The Force Motors 201 Gurkha off-road adventure lifestyle SUV has been introduced in India at a starting price of Rs 13.59 lakh. Bookings are available for a nominal fee of Rs 25,000. In the niche category, the 2021 Force Gurkha will compete against rivals such as the Mahindra Thar.

The base AX four-seater convertible petrol manual model of the Mahindra Thar costs Rs 12.78 lakh (ex-showroom), while the top-spec LX four-seater hard-top diesel automatic variant costs Rs 15.08 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Force Gurkha SUV, now in its second generation, has undergone a significant makeover in comparison to its predecessor. The new Gurkha is more of an adventurous lifestyle vehicle, with a slew of creature comforts and contemporary technologies that might help it compete with the Mahindra Thar.

The improved BS 6 compliant 2.6-litre diesel engine will be paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox in the new generation Force Gurkha SUV. Force Motor, on the other hand, will not provide any automatic gearbox variants at this time. "Those who desire to feel the thrill of driving, choose the manual transmission," according to the automaker. This is where Mahindra Thar will score more points as far as options are concerned, though Force Gurkha makes up for its with its pricing structure.

The 2.6-litre diesel engine's output is nearly equal to that of the previous model, with 89 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque. AWD will be available on the Gurkha in 2021. With double wishbones and coil springs, Force has modified the suspension arrangement. In terms of appearance, Force Motor has improved the 2021 Gurkha's style quotient with many improvements on the exterior and more on the inside. With a redesigned front grille, the SUV now has a more aggressive appearance. The new fog lights are flanked by circular bi-LED headlamps and LED DRLs.

It sports 16-inch alloy wheels on the sides, which are set within prominent wheel arches with black claddings. It also comes with a functioning snorkel, which aids the Gurkha's 700 mm water-wading capacity. Gurkha receives a new set of taillights and a ladder to reach the roof-mounted baggage carrier in the back.

When you go inside, you'll see a redesigned cabin with all-black upholstery and captain chairs. There are floor mats designed particularly for the SUV's outdoor capabilities. A seven-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is also included in the Gurkha. The driver display is now semi-digital and sits behind a new three-spoked steering wheel. While the large panoramic windows for the rear seat passengers are fixed, the front row windows are powered.

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