Review: The Force Gurkha 4x4 In 2008, I booked a Gurkha and was promised delivery in three months. I waited for four months and still there was no sign, so I decided to do up my MM540. After about 6 months, the Gurkha came to the dealership and sold even before registering it. When I heard the Gurkha was being relaunched with a 100+ bhp engine, I was very excited. When I saw the pictures and heard that it had only 5 bhp more than the previous version, the initial excitement died, but I was still open to buying it and replacing the front with the old model classic looks.
As luck would have it, one of my friends, who was close to booking a Thar, arranged for a TD of the Gurkha and asked me to join him. A matte black Gurkha was brought to us and we both excitedly walked around, inspected the vehicle and jumped in. My friend took the driver seat and turned the ignition to start it - poooooffff no go! The engine did not start or turn over at all. Seems like no current was reaching the starter motor. Anyways, we got out, opened the hood and checked the battery terminals, knocked the battery a couple of times and came back inside. This time I tried to start it. Again, there was no response for a couple of times, but eventually like a bullet it started and we moved on. My friend was driving and I was in the passenger seat. Interiors/Comfort/Ergonomics:
This vehicle is one of the most comfortable Indian off-roaders that I have sat it. For comfort it blows the pants off the Scorpio 4x4 and also Thar. Seats are well bolstered. There are arm rests on the front seats, but driver side arm rests cannot be used unless you convert the transmission to an automatic as there is no way to change the gears with the driver armrest down. Ingress to rear seat is fairly spacious since the front passenger seat can be flipped forward. The rear bench is also quite spacious with enough legroom, but since it is placed high on the rear wheel arch, tall passengers should watch their head. However, the roof has moulded roof lining so even if you bump you heard, you may still be able to go to work the next day. The third row jump seats were not there. The salesman said that it is no longer offered so not sure what the story is. Overall the interiors are extremely crude, but I have no complaints about that since you don't expect a range rover when you buy a Gurkha. So it was something that I am willing to live with. The dash looks like it was hacked up by a local tinker.
The AC was not effective at all and all of us kept sweating in the vehicle despite the AC being on for over 10 minutes. Not sure if there was a problem with the unit or this is how it will be. The boots for the gear and transfer case lever have no clamp/clip and they come off very easily causing hot air to enter the cabin and further worsen the effectiveness of the already poor AC. I was wondering why there is no thermostat for the AC, but looks like even if there was one, it will remain in max cooling mode all the time.
The rpm meter is placed at the center of the dash where the dash curves down toward the firewall. So it cannot be seen easily from driver seat. Moreover, it is unsafe to take your eyes off from the road to keep looking at the rpm meter. Best to make a small enclosure and move the meter above the dash to the right side and put a volt meter in place of the rpm meter. But, I am glad that they at least thought of offering an rpm meter, even if it was just an after thought. Ride & Handling:
This vehicle soaks up bad roads and makes them feel like a smooth roads. Body roll is also controlled compared to Scorpio/Thar. For Ride & handling it beats the Thar DI & CRDe in my opinion. Engine/Gearbox/T-case/Steering:
I don't really have much to complain about the engine. It could do with more power, but given the short gearing, it moves just a bit before running out of steam. The engine is much much better than the Thar DI engine, but the Thar CRDe engine obviously is much better. The transfer case allows for smooth shifts and there are lights on the dash for 4H and 4L, which is nice.
The biggest disappointment was the gearbox. It is an absolute mess. I just couldn't engage first gear without using both hands and you have to really hunt to slot it into the right gear. I cannot understand how this is a Mercedes-derived gearbox. The same G18 gearbox comes in the Tata UV range and I didn't find this problem in my Tatamobile or Seirra/Estates that I have driven, but on the Gurkha it is absolutely horrendous. To me, two things that totally spoiled my driving experience wre the gear box and steering which I will come to later. Anybody who has used a modern gearbox or even the KMT90 from the MM550 will find this gearbox horrendous to use. I couldn't believe that in this time and age any manufacturer can make a gearbox like this and that too licensed from Mercedes. Part of the reason I think is because the gearbox is way too much in the front and the lever starts out from the under the dash and has a 30 degree slope toward the driver - kind of like the full forward lorry cabins, but in reverse.
The next biggest disappointment for me was the steering. The steering is perpendicular to the floor like the old Leyland lorries. Nothing can be done about this since the steering box sits under driver side foot well. So, if you put a steering with conventional semi-vertical positioning, you will need a U-joint that can turn 90 degrees to take the shaft to the steering box. So unless the steering box is relocated to the front like in Mahindra & Tata products, nothing can be done. The problem is that if you have the seats reclined, only a person with very long hands or an orang-utan can turn the steering comfortably. The steering wheel is also huge and you really have to sit up to get your hands around it. If you have been driving Leyland full forward body lorries for a while, you will be at home in the Gurkha, but if you have driven modern or semi-modern vehicles, you will find it tough to adjust in a Gurkha.
There were few other issues which I am hoping were just one-offs with this vehicle. Besides, the first time, my friend managed to stall the vehicle as he had to move from a signal in second gear. This was because first gear was not engaging after repeated attempts with both hands. After the vehicle stalled it just wouldn't start. Thankfully, we were both saved of the embarrassment of pushing a new vehicle because there was no one behind us and after repeated attempts it started again. Secondly, there is no auxiliary fan for the condenser and the temperature gauge went into the red after 15 minutes of city driving on a very hot day. We then pulled over and let the vehicle cool before starting up again. When I was taking a few pictures under the vehicle it Noticed that the power steering hose was bent at a 90 degree angle thereby pinching/restricting flow of PS fluid. There is also a diagnostic connected just on left of the steering wheel with a black cap on it. Soon as I just opened the cap, the connector fell inside, under the dash. Looks like someone forgot to screw it in.
Overall, my decision not to buy the Gurkha was primarily because of the steering and gearbox. The gearbox may have been a one-off issue and also because this vehicle had run only 100 kms or so. But the steering is something I cannot live with and nothing can be done about it. Maybe putting a smaller wheel may help as you won't have to reach out so much to turn it.
There were other general fit and finish issues which I am willing to ignore, but a new vehicle not starting and overheating really troubled me. If you set aside the fit and finish, the vehicle is very badly put together and doesn't give me the confidence. So the million dollar question is getting this vehicle. If you are a die-hard Gurkha fan who is willing to put up with a lot of flaws, go for it. Otherwise get a Thar CRDe and get a hard top. I am not a Thar CRDe fan and was looking forward to the Gurkha but now the tables are turned. I told the dealer that I will take another test drive after the vehicle has clocked 3,000 plus kilometers to see if the gearbox is any better. Even the steering I may eventually get used to, but how can you drive a vehicle where you cannot change gears without two hands?
Since I did my Test drive was in the city, I couldn't take it off-road, but I think the off-road capability of this vehicle has been discussed many times before so I won't question it. My review is for people who have to live with this vehicle as their daily drive. My final word to anyone dreaming about this vehicle is to take a proper test drive and then decide. For me, it is thumbs-down as of now. Sad that a vehicle with so much potential is in the hands of a company like Force Motors. I am still willing to take another test drive after dealer has had time to sort the other niggles before I completely write it off.
Last edited by Aditya : 28th July 2014 at 12:07.
Reason: Spacing
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