Purpose-built cars for enthusiasts typically have limited practicality. They are positioned as premium models with high price tags when they are both capable and practical. There is a significant gap in the Indian off-road capable segment between a three-door lifestyle vehicle and a practical five-door SUV with proper 4WD. These three upcoming five-door SUVs, on the other hand, intend to make the combination of practicality and off-roading fun more affordable:
Upcoming 5-Door SUVs
1. Mahindra Thar 5-door
Mahindra’s Thar has been a runaway success in the lifestyle segment. The carmaker has already confirmed plans to release additional versions of it, including a five-door model. The five-door Thar has recently been spotted testing, implying that it will arrive in 2023 as planned.
Officials from Mahindra have also revealed that it will share some of its underpinnings with the new Scorpio N to improve ride quality. Mechanically, the five-door Thar should be powered by the same 2.2-litre diesel engine with 4WD and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. While a petrol-4WD powertrain is possible, its availability will be determined by market demand. The five-door Thar may even be offered with 2WD only, as opposed to the regular Thar, which comes standard with 4WD.
Mahindra currently sells the three-door Thar for between Rs 13.53 lakh and Rs 16.03 lakh (ex-showroom). The five-door version with 4WD as an option could cost between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom).
2. Maruti Jimny 5-door
Since its global debut in 2018, Indian buyers have been patiently waiting for the latest Suzuki Jimny to arrive in India. It even made an appearance at the 2020 Auto Expo and was manufactured in India for export. However, Maruti felt that a five-door model would be better suited for India.
The five-door Jimny has been spotted testing internationally and appears to be nearing completion. It is expected to be powered by the same 103PS 1.5-litre petrol engine as the regular Jimny, but it may have the option of a turbo-petrol engine for increased performance. The Jimny, like the Thar, comes standard with 4WD in Europe. The five-door version, on the other hand, may be available with a 2WD version for buyers who want the looks but not the off-roading capabilities, and at a lower price.
If offered in both 2WD and 4WD versions, a five-door Jimny in India could easily be priced between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom).
3. Force Gurkha 5-door
While the Mahindra Thar and Jimny are considered off-roaders that have matured over time to become more practical in the city, the Force Gurkha appears to have stayed true to its rugged roots. The latest-generation Gurkha debuted in 2021, and a five-door version is on the way.
A five-door Gurkha in near-production form has been spotted several times. However, like the Scorpio, it is expected to have more seating capacity with third-row captain seats or side-facing seats behind the second row. The Gurkha five-door is expected to be powered by the same 2.6-litre diesel engine as the regular model, but with a more powerful tune. It will almost certainly be a 4WD-only model.
Like the current Gurkha, which costs Rs 14.5 lakh, it may only be available in one trim, with a price tag of Rs 18 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom).