Off-road enthusiasts no longer need to spend a fortune for a big and 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 offroading cars, which we have detailed below.
1. Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Rs 12.75 lakh to Rs 14.80 lakh
Off-road is where the Jimny SUV’s natural habitat is. The 4x4 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.
Length x width x height (mm) 3985 x 1645 s 1720 | Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) 36/ 47/ 24 | 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 |
2. 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), which none of the other off-roaders in this list offer.
Length x width x height (mm) 3985 x 1820 x 1844-1855 | Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) 41.2/ 36/ 26.2 | Turning radius (m) 5.9 |
Water wading ability (mm) 650 | Ground clearance (mm) 226 | 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 |
3. 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.
Length x width x height (mm) 3965 x 1865 x 2080 | Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) 39/ 37/ 28 | Turning radius (m) 5.5 |
Water wading ability (mm) 700 | Ground clearance (mm) 233 | Engine 2.6-litre diesel |
Power (hp) 140 | Torque (Nm) 320 | Transmission MT |
What community is saying on the Thar (2025-2026)?
4. 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.
Length x width x height (mm) 4390 x 1865 x 2095 | Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) 39/ 37/ 28 | Turning radius (m) 6.3 |
Water wading ability (mm) 700 | Ground clearance (mm) 233 | Engine 2.6-litre diesel |
Power (hp) 140 | Torque (Nm) 320 | Transmission MT |
5. 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, the 4x4 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 and multiple terrain modes.
Length x width x height (mm) 4428 x 1870 x 1923 | Approach/ departure / ramp breakover angle (degree) 41.7/ 36.1/ 23.9 | Turning radius (m) - |
Water wading ability (mm) 650 | Ground clearance (mm) 226 | Engine 2.2-litre diesel |
Power (hp) 152-174 | Torque (Nm) 330-370 | Transmission MT/ AT |
ALL PRICES ARE EX-SHOWROOM, DELHI
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
