Maruti Suzuki Jimny V/S Force Gurkha: Battle of the Off-Roaders

Maruti Suzuki Jimny will soon be in the Indian market and we are comparing Maruti Suzuki Jimny to Force Gurkha, the ultimate 4X4 comparison.

The 5-door Maruti Suzuki Jimny, which debuted at the 2023 Auto Expo, is another mass-market off-roader. It competes with the segment's established goliaths, Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha.

The Maruti SUV has already been compared to the former, so let's see how it compares to the Force SUV.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny V/S Force Gurkha: The Ultimate 4X4 Comparison

Engine Specifications

| | Maruti Suzuki Jimny | Force Gurkha ||---------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|| Engine | 1.5-litre petrol | 2.6-litre diesel || Max Power | 105PS | 91PS || Max Torque | 134.2Nm | 250Nm || Transmission | 5-speed MT / 4-speed AT | 5-speed MT || Drivetrain | 4×4 | 4×4 || MLD | brake limited slip differential only | front and rear (manual) |

• The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is only available with a petrol engine, but the Gurkha is available with a diesel engine.

• Jimny's tried-and-true 4-cylinder engine outperforms Gurkha's Mercedes-sourced oil burner. The Maruti SUV also has the convenience of an automatic transmission.

• Both SUVs come equipped with 4-wheel drive and a low-range transfer case with 2 High, 4 High, and 4 Low settings.

• The Maruti Jimny features a limited-slip differential that depends on the brakes for traction, but the Gurkha has manual locking differentials on both the front and rear axles (MLDs). There are, however, a number of electronic aids available for Jimny.

Key Features

| Common | Round LED headlamps with DRLs, touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, power steering, central locking, fabric seats, hardtop roof, dual front airbags, and ABS with EBD. ||---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| What Jimny offers over the Thar | Automatic LED headlamps, headlamp washer, bigger touchscreen infotainment (9-inch), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto AC, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, six airbags, push-button start-stop, rear-view camera, rear defogger, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, hill descent control, brake assist, rearview camera, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and 3-point ELR belts for all seats, and near flat reclining front seats. || What Thar offers over the Jimny | Captain seats in 2nd row with individual armrests, tyre pressure monitoring system and cornering lamps. |

Dimensions

| | Maruti Suzuki Jimny | Force Gurkha ||-----------------------|---------------------|---------------|| Length | 3,985mm | 4,116mm || Width | 1,645mm | 1,812mm || Height | 1,720mm | 2,075mm || Wheelbase | 2,590mm | 2,400mm || Ground Clearance | 210mm | 205mm || Boot Space | 208L | – || Wheels | 15-inch alloys | 16-inch steel || No of Doors | 5 | 3 || Seating Capacity | 4 | 4 || Approach Angle | 36° | 37° || Ramp breakover angle | 24° | 25° || Departure angle | 50° | 35° || Water-Wading Capacity | – | 700mm || Gradeability | – | 35° |

• The Force Gurkha is 131mm longer, 167mm wider, and 355mm higher than the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. As a result, the cabin should be more roomy.

• A larger wheelbase, on the other hand, should increase the Maruti Suzuki Jimny's stability.

• The back seats are easier to reach as a result of Jimny's two additional doors.

• There isn't much of a difference in terms of off-road abilities. In reality, the Jimny has higher ground clearance and a steeper departure angle. As a result, it can traverse steeper dips without contacting the underneath of the car.

• Maruti hasn't announced the Jimny's water-wadding capacity, but it won't be higher than the Gurkha because it comes with a factory-fitted snorkel.

Price : Maruti Suzuki Jimny V/S Force Gurkha

| Maruti Suzuki Jimny | Force Gurkha ||----------------------------|---------------|| Rs 10 – 12 lakh (expected) | Rs 14.75 lakh |

The Gurkha off-roader is priced at Rs 14.75 lakh by Force Motors (ex-showroom). The Jimny's prices will be published in the coming months, but reservations have already begun. We anticipate that its costs would vary between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom).

Conclusions

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny's first impressions are extremely favorable. This vehicle appears to be a solid alternative for the outdoor enthusiast, with promising off-roading skills, an appealing design, and a densely packed interior. Nonetheless, these figures only reveal half of the picture, and we cannot give you with a definitive decision until we investigate it further.