List includes 11 SUVs, two pickups and an MPV.
Published on Nov 07, 2025 08:00:00 AM
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Follow usMost cars on our roads today are underpinned by a monocoque chassis. However, some models still come with a ladder-frame chassis. A ladder-frame chassis consists of two long beams on the sides of the vehicle, with multiple cross beams connecting them, making it look like a ladder.
Ladder frames are known for their durable construction and their ability to handle rough terrain – a reason why we see them on hardcore off-roading SUVs. On the flip side, it isn’t as polished as monocoque-based cars in terms of fuel efficiency and ride and handling.
Here’s our list of ladder frame SUVs and an MPV (in descending order) under Rs 50 lakh:
Starting the list is the MG Gloster, the only MG SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 161hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, or a 215hp 2.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel, with 4WD available on the latter; both engines have automatic gearboxes only. The Gloster can also be had with six seats in the top Savvy trim.
Other than having 4WD, drive modes, and an electronically locking rear differential, the Gloster doesn't get as much offroad-oriented hardware as the Fortuner. In our review of the Gloster, the SUV impressed us with its ride quality, especially at higher speeds and over bad roads. While there's a fair bit of body roll, it corners confidently.
The MU-X is Isuzu’s 7-seater SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. The MU-X is sold only with a 1.9-litre diesel engine producing 163hp and 360Nm, mated to an automatic transmission with AWD. The MU-X also gets off-road hardware, including a high-range and low-range transfer case, and a 4WD shift-on-the-fly switch.
In our review, the MU-X fared well in terms of ride at lower speeds, but it gets crashy as you go higher. There’s a lot of body roll around the corners, and the heavy steering doesn’t help with the experience either.
The Fortuner is the most expensive SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis in the GR-S trim. It gets a 166hp 2.7-litre petrol or a 204hp 2.8-litre diesel engine. The diesel gets manual and automatic gearbox options, while the petrol is automatic only. 4WD is only available with the diesel engine, which also gets a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with the automatic gearbox. The Fortuner also gets a Legender variant with cosmetic differences, but it is only available in the diesel engine.
The Fortuner gets off-road hardware like a high-range and low-range transfer case, electronic differential lock, and a 4WD shift-on-the-fly switch. In our experience with the Fortuner, it does handle rough terrains and bad roads well, but the ride quality at lower speeds is bumpy. There's also noticeable body roll while cornering and nose-dive under braking.
The Toyota Hilux is one of the pickup trucks on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It only gets a diesel engine, similar to the one on the Fortuner, paired to either a manual or an automatic gearbox. It also gets off-road hardware like an electronic differential locking, shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive setup, and high-range and low-range transfer cases.
Like most ladder-frame vehicles, we found out in our review that the ride comfort falls short on city roads. But when it comes to off-roading, it comes with great traction across terrains – though the approach, departure and breakover angles aren’t great, especially due to the rear overhang being too long.
The D-Max is the other pickup truck on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. Available in the Highlander and V-Cross trims, the pickup truck gets the same 163hp 1.9-litre diesel engine as the MU-X SUV, but the automatic gearbox, AWD, and off-road hardware are available only on the V-Cross.
Our review of the V-Cross talks about how the pickup absorbs bumpy roads and imperfections with ease, but the ride quality is quite bouncy.
The Innova Crysta is the only MPV in its class and on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. The Crysta is sold only with a 2.4-litre diesel engine producing 150hp and 343Nm that's paired with a manual transmission. The Innova Crysta, being an MPV, does not get off-road-oriented hardware.
In our experience of the Innova Crysta, we found the ride quality to be bumpy, especially on the 17-inch alloys. It is better with the 16-inch alloys, but it's still bumpy overall.
The Gurkha is Force Motors’ only SUV sold in India with a ladder-frame chassis. It's sold only in a fully loaded trim with either 3-door or 5-door options. The Gurkha gets a 2.5-litre diesel engine producing 140hp and 320Nm, mated to a manual transmission with AWD as standard. The Gurkha also gets a shift-on-the-fly 4WD switch along with high- and low-range transfer cases. The Gurkha is the only SUV here that gets a snorkel for air intake.
Our review of the Force Gurkha talks about the 5-door having a more settled ride quality in comparison to the 3-door. While bad road patches are handled with ease with a stable ride at moderate speeds, there’s still noticeable side-to-side movement. Off-road ability is great, but cornering isn’t as good.
The Mahindra Scorpio N is the most expensive Mahindra SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 200hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 130hp 2.2-litre diesel, and a 173hp 2.2-litre diesel engine. All engines come with manual and automatic gearboxes; however, 4WD is available only with the 173hp diesel. The Scorpio N also gets off-road hardware like a shift-on-the-fly 4WD switch, electronic differential locking, multi-terrain modes, and a high-range transfer case.
We felt that the SUV had better body control over roll around the corners and better maintained pitching and squatting under braking and acceleration, respectively. The ride quality is a bit bouncy, especially at the rear – typical of ladder-frame SUVs.
Mahindra sells the Scorpio Classic alongside the Scorpio N SUV, which also possesses a ladder-frame chassis. It comes only with a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 130hp and 300Nm, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Unlike its sibling, it doesn’t get much off-road hardware.
While bad roads were light work for it, as we found out in our Scorpio Classic review, the ride is still busy on cracks and potholes. The ride is bouncy, and there’s side-to-side movement as well.
The Jimny is the only Maruti SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. In fact, it’s the one of the SUVs here with a 4x4 drive setup paired with a petrol engine other than the Thar. The Jimny is sold solely with a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 105hp and 134Nm, mated to either a manual or an automatic gearbox. The Jimny also gets the ability to switch drive setups and the ability to switch between high-range and low-range transfer cases.
The Jimny is really good at off-roading, as noted in our review. However, the ride is rocky, especially due to its boxy design on the highway. There is also some body roll around the corners.
The Thar Roxx is the 5-door equivalent of the Mahindra Thar with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 150hp 2.2-litre diesel engine, a 172hp 2.0-litre diesel, a 160hp 2.0-litre petrol, and a 174hp 2.0-litre petrol. Only the 172hp diesel, 150hp diesel, and the 160hp petrol engines get an automatic gearbox. 4x4 is exclusively available on the diesel engines with manual and automatic gearboxes.
The Thar Roxx gets off-road tech like multi-terrain modes and an electronic locking differential. In our review, we felt that the Thar Roxx has a well-settled ride. While there is a fair bit of body roll, it is controlled at high speeds. Off-road ability has always been the Thar's USP.
The Mahindra Thar is the most affordable 3-door off-roader SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It comes with a 150hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 119hp 2.2-litre diesel engine, and a 132hp 2.2-litre diesel engine. 4WD is available on the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol with manual and automatic transmissions. The Thar gets similar off-road features as the Thar Roxx.
Our review of the Thar notes that the SUV has a lumpy ride at low speeds, with prominent body roll felt in the cabin at all speeds; bump absorption isn’t good either. But the ladder-frame chassis lends a good experience when it comes to off-roading.
The Mahindra Bolero Neo is another SUV in the brand’s portfolio with a ladder-frame chassis. It comes only with a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 100hp and 260Nm, mated to a manual transmission with a RWD setup. The Bolero Neo doesn’t get much in terms of off-road hardware like the Thar SUVs, but it gets a locking differential.
In our experience with the Bolero Neo, we found the Neo’s off-road ride well composed, but on the road, body roll is present around the corners.
The Mahindra Bolero is the most affordable SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It comes with a sole 1.5-litre diesel engine producing 80hp and 210Nm, mated to a manual gearbox with a RWD setup.
Our review of the Bolero mentions how the ride quality is compliant at low speeds but wayward as you go faster. There’s a fair bit of body roll around the corners as well.
Also see:
Top 10 most affordable ADAS cars in India
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