Indians have developed a taste for SUVs, owing primarily to their off-road capabilities and commanding positions; we’ve compiled a list of capable and affordable off-roaders for you.

A car is the simplest mode of transport to take you from point A to B. But is it enough to satisfy Indians? The answer is ‘no’. An SUV is the most popular type of car in India. Preferred by Indians for their off-roading ability to navigate rough terrains. The deal has been sweetened by higher commanding positions offering vehicles. However, the best off-roading SUVs available in India like the Land Rover Defender and Jeep Wrangler don’t fit into the budget of many people. To address the issue, we’ve compiled a list of capable and reasonably priced off-road SUVs in India.

Jeep compass
Jeep Compass is one of those SUVs that you can buy in a budget. The SUV from the American automaker is priced between Rs 18.04 lakh and Rs 30.97 lakh (ex-showroom). The most expensive variant is the latest Trailhawk version of the Jeep Compass. As for the powertrain, it comes with a 2.0-liter Multijet diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission for the 4×2 variant and a 9-speed manual transmission for the 4×4 versions. It also gets the option of a 1.4-liter MultiAir petrol engine with 6-speed MT and 7-speed DDCT for the 4×2 and 4×4 variants respectively.

Force Gurkha
The Gurkha 2021 is a very capable off-roader, with a wider and longer body, crash compliant, high strength chassis, and new coil spring suspension on all four wheels. Also, the snorkel on the SUV enables it to steer up to 700 mm of water. The car is powered by a BSVI-compliant 2.6-liter 91bhp Mercedes-derived common rail, direct injection, turbocharged diesel engine, mated to a five-speed Mercedes G-28 transmission. The starting price of the SUV is Rs 14.49 lakh (ex-showroom).

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Mahindra Thar
Mahindra Thar claims to be one of the most popular off-roading SUVs in India. In the current market, SUVs from the house of Mahindra have one of the longest waiting periods. It is powered by the mHawk 130 mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. It also gets the mStallion 150 TGDi engine with the same transmission options as the mHawk. The Mahindra Thar starts at Rs 13.53 Lakh (Ex-showroom).

Mahindra Scorpio
Mahindra Scorpio is another popular SUV in India awaiting the launch of its new variant. There are numerous spy shots of Mahindra Scorpio test mules on the internet. The SUV is powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged mHawk engine. The starting price of the car is Rs 13.54 lakh (ex-showroom).

Isuzu V-Cross
Isuzu V-Cross has the capability to traverse difficult terrains. It also gets a 5-seater cabin with a deck carrying capacity of 180 kg. The versatility of the vehicle makes it even more desirable. The engine is a 4-cylinder VGS turbo inter-cooled diesel engine. Isuzu V-Cross has a starting price of Rs 23.49 Lakh (ex-showroom) which is slightly above the Rs 20 Lakh bracket.