Mahindra Thar Roxx Vs Force Gurkha 5-door: Which Is The More Capable Off-road SUV On-paper?

Mahindra has revealed the 5-door Thar Roxx in India, which takes on the 5-door version of the Force Gurkha. With the extra set of doors, both these off-roaders add a dose of practicality in their respective off-roading prowess. But has that practicality compromised the Thar’s formidable off-road specs? We find out by comparing the on-paper offroading specs of the Thar Roxx with the 5-door Gurkha. 

But before we dive into their off-road stats, a quick powertrain specification check: 

Powertrain Specifications 

While the Gurkha can be had with a sole 2.6-litre diesel engine, the Thar gets multiple options, including both petrol and diesel that are more powerful than the Gurkha. 

The petrol is only available with a rear-wheel drivetrain and has varying output depending on the transmission selected.

The diesel engine too is available in two states of tune, and can be had with both rear- and four-wheel drivetrains. The Mahindra also benefits from the convenience of an automatic transmission, something that the Gurkha misses out on.

Off-road stats

The Thar Roxx boasts a better approach angle than the Gurkha 5-door, but that’s the only parameter in which it beats the Gurkha. It comes close in the departure angle, but is far behind in the rampover angle, likely because of its extended wheelbase.

While the Thar Roxx gets an impressive 650mm of water wading capacity, the Gurkha’s goes a step beyond with a mighty capacity of up to 700mm, thanks to its snorkel. So on-paper, the Force Gurkha 5-door sports better off-roading stats than the Thar Roxx, but off-roading is so much more than just these angles, as they don’t paint the entire picture. Stay tuned for a detailed comparison to see which one does better over rough terrain. 

Off-road tech

To get these off-road SUVs out of the stickiest and most treacherous conditions, they get a ton of technology that goes into backing those angles in the table above. Ofcourse, four-wheel drive is the main component, but that is aided with a low range transfer case for shifting between 2H, 4H and 4L. 

While the Thar Roxx gets an electronically locking differential for the rear axle and a brake locking differential for the front, the Gurkha boasts a manual diff lock for the front and rear axle.

Additionally, the Thar Roxx also gets a host of electronic aids like hill hold control and even terrain-specific drive modes like Snow, Sand, and Mud. The Gurkha only gets two drive modes: Eco and Power.

Price

Prices for the Mahindra Thar Roxx’s RWD variants range between Rs 12.99 lakh and Rs 20.49 lakh, while the Gurkha 5-door is priced at Rs 18 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).

Which one of these off-road SUVs would you drive home? Let us know your pick in the comment section!