With budget-friendly SUVs like the Thar and Jimny, off-roading culture has received a strong impetus in India.
Off-road enthusiasts no longer need to spend a fortune for a big, burly full-size SUV, nor do they have to miss out on creature comforts when they buy something affordable. Even serious off-roading cars have become well-rounded for daily use and yet are great off the tarmac.
Notably, Indian automakers like Maruti, Mahindra and Force dominate our list of the five most affordable off-road SUVs, which we have detailed below.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Rs 12.75 lakh to Rs 14.80 lakh
Off-road is where the Jimny SUV’s natural habitat is. The 4×4 hardware, robust suspension, light kerb weight and narrow track make it extremely capable. The Suzuki Jimny is very practical for its size, and the petrol engine’s low-end grunt makes easy work of most obstacles.
| Maruti Suzuki Jimny specs | |
|---|---|
| Length x width x height (mm) | 3985 x 1645 s 1720 |
| Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) | 36/ 47/ 24 |
| Minimum turning radius (m) | 5.7 |
| Water wading ability (mm) | 310 (estimated) |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 210 |
| Engine | 1.5-litre petrol |
| Power (hp) | 104.8 |
| Torque (Nm) | 134.2 |
| Transmission | MT/ AT |
Mahindra Thar
Rs 14.49 lakh to Rs 17.60 lakh
The Thar is one of the best-looking sub-four metre 4WD SUVs and has an imposing road presence. With a mechanical locking differential (MLD), it’s very capable off-road, and gets both petrol and diesel engines with four-wheel drive. The Mahindra Thar stands out with a soft-top variant (in addition to the hard top version), that none of the other off-roaders in this list offer.
| Mahindra Thar specs | |
|---|---|
| Length x width x height (mm) | 3985 x 1820 x 1844 |
| Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) | 41.2/ 36/ 26.2 |
| Minimum turning radius (m) | 5.9 |
| Water wading ability (mm) | 650 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 226mm |
| Engine | 2-litre turbo petrol/ 2.2-litre diesel |
| Power (hp) | 150 (petrol)/ 130 (diesel) |
| Torque (Nm) | 300-320 (petrol)/ 300 (diesel) |
| Transmission | MT/ AT |
Force Gurkha 3 door
Rs 16.75 lakh
The three-door Gurkha is the most bare-bones off-roader here. There’s a sole diesel MT powertrain, but you get selectable front and rear differential locks. It’s hard work off-roading in a Force Gurkha SUV, and it misses out on electronics offered by others, but there’s little the Gurkha can’t do at the hands of a skilled off-roader.
| Force Gurkha 3 door specs | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3965mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 2080mm |
| Wheelbase | 2400mm |
| Ground clearance | 233 |
| Engine | 2.6-litre diesel |
| Power | 140hp |
| Torque | 320Nm |
| Transmission | MT |
Force Gurkha 5 door
Rs 18 lakh
Next up, the bigger Gurkha SUV adds another row of seats over the three-door version, translating into larger dimensions (excluding width). Due to its longer wheelbase and length, the five-door Gurkha doesn’t have the same off-road angles, however, it offers similar ground clearance and water wading capabilities.
| Force Gurkha 5 door specs | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4390mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 2095mm |
| Wheelbase | 2825mm |
| Ground clearance | 233mm |
| Engine | 2.6-litre diesel |
| Power | 140hp |
| Torque | 320Nm |
| Transmission | MT |
Mahindra Thar Roxx
Rs 19.09 lakh to Rs 23.09 lakh
Compared to the three-door Thar, the Thar Roxx is even more practical with a spacious cabin and an extensive equipment list. It should be noted that unlike its smaller sibling, 4×4 option is available only with the diesel engine in the Roxx SUV. The off-roader features an electronic rear diff lock, brake limited-slip differential, as well as multiple terrain modes.
| Mahindra Thar Roxx specs | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4428 |
| Width | 1870 |
| Height | 1923 |
| Wheelbase | 2850 |
| Ground clearance | 226mm |
| Engine | 2.2-litre diesel |
| Power | 152hp-174hp |
| Torque | 330-370Nm |
| Transmission | MT/ AT |
ALL PRICES ARE EX-SHOWROOM, DELHI
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