Internal Design and Features of the Force Gurkha Xplorer
The inside of the Force Gurkha
Xplorer has been improved with a new steering wheel, better placement of the
gear lever and the hand brake etc. But what has not changed is the interior fit
and finish. I was a tad disappointed with the interiors, especially the quality
of plastics used, the lack of storage space for bottles and cups etc, lack of
adjustments in the steering wheel for rake or reach, quality of steering wheel
and fit and finish. It looked as though the vehicle was only meant to cater to
a hard core off roader who really did not bother about the comfort and
aesthetics of the interiors.
Even though the quality of
seats has improved vastly compared to the earlier model, the overall appeal of
the interiors still lacks class. The vehicle does not have any electronic
infused features, be it power windows, electronically adjusted seats or
electronically adjusted drive features. But that can be overlooked, since that
in short means less maintenance for the vehicle.
Engine & Performance of the Force Gurkha Xplorer
The Force Gurkha Xplorer is
powered by 2596cc diesel engine that produces just about 85hp and a peak torque
of 230Nm. This, when compared to competition, is rather low. Yet, the vehicle
has been improved dramatically when it comes to its ride and handling. This
2017 model also gets a new G28/5 manual transmission with five forward gears
and 1 reverse. This gearbox is far superior to the one that was in the older
model.
The vehicle now sits on a new
high strength C-in-C chassis with coil spring suspension on all four wheels.
Body roll and jerks have been contained to a great extent in this new Xplorer.
The Gurkha has been known for its
off road capability, especially with its four wheel drive feature and its front
and rear differential locks. None of the vehicles in its class offers diff
locks and this is a massive advantage when one has to indulge in real off
roading. In terms of capability as an off-roader, the Force Gurkha continues to
be perfect. Four wheel drive options in both high and low, apart from front and
rear differential locks are standard in the XPlorer. The snorkel air intake
also ensures that the vehicle can wade in deep waters, much more than 550mm
claimed by the company.
Despite the treacherous terrain
I drove on, not once did I have to deploy diff locks. I wondered as to why the
company cannot offer another variant with a 4X4 option but without diff locks?
Please remember, diff locks are engaged when wheels are perched precariously
and it guarantees equal wheel speed on either the front wheels or the rear
wheels or on all 4 wheels, depending on the diff locks engaged. This prevents
spinning of wheels. Only real off roaders know when to engage the diff locks.
The moment the diff locks have done their job, it needs to disengaged or it can
bomb your transmission. Only a disciplined driver will appreciate such a
feature.
Verdict
The new Force Gurkha is
definitely a much better version of the previous model. All the company needs
is to iron out some of the irritants within its cabin area, if the company
wants some of the customers in the city to go for this handsome brute. The Force
Gurkha Xplore continues to remain a true explorer.