Force Motors has launched the 10-seater Citiline MUV at Rs 15.93 lakh (ex-showroom). The MUV is based on the Trax Cruiser, which is sold as a commercial vehicle.
The Citiline does not qualify in Maharashtra as a private vehicle as the state rules allow for only upto 8-seaters to be registered as a private vehicle. As of now, the Citiline faces a similar issue in Delhi, however, sources tell us that it can be registered in many other states.
Force Citiline MPV exterior and interior design
The Citiline shares its basic design with the Trax Cruiser but a few key differences set it apart from the commercial vehicle. The Citiline’s grille and front bumper are finished in body colour and the grille has square chrome accents in the four horizontal slots. It also has a round Citiline logo on the grille, much like the respective logos on the Force Gurkha and Urbania.
Over to the sides, not much differentiates the two MUVs. The Citiline has three-slot air vents above the front wheels, and while in the Trax Cruiser, the wheel arches and lower parts of the body have a black plastic finish, the Citiline has these finished in the body colour. At the back, apart from a Citiline badge and a new bumper, both MUVs look the same.
Inside, the main talking point about the Citiline is its seating capacity – it can seat up to 10 passengers including the driver. It gets a bench in the second row, captain’s chairs in the third row and another bench in the fourth row, and the second row features a 60:40 split for entry into the last two seats. The main difference between the Citiline and the Trax Cruiser is that the latter gets two side-facing jump seats behind the second row.
The Citiline's interior, otherwise, is very basic and does not even feature an infotainment system. It also gets roof-mounted air conditioning vents for the rear passengers.
Measuring 5,120mm in length, the Citiline is 238mm shorter than the Land Rover Defender 130 and 205mm shorter than the Toyota Hilux.
Force Citiline MPV powertrain
Powering the Citiline is the Mercedes-Benz-derived 2.6-litre diesel engine that produces just 91hp and 250Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and this powertrain can be found under the hood of many Force Motors vehicles. The Citiline also gets an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).
What's next for Force?
Force Motors is planning to launch a five-door version of the Gurkha SUV, which is expected to have multiple seating options and share lots of bits with the three-door version. Apart from the extra two doors and the longer wheelbase, the three-door and five-door versions of the Gurkha look largely similar.
Interestingly, a seven-door version of the Force Trax was spotted testing back in 2015. However, it was never produced.