Mahindra Thar 5-door may face tough competition from this affordable Mercedes-Benz powered SUV, spotted testing

Mahindra Thar is one of the most popular lifestyle SUVs in the country with a huge fan following. The Mahindra Thar is known for its dominant styling, powerful engine and offroading capabilities. Currently only offered in a 3-door variant, the Mahindra Thar 5-door will make its debut in 2024. However, it may not be easy terrain for 5-door Mahindra Thar as an affordable Mercedes-Benz powered Force Gurkha 5-door will be giving it a tough competition. As the new Mahindra Thar 5-door has been spotted testing several times, the company has confirmed that it will not be launching this year but its rival Force Gurkha SUV may reach the showroom in coming months. A new video of Force Gurkha 5-door during high-speed testing has surfaced online, getting enthusiasts excited.

In a video shared by YouTuber Raftaar 7811, new Force Gurkha with heavy camouflage can be seen on the roads of Mumbai and Pune. Although the car is under wraps, the silhouette helps it to identify as Gurkha. The alloy wheels, side steps and big wheel arches are clearly visible on the upcoming Mahindra Thar rival. Although the features are quite similar to the current model, they look more defined on the 5-door version.

Force Gurkha is powered by Mercedes-Benz sourced 2.6-litre diesel engine that produces 89 PS of power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with four-wheel drive system. The upcoming 5-door version is also likely to be powered by a similar engine.