Image gallery: 2017 Force Gurkha Xplorer and Xpedition first drive review

Force Motors had launched the updated Force Gurkha earlier this year, but only yesterday did we manage to get our hands on the new Xplorer and Xpedition variants for a first drive review. While there are quite a few visual updates on the outside, the more important changes lie beneath the skin. It gets an updated version of the 2.6-litre turbo-diesel engine that produces 85PS and 230Nm, along with a new 5-speed manual transmission. It also gets a new C-in-C chassis from the previous tubular frame, and a new suspension set up with coil springs at the rear.

Here's a thorough look at the car through images from the first drive event:

The 2017 Force Gurkha Xplorer gets a new grille and a steel bumper with integrated fog lamps. It makes the vehicle look a little more old school and rugged

The rear also ditches the plastic bumper for this steel one, with simple taillights

The 2017 Force Gurkha will be available in two formats -- a short wheelbase variant with 4X4...

...and a long wheelbase variant with 4X2 and 4X4 options

The new Force Gurkha retains some of the previous design elements like the position of its front indicator. It's something you don't really see in vehicles these days, but is nice touch

The updated grille on 2017 Force Gurkha, looks a lot simpler than before and seems to suit the car better than the old one

The 2017 Force Gurkha also retains the snorkel

These 16-inch alloy wheels are optional on the new Force Gurkha, and so are Maxxis Bighorn off-road tyres. As standard, you get steel wheels and Apollo Apterra AT tyres

The updated engine 2.6-litre engine is now BS 4 compliant and surprisingly refined!

The interior layout of the 2017 Force Gurkha hasn't been changed a lot. It gets the same basic layout with cheap plastics, but also a few more storage spaces around the gear lever

You get your basic necessities in the 2017 Force Gurkha, like air conditioning, heating and a 12 volt port

The new Force Gurkha's 4X4 variants continue to get individual differential locks for the front and rear axles

The short wheelbase Force Gurkha's no longer have front-facing bench seats at the rear. You now get jump seats

The new suspension set up on the 2017 Force Gurkha allows for pretty good articulation

Who doesn't love a good slide! The Force Gurkha feels more than happy to plough through muck and climb over rocks

Images by Akshay Jadhav