Why Indian Paramilitary Forces Are Choosing Maruti Jimny Over Mahindra Thar
Maruti Suzuki is one of the biggest car manufacturers in India. It is a well-known household name and is known for reliability, fuel efficiency, and a wide service network. Maruti even used to offer the Gypsy to the Indian Army at one point. Due to stricter emission and safety norms, the Gypsy was discontinued from the Indian market. Since then, several manufacturers like Mahindra, Tata, and Force have been competing to take the Gypsy’s place. Recently, Maruti handed over 60 Jimnys to the ITBP, and here are some reasons why we feel the paramilitary forces are choosing the Maruti Jimny over the Mahindra Thar or other SUVs.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny has now been officially inducted into the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Most of the armed forces in India used to drive the Gypsy, and it looks like the Jimny is the perfect replacement.
Simple
Unlike its rivals, the Maruti Jimny doesn’t offer a complicated engine setup. It comes with a simple 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that gets the job done. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other paramilitary forces stationed at high altitudes will find it helpful, as there won’t be any turbo lag. It is also not a feature-loaded SUV. Fewer features mean fewer things that could go wrong.
Weight
Compared to the Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, or even the Tata Safari Storme, the Maruti Jimny is extremely lightweight. It weighs slightly over 1,200 kg, which is extremely helpful when driving through rough terrains. A heavier SUV would affect both performance and efficiency. The Jimny is so light that even a group of personnel can easily lift the vehicle and place it somewhere else if needed.
Affordable
When compared to the 4×4 variants of the Mahindra Thar petrol and the Force Gurkha, the Maruti Jimny is less expensive, and we feel that is another reason why the CAPF inducted it.
Narrow
The Maruti Jimny is not a wide vehicle, which is actually a good thing in this case. Paramilitary forces often have to drive through narrow trails, and the Maruti Jimny is perfect for this purpose.
Reliability
The Jimny sold in India uses the same K15B petrol engine as the 3-door version. This is a proven engine and is extremely reliable. Compared to diesel-powered jeeps, petrol vehicles tend to require less maintenance in such terrains. The Mahindra Thar is also a good SUV, but the Jimny is more trouble-free than its rivals.
Ride Quality
The Maruti Jimny offers great ride quality, which is something that both the Thar and the Gurkha lack. The Jimny can easily transport personnel from point A to B in a much more comfortable manner. The Mahindra Thar has a bumpy ride, which can make long journeys uncomfortable over time.
4-Door Practicality
When compared to the Force Gurkha and the Mahindra Thar, the Jimny is a proper 5-door SUV. While both rivals offer 5-door versions, they are more expensive than the Jimny. So, the Jimny was the only logical SUV to go with, as it offers the forces the practicality of 4 doors, reliability, and affordability without being too expensive.