[Geo_Ipe]

Force Gurkha 5 door would be my choice if it a single car garage. Has enough road presence, the engine now has good grunt (on paper at least) and should satisfy on & off road needs of most.

Mahindra Thar is the all rounder here - that's why it gets my vote. The engines & transmissions are just WOW - difficult to believe Mahindra actually achieved this.

Maruti Jimny just doesn't do it for me. Too small, pathetic engine, AT from 1996. Sorry Jimny fans!

[Rahkehs]

Voted for “others” - Scorpio-N 4X4, it’s the most practical choice for single car garage.

[rahul4321]

Purchased a Jimny in December 2023 but voted for the Thar. 2nd preference would be the Gurkha and 3rd would be the Jimny. Why did I purchase the Jimny then? Process of Elimination my dear Holmes

Thar - My first choice. Would have purchased the Thar Diesel it if I didnt hear the BS6 Adblue Horror stories on the Thar, Suv, Scorpio diesel BS6s. If a BS4 was available, I wouldn't have bought a Jimny. However, with the diesels out - the contest was between the Thar and Jimny petrols. For an offroader where low down torque matters, I would prefer the NA over a Turbo any day which needs to be in the right powerband. If Mahindra had a 130 BHP Petrol NA, I would have bought the Thar and not the Jimny

Gurkha - My 2nd choice after the Thar. Found the old engine too underpowered. Didn't have AdBlue issues despite being BS6 which was a huge positive for me. Thought a lot but the Jimny won by some margin. Despite the Jimny also being underpowered, it was much lighter which led to a better power to weight ratio. Would I buy the new Gurkha? No. Why not when the engines are so powerful? Simply because the 4WD shifter is now a rotary knob. Sorry but that is hara-kiri for such a butch handsome "definitely male" car. I would definitely choose the Gurkha 3 door as the winner if the current new engine came with the old 4x4 shift lever.

Jimny - The Jimny wins by the process of elimination when it came to me purchasing it. But in this poll, I voted for Thar as I like it better than the Jimny. (BS6 Adblue reliability bothers me but maybe not others)

What would I really love to buy if it was available - The old Thar 700 limited edition BS4 Diesel AC Hardtop

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by rahul4321

Thar - My first choice. Would have purchased the Thar Diesel it if I didnt hear the BS6 Adblue Horror stories on the Thar, Suv, Scorpio diesel BS6s. If a BS4 was available, I wouldn't have bought a Jimny. However, with the diesels out - the contest was between the Thar and Jimny petrols. For an offroader where low down torque matters, I would prefer the NA over a Turbo any day which needs to be in the right powerband. If Mahindra had a 130 BHP Petrol NA, I would have bought the Thar and not the Jimny

NA engines unless specifically designed for Jeeps \ pickup trucks will not have anything meaningful to give at low RPMs, even then they cannot match the performance of mStallion, at low speeds or high speeds - Its like an mHawk running on petrol.

Once you experience it, there is no going back to NA engines.

[Ulysses]

I voted for Force Gurkha, although I don't own one. However, whatever little opportunity of driving this beast I had, I am quite impressed with its capabilities. One must consider that a 4wd vehicle is a purpose built machine, it would be too much to expect it would "fly like a rocket" or offer other creature comforts of a sedan or hatchback. In my work with UN, I have driven the 70 and 80 series Land Cruisers and these machines are truly indestructible on road and off road, although no one would rate them high for modern creature comforts. However, out in the Savanna or Steppes, its the only vehicle one could trust their life with. Coming back to Gurkha, if one's expectation is the comforts and gizmos, without real need of off-roading, a sedan or a hatchback would be the best choice. None can match the comfort and handling it would give.
However, in India, people also wish to "dominate the road" and hence go for blown up hatchbacks (aka Crossovers) or vehicles which offer possibility of insane "mods" (e.g., Thar) that, according to me, looks no more impressive than the cocky "filmy heroes" out on mission.
Coming back to Thar, my personal experience of driving it vis-a-vis Gurkha, is that Gurkha is more sure-footed and capable in tough off road situations, in spite of being not very fast on road; but then if one has to drive really fast, an SUV is not the right choice. In this context, Jimny is one good machine, although it is too cramped and under powered for a long haul off road mission.
Gurkha is a purpose built machine, and like all purpose built machines, it cannot offer every creature comfort one could imagine, but it does what it is built for and does it very well and safely.

[PrideRed]

The new Gurkha is very good on paper and I am hoping it does perform on road too. That said their after sales is terrible and one needs courage to invest 20L on a Force motor vehicle unless its a Traveller.

The Jimny has its target audience, scores well w.r.to practicality/after sales, but comes with weak engine/gearbox and misses the "Road presence" which is a main criteria for purchase.

The Thar has amazing engine/gearbox combo, good after sales and easily the best looker. While Gurkha is bigger, road presence is much more than size to me. That said Thar is probably the least practical and most uncomfortable of the lot.

Off road(which not many do), I am sure all 3 perform very well. If its road presence/performance, I vote for Thar, practicality-Jimny and Gurkha for sheer size.

Among others, Fortuner and ScorpioN score as good overlanders/tourers with go anywhere capability. The Hilux and DMAX for people who are looking for truck life and utility.

[Mystic]

I voted for Jimny and this car is being used as an every day car for the past 10 months. I am happy that this vehicle has become exclusive because of sales tanking (per month in India it sells 300 compared to 3000 abroad ) which is a blessing for the current Indian owners. It is a pleasure to drive this vehicle in narrow downtown lanes for its manoeuvrability and easy parking. I don't want to prove to the world again that it competed with G wagon many years back and is acknowledged by all abroad in 4X4.

I don't buy the fact that Indian automakers have the advantage of tax breaks and give more car per car. The free “more” comes with lot of niggles to such an extent that one would prefer less car per car like Japanese ( I have reached this conclusion after having owned a top end Scorpio for 12 years ). No more made in India cars even though I am very patriotic. May be this impression may change and looking forward to that day.

[vellatechie]

Mahindra Thar P AT HT has been my daily driver and my primary vehicle for the past two years. If you don't need the rear seats (which I don't for 99% of my trips), are okay with low mileage, and occasional sqeeke and rattle it's the perfect vehicle.

Driving is butter smooth and easy, has great road presence, AC is wonderful, and Mahindra Service experience has been near flawless.

I am yet to TD Jimmy and atleast on papers itl nicely compliment my Thar but I just don't like the size and I have read that the rear seat isn't great. But I'll take this call towards the end of the year.

[Zezé]

Originally Posted by rahul4321

............

..........Would I buy the new Gurkha? No. Why not when the engines are so powerful? Simply because the 4WD shifter is now a rotary knob. Sorry but that is hara-kiri for such a butch handsome "definitely male" car. I would definitely choose the Gurkha 3 door as the winner if the current new engine came with the old 4x4 shift lever.

.......

Is your objection more to do with fact that the rotary knob looks "sissy" in a "definitely male" car or is it more fundamental, like reliability?

Originally Posted by Ulysses

........
Gurkha is a purpose built machine, and like all purpose built machines, it cannot offer every creature comfort one could imagine, but it does what it is built for and does it very well and safely.

I agree with your thesis that the Gurkha is a purpose built machine and does what it is supposed to do, efficiently. However, do you think that the introduction of the electronic rotary 4WD could prove to be the Achilles Heel of the Gurkha. Asking because you have driven Land Cruisers in adverse conditions.

[Ulysses]

Originally Posted by Zezé

I agree with your thesis that the Gurkha is a purpose built machine and does what it is supposed to do, efficiently. However, do you think that the introduction of the electronic rotary 4WD could prove to be the Achilles Heel of the Gurkha. Asking because you have driven Land Cruisers in adverse conditions.

In my personal opinion the electronic 4WD selector was unnecessary (I don't remember anyone on Team-BHP or anywhere else had ever mentioned that Gurkha should have electronic 4WD selector, the manual lever was just fine, and one get accustomed to it after using it.) On the other hand, this could become a point of failure. Any 4WD is better with less electronic components, and the LCs that I drove were all old school mechanical ones, which has least chances of failure under normal circumstances. In my humble opinion, Force could have considered giving rear wheel disc brake, better equipped dash (with roll, pitch and compass, like it used to be in Pajero) and possibly fordable seats in 5 door model, to make it better equipped as an over-landing vehicle. I guess many (including myself) who would like to buy Gurkha, would also imagine it as their over-landing vehicle with an inside cabin sleeping set up.

[Rohitthebest]

First choice: Mahindra Thar.
Second: Definitely Jimny as it comes pretty close to have it all in one vehicle for city, highway and even off road.

Going to take a final call in next 12 months post Thar 4 door launch with all the new bells and whistles if nothing else comes close to it.

[Autonaut]

Thar is my first choice, and I own one. Compared to the Jimny and Gurkha, I loved the Thar's engine and its TC gearbox. While I was buying this, my intention was to do some off-roading and then sell it because it's not easy for anyone to get to the rear seat. I don't think I'm going to sell this; it will be a keeper in my garage for the fun it provides. I got it at the launch price, and when I look back, it was a steal

[sandeepmdas]

Voted for the Thar, what in mind was the Thar 4x4 D AT. I live in semi-urban place and a I drive long-distance, Diesel is therefore my top option.

My second choice would definitely be the Scorpio N 4x4 D AT. I tried to book the Scorpio N on the first day while I have a booking for the XUV700, but in vain.
I also think that along with the Thar 5-door variant, MM should have launched a three-door variant of the Scorpio N 4x4.

My third choice is the car that I drive. The XUV700 AT AWD. The heavy-duty highway cruiser and light-duty off-roader.

My fourth choice would have been the ones that almost managed to cancel the booking for the 700. Two cars that I saw in used car market - an Endeavor 3.2 4x4 AT and a Kodiaq D 4x4.

The Gurkha is not an urban family vehicle for 2024. The Jimny definitely is, but it is way too small for me. Sincerely hope the respective owners won't take this seriously.

[fawad0222]

To me size matters, where Jimny fails utterly when I am just one vehicle person. I know Jimny is very capable, reliable, purpose built vehicle but with no options for owning for a second vehicle, I can't go for it

Thar, though has good engine gear box combination and looks but is even more impractical vehicle to own, with the criterion of having just one car.

Gurkha, has size and presence as well as capability to be able to somehow fulfill the requirements to be the single vehicle of all the three. Only it should have come with Automatic gear option and folding rear seats.
So it's Gurkha for me.

I haven't opted for others and write Toyota Hilux as it's a pick-up unlike the three otherwise I think its a better vehicle from all the three, if purpose is the only criterion.

[sanjeevs]

Voted for the Mahindra Thar just because of its VFM, sheer road presence, engine power and it's handsome looks though it is lose to FCA ones.

Second vote will be for the 'Maruti Jimny' simply because it fits the bill both for the off-roading as well as for the city runs. Note that its small size will be handy in the slush roads and rocky terrains.

The third vote is for 'Force Gurkha' since it falls strictly in the Off-roading segments and not for urban commutes as per the reviews.