The maruti gypsy has been around for quite a while now; first entering the indian market sometime in the late - 1980s, as the mg-410, featuring the old 1100cc engine, and a 4-wheel-drive that needed to be engaged by turning a lock on the front wheels (in addition to the gear shift lever inside).today, the gypsy sells in two variants the mg-413 king hard top and the mg-413 king soft top.the new 1298cc engine delivers a maximum power of 80 bhp @ 6000 rpm; while the 4wd is fully engageable from the cabin, using a simple additional gear shift lever marked "4l (for 4 low), 4h (for 4 high), n (for neutral) and 2h (for regular 2 wheel drive).the indian army continues to be the primary user of this vehicle; and the gypsy has proven itself time and time again.personally, i have used the gypsy quite extensively in the thar desert; driving it over terrain which is unimaginable with mahindra jeeps (including scorpios and boleros) and even tata safaris (i’ve tried them, as well).
There are just some places where only a maruti gypsy can go. This vehicle is by far, the best off-roader in india. I give it 5-stars for its off-roading capabilities ; but i would not recommend it for city driving.please see the photo attached - the gypsy is atop a 60-metre high sand dune.