Jeep Compass

The Compass is Jeep’s cheapest offering in India and is already a craze amongst off-road enthusiasts. In its Limited Plus variant, it gets quite good at tackling different types of terrain. It comes with three driving modes — snow, sand and mud. It also comes with an Auto Mode which helps adapt to any terrain

Toyota Fortuner
The Fortuner was introduced to India in 2009. It’s proven itself as a very capable off-roader and can tackle most terrains. It’s a classic 4-wheel drive, without any of the fancy excesses of modern SUVs. Thanks to its practicality and price, it’s the first choice for someone who’d want to use it for daily driving and also for occasional fun drives

Audi Q7
This luxury behemoth from Audi is well-known for terrain-tackling with style. It’s powered by Audi’s legendary Quattro four-wheel drive system. Packed with loads of tech, the Q7 comes with features like a 360degree camera, adaptive air suspension, tilt angle sensors and hill decent control. The Q7 is the perfect all-in-one package for a high-tech off-road experience

Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is another legendary SUV. Well-known for tackling sand dunes in the Middle East, it is the most preferred vehicle in the Arabian Peninsula. It’s not very popular in India due to its hefty price tag. Nonetheless, it is a very capable SUV and would suit your off-roading needs if you have deep pockets

Mahindra Thar
The Thar is India’s most-loved SUV. It is a mid-size four-wheel Jeep and comes in three variants — DI 2WD, DI 4WD and CRDe. It is a hit amongst off-road enthusiasts, thanks to its low pricing and extreme capability. It features high approach angles and low departure angles, comes with the only mechanical three-locking differential system available in the market and a low range crawl ratio of 2.48. It is a pure off-roader and doesn’t offer any other luxuries

Ford Endeavour
The Endeavour has been in the Indian market since 1995. The 2016 model is an incredible 4×4. It is loaded with features and serves as a very reliable luxury off-roader. Its large frame and different driving modes allow it to tackle tricky terrains. It’s perfect for a family leisure or adventure trip

Land Rover Discovery Sport
Land Rover is a brand that is synonymous with off-roading. The Discovery Sport has held the mantle of being one of the best 4×4 in the market, thanks to its array of tech that aids its off-roading capability. It comes with features such as Terrain Response System, that adapts the suspension and gearbox according to the terrain; different driving modes such as Grass/Gravel/Snow, General Driving, Mud/Ruts and Sand. Land Rovers are built to withstand extreme conditions, hence are always the first choice for people who are looking to buy a proper 4×4

Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler closely resembles the Mahindra Thar, but is in every way different. While the Thar is more old-school, the Wrangler features a host of electronic and mechanical features to help navigate harsh terrain. Some of the features include Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist, different driving modes and drain plugs to flush out water if it enters your car. It is expensive, and hence hasn’t made that much of an impact in the Indian market yet

Lamborghini Urus
The Urus is the first in the ‘Super SUV’ category. It is the first 4×4 from the Italian sports car manufacturer. Its look and performance are ‘very’ Lamborghini. It is powered by a 4.0litre twin turbocharged V8 that puts out 641bhp and 850nm of torque. It is a very capable off-roader and features Lamborghini’s brand new driving mode selector system called Anima. There are three on-road modes — Strada, Sport and Corsa; and 3 off-road modes — NEVE for slippery surfaces, TERRA for off-road conditions, and SABBIA for sandy surfaces. The EGO mode enables the driver to adjust the vehicle’s dynamics according to his preferences — in terms of steering, suspension and traction. It is just a little bit more expensive than SUVs like the Mercedes GLS, Audi Q7 and the Lexus RX. In spite of its price, it is a very popular SUV and is already sold out for the first quarter of 2019 in India. A Lamborghini that can seat 5, carry around 6-7 bags and also off-roads? Take my money, already!

Mercedes Benz G Class
The G Wagon has always been the world’s best SUV. It is known to tackle any terrain in any weather condition, all while retaining the luxury status of a Mercedes. It also comes in a super sport SUV guise — The G63 AMG. It’s powered by a 4.0litre V8 Biturbo that puts out 560bhp and 850nm of torque. Its high torque number helps it climb out of any surface with ease. The G Wagon also features the same off road tech as other SUVs, just ten times better