All roads or no roads, these SUVs will take you where you want to go and where other vehicles fail.
Indians and their love for SUVs are not unknown. Big space and dimensions are some traits that people love SUVs for, not to forget their commanding driving position and ability to tackle bad Indian roads.
There are different sized SUVs available in the country- full-sized, mid-size, or sub-compact SUVs. However, we feel that the sub-compact SUVs are pseudo SUVs because they do not have off-road capabilities. Sub-compact SUVs are good-looking, attract a lot of attention, and are also affordable, But these SUVs are meant only for the urban jungle.
But, for those who think that the city is infested with people and wants to get out and explore new places, that’s when 4X4 SUVs take over. So today, we have listed some of the most affordable 4×4 SUVs available in the Indian market. Let us take a closer look at them.
Mahindra Thar
The Mahindra Thar is perhaps the most capable vehicle on this list and has a huge fan following. The new generation Thar is powered by a BS6 compliant 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 152 PS of power and 320 Nm peak torque.
The 2.0-litre mHawk diesel engine option produces about 132 PS of peak power and 300 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed manual, while a 6-speed torque-converter automatic transmission comes as an option. The Thar gets a 4X4 system as standard.
The Mahindra Thar base variant prices start at Rs 13.53 Lakh (ex-showroom).
Force Gurkha
TheForce Gurkha is also an extremely capable offroader and is the greatest rival to the Thar. The second-generation Gurkha received several significant upgrades as compared to its predecessor. The updated 2021 Gurkha is powered by a BS6 compliant 2.6 Litre, 4-cylinder engine that produces 91 hp of peak power and 240 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox and features an all-wheel-drive system. The Gurkha gets a fully functional snorkel which offers it a water wading capacity of an impressive 700mm.
The prices for the Force Gurkha start from Rs 14.49 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Jeep Compass
Jeep upgraded their entire Compass lineup when they introduced the BS6 variant in the country. The Compass is available with both 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive options and with the choice of a petrol and diesel engine. But the 4-wheel drive option is available only with the 2.0 Litre Multijet II diesel engine that produces an impressive 170 Hp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The Jeep Compass AWD diesel variant is priced at Rs 27.44 Lakhs (ex-showroom).
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
We have listed some top manufacturers that offer the most affordable 4 wheel drive vehicles in the country
Isuzu Motor India has launched the BS6-compliant D-Max V-Cross range in the country recently. D-Max V Cross is available in three variants and gets two-wheel and four-wheel drive options. The D-Max V-Cross Z Prestige 4WD AT variant is powered by a 1.9 Litre diesel engine that produces an impressive 191 hp of peak power and 350 Nm of peak torque. However, it misses out on the shift-on-fly 4WD system, which is disappointing.
The Isuzu D max V-Cross 4-wheeler drive variant is priced at Rs. 24.49 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Toyota Hilux
Toyota launched the Hilux Pickup truck in India recently to rival the Isuzu V-Cross. The Hilux pickup truck uses a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from the Fortuner. The unit paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox produces about 204hp of peak power and 430Nm of peak torque. There is a 6-speed automatic torque converter available as an option.
The Hilux is available only with a 4X4 wheel configuration. The pickup truck gets a low-range gearbox and front and rear electronic differential locks to aid the vehicle’s offroad capability. It also has a water wading capacity of 700mm.
Prices for the Toyota Hilux start at Rs 33.99 lakh for the Standard MT trim, while you will have to shell out Rs 36.80 lakh for the fully kitted High trim (ex-showroom, India).
Toyota Fortuner Legender
Toyota Kirloskar Motors launched a 4×4 variant to the new Fortuner Legender after introducing the 4X2 variant in the country. The Fortuner Legender 4×4 variant is powered by a 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder diesel mill that churns out a maximum power output of 201bhp and 500Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. A lockable differential further enhances the offroad capability of the Fortuner Legender.
The Toyota Fortuner Legender 4-wheel drive variant is priced at Rs 42.33 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Volkswagen Tiguan
There are different sized SUVs available in the country- full-sized, mid-size, or sub-compact
Volkswagen launched the Tiguan facelift in India not so long ago. The SUV is locally assembled, at Volkswagen’s Aurangabad plant. The new Tiguan is available in a single Elegance trim which means that it features all the bells and whistles that you generally expect out of an SUV of this caliber.
The Tiguan facelift gets a sharper front headlamp, tweaked grille, and bumper. It also gets a redesigned 18-inch alloy wheels. The SUV is available with a choice of seven colour options.
The Tiguan is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, TSI turbo-petrol engine that produces 190 Hp of peak power and 320 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that sends power to all the four wheels via the Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is priced at Rs 31.99 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Hyundai Tucson
The list contains SUVs starting from 13 lakh rupees onward
After showcasing the SUV at the Auto expo 2020, Hyundai finally introduced the Tucson facelift in July. The facelifted SUV is available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engine options. The 2.0 Litre petrol makes around 152hp of peak power and 192Nm of peak torque and is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The diesel variant gets a 2.0 litre unit that produces around 185hp of peak power and 400Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine comes paired with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The Tucson gets an all-wheel-drive option available only on the top-spec GLS trim.
The Hyundai Tucson GLS trim is priced at Ra 27.47 Lakh (ex-showroom).
Mahindra Alturas G4
Here we have listed all the affordable 4×4 SUVs available in the country
Mahindra silently launched the BS6 compliant Alturas G4 SUV in the country back in 2020. The SUV is powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel mill that produces 181 PS of maximum power and 420 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 7-speed automatic transmission. The SUV is available with both two-wheel and four-wheel drive options.
The Mahindra Alturas G4 4WD variant is priced at Rs 31.87 Lakh (ex-showroom).
Q&A
Which is the cheapest 4×4 you can buy?
The Mahindra Thar is the cheapest 4X4 vehicle that you can buy. The prices for the Mahindra (4WD) start at Rs 13.17 lakhs (ex-showroom).
What is the cheapest car with AWD?
The Mahindra Thar AX Opt 4-Str Convert Top is the cheapest car that features all-wheel drive.
Is AWD as good as 4×4?
There is very little difference in the mechanicals of an all and a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The all-wheel-drive vehicles have a four-wheel-drive system designed to maximize road traction. This is one type of safety feature used by many brands like Audi and BMW.
Many AWD systems limit the drive to a single set of wheels (front or rear) and only engage the other wheels set when the system detects a slippage or a lack of traction.
The term four-wheel drive, on the other hand, is used to describe a vehicle designed to be used for actual off-roading and rough terrains.
Keyword: Affordable 4x4 / AWD Cars In India