Maruti Jimny Or Force Gurkha, Which One Should You Pick?

• Along with the 4WD capabilities, Jimny gets a lot of features
• Gurkha is a no-nonsense, tough, rugged, old-school 4x4 SUV
• Jimny comes with a petrol engine, whereas Gurkha comes with a diesel

Entering the true 4WD SUV segment, Maruti Suzuki has launched the much-awaited 5-door Jimny at the 2023 auto expo. The Jimny directly competes with the legendary 4x4 SUV Force Gurkha. Both SUVs have been made using a ladder-on-frame structure and get a 4WD system with low-range capability. However, when it comes to technical specs and feature lists, there's a lot of difference between the two. Here we will compare the SUVs for what they offer and help you decide on one.

Dimension:

Dimensions	Maruti Jimny	Force Gurkha
Length	3985	4116
Width	1645	1812
Height	1720	2075
Wheelbase	2590	2400
Ground Clearance	210 mm	205 mm
Water Wading Capacity	NA	700 mm
Approach Angle	36 degree	37 degree
Departure Angle	50 degree	25 degree
Ramp Breakover Angle	24 degree	25 degree
Turning Radius	5.7 m	5.65 m
Boot Space	208 Litre	500 Litre

Powertrain:

Both, the Jimny and Gurkha get a single-engine option. However, the Jimny gets a petrol motor and the Gurkha gets a diesel motor. Also, there's an option for a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic on the Jimny, whereas the Gurkha just gets a 5-speed manual transmission.

Powertrain	Jimny	Gurkha
Fuel Type	Petrol	Diesel
Engine	1462cc 4-cylinder	2596cc 4-cylinder
Power	105Ps	91Ps
Torque	134Nm	250Nm
Transmission	5-speed MT/4-speed AT	5-speed MT

4x4 Drivetrain:

The new Maruti Jimny gets the AllGrip Pro 4WD system with a low-range transfer case (4 Low Mode) and a brake-limited slip differential as standard across all its variants. The Force Gurkha on the other hand gets a conventional 4x4 system with high and low gear modes. It also gets mechanically actuated differential locks on both front and rear axles.

Features:

Features	Jimny	Gurkha
Touchscreen	22.86cm Suzuki Smartplay Pro+	17.78cm
Speakers	4	4
Android Auto/Apple Carplay	Yes (Wireless)	Yes (Wired)
Air Conditioning	Auto Climate Control	Manual
Tyre Pressure Monitoring	No	Yes
LED Headlamps	Yes (With Headlamp Washer)	Yes
Fog Lamps	Yes	Yes
Steering Mounted Controls	Yes	No
Cruise Control	Yes	No
Air Intake Snorkel	No	Yes
Steering Adjustment	Tilt	Tilt & Telescopic

Safety:

The Jimny is loaded with safety features. It gets 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Program, Brake Assist, Hill Hold & Hill Descent Control as standard. The Gurkha on the other hand gets all the basic safety features like dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System as standard.

Also Read: Maruti Jimny & Mahindra Thar 4x2 Compared: Your Pick?

Verdict: Both SUVs are extremely capable. The only difference is that Jimny is a bit sophisticated and more comfortable because of the features it offers, while the Gurkha is just made for pure off-roading with just the most essential features. The Gurkha would be the best vehicle for someone who wants a rugged off-roading focused SUV, while the Jimny will fulfill your needs for both off-roading as well as city commutes.