Maruti Suzuki Jimny is expected to make its global debut at the 2023 Auto Expo in January before going on sale in India
The Indian automotive market will see the arrival of three new five-door SUVs in the next calendar year. The second generation Mahindra Thar has been well received amongst customers and leveraging its popularity, the brand will bring in a more practical five-door avatar likely next year and it will be accompanied by the five-door Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the five-door Force Gurkha. Here are some of the important details you should know:
1. 5-Door Maruti Suzuki Jimny:
The five-door India-spec Maruti Suzuki Jimny has already been spotted testing quite a few times in recent months on public roads. It will continue to have the upright design elements the Jimny is known for in the global markets and will have a longer wheelbase with improved practicality and more bootspace. We can expect the renowned off-road capabilities to be one of its major highlights.
It will derive power from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder K15C petrol engine developing around 103 PS maximum power and 137 Nm of peak torque. It will be paired with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, sending power to all four wheels through Suzuki’s AllGrip system. The interior will likely get features such as a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
2. 5-Door Mahindra Thar:
The five-door Mahindra Thar is expected to be based on the same platform as the Scorpio N. With two added doors to accommodate more passengers, it will have a stretched wheelbase compared to the three-door model and will also get new bodywork. The width between the wheels could also be increased and the styling elements will be similar to that of its smaller sibling.
It could be offered in six- and seven-seater configurations to ensure an expansive range and new off-road modes could also be added. It will have to be waited and seen whether the five-door Mahindra Thar will be available with both hard and soft top options upon launch sometime next year in India. The existing 2.2L diesel and 2.0L petrol will be carried over with a slight bump in performance.
3. 5-Door Force Gurkha:
The five-door Force Gurkha will gain a set of larger 18-inch wheels compared to the 16-inchers on the three-door Gurkha and it will be sold in multiple seating configurations upon launch next year. Underpinned by the updated take on the C in C platform, it will have a longer wheelbase and a new rear quarter area and glasshouse. The 2.6L Merc-sourced diesel will be carried over.