous for the current model.

Isnt this a waste of time now?
No ABS, no brake boosters, no EBD, TCS or ESC, no airbags, nothing!

Basically if you brake this vehicle while driving on a highway at a speed of 80-90 you'll be lucky to stop well in time and not maim or murder someone!

For an 'all new 2017' version this kind of negligence is absolutely criminal. And only 85BHP on tap with 230NM torque. No driver armrest, no lumbar support, no nothing else!

Im sure the servicing will not be top quality either!

And it isnt as if it is cheap at Rs 8.14 lacs ex showroom Bangalore!

Why do they even bother making vehicles like this?

What a waste of time and energy!

The only good thing about this vehicle is its rugged no nonsense looks.
And probably its toughness and off road ability.
But frankly a vehicle like this ought to have been designed and brought in, in the 1970's or 80's when Indian car owners had no taste or experience of either ergonomics or safety!

At that time it may have been an alternate to a Gypsy or a Mahindra Jeep. Thats the best that can be said for it!

Now, in todays age, it is simply an anachronism!

Aren't those the ONLY things that sold and still sell the Bolero? Seat belts are the only safety feature my Bolero has.
True, there should've been safety features, but they don't come cheap either. If the authorities make a (safety) feature mandatory, then there should be a mechanism where the entire burden is not on the customer. Till then there will be vehicles with no safety features....and at least some of us will be able to afford only those. Technology rarely makes things affordable. Manufacturers use them as an excuse to hike up the price.

The most expensive vehicles have one of the best fuel efficiency and "mileage" is something their owners would've never thought of. :D

-- Torqy

I agree with this. If the Gurkha comes with 7 airbags with ABS, EBD and Traction control and costs 20L , I am better off buying the 2017 Fortuner.

That said, There is No reason why Force can't give ABS and 2 airbags at almost the same price - mandatory regulation or not.

Will be waiting for a review of the TD.

Sorry got it through.

To start with just ABS/EBD will be a plus. Air Bags are useless unless the body is designed with proper crumple zones, etc. ABS will at least prevent skids and reduce stopping distances in wet conditions.

Any thing beyond ABS/EBD & 2 Air Bags will remain a pipe dream. Ain't going to happen with the Gurkha or with the Thar for that matter.