5 Rugged 4x4 SUV Options To Consider Buying If You Are An Off-Road Enthusiast

With the rainy season right around the corner, it is one of the best times for some off-road action with muddy trails making it harder to drive. However, muddy trails cannot stop you if you have a rugged 4x4 SUV which is mostly rampant over all terrains, be it snow, muddy trails, sand or regular roads. With multiple terrains available across India owing to its diverse weather conditions, it is a great ground zero for enthusiasts to test which off-road SUV is the most capable as well as practical.

Here are 5 great rugged 4x4 SUV options to consider buying if you are an off-road enthusiast including Mahindra Thar Roxx, Mahindra ScorpioN, Force Gurkha, Jeep Compass and Maruti Suzuki Jimny:

Indian automaker, Mahindra launched the 5-door iteration of the Thar, called the Thar Roxx in mid-August last year. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is one of the most capable off-roading machines in the Indian automotive market. Equipped with a brake locking differential on the front axle and electronic locking differential on the rear axle, the Thar Roxx sends power to the wheels that have grip to get the SUV out of tricky situations while off-roading. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is powered by both petrol and diesel engines, the petrol engine is 2.0L mStallion turbocharged engine, producing 160 bhp and 330 Nm and a 175 bhp and 380 Nm whereas the diesel variant boats a 2.2L mHawk engine, producing 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque and 172 bhp and 370 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The price range of the Mahindra Thar Roxx starts from Rs 12.99 lakh to Rs 23.39 lakh (ex-showroom).

American automaker owned by the Stellantis group, Jeep has a lineup of 4x4 SUVs. However, the most affordable SUV with 4x4 is the Jeep Compass. As opposed to ladder frame chassis, which is usually employed in rugged 4x4 SUVs, the Jeep Compass boasts a monocoque chassis giving the SUV better handling and making it lightweight, helping in maneuvering past tough obstacles on the off-road track. The Jeep Compass is powered by a 2.0L Multijet II Diesel engine producing 168 bhp and 350 Nm of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission.

Indian automaker, Force only has one car in its portfolio which is the Gurkha. The Gurkha competes against the Mahindra Thar owing to its ladder on frame chassis. The SUV, moreover, has three-door and five-door options for the Gurkha, much like the Thar. The Force Gurkha is powered by a 2.6L FM2.6 CD diesel engine producing 138.08 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Additionally, the car boasts a ground clearance of 233 mm. The price of the Force Gurkha starts from Rs 16.75 lakh (ex-showroom).

Maruti Suzuki introduced a five-door iteration of the Jimny in India. The Jimny boasts the AllGrip which is a four-wheel drive (4WD) technology which is also seen on its compact SUV, the Grand Vitara. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is powered by a 1,462cc K15B petrol engine producing 103.37 bhp and 134.2 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine sends power to all four wheels, powered by AllGrip Pro Technology. The price of the Maruti Suzuki Jimny starts at Rs 12.75 lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read: Kia Enters Pickup Market With Tasman Featuring 4WD And Off-Road Systems

Indian automaker, Mahindra’s flagship SUV, the ScorpioN also gets 4x4 in higher variants. The Mahindra ScorpioN is powered by a 2.0L mStallion Turbo Petrol engine producing upto 200 bhp and 380 Nm of torque and a 2.2L mHawk diesel engine producing up to 172.45 bhp and 370 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with an option of automatic transmission. The starting ex-showroom price of the Mahindra ScorpioN is Rs 13.99 lakh.