Most Affordable 4WD Cars Under Rs 20 Lakh

The flagship Tata model with three rows of seating falls within the Rs 20 lakh bracket and gets an AWD system in the XT 4x4 variant priced at Rs 18.64 lakh. The Hexa is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that churns out 156PS and 400Nm, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is the longest vehicle here measuring 4788mm in length with a 2850mm long wheelbase. The Hexa AWD is only available in the top-spec XT variant which also gets Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough Road driving modes.

It comes equipped with features like six airbags, auto AC, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, 10-speaker JBL sound system and all-black interiors. The Hexa can be had in both 6- and 7-seater configurations.

The XUV500 was Mahindra’s flagship model for a long time till the even bigger Alturas G4 came out last year. Mahindra offers it with AWD only on the W11(O) variant which is priced at Rs 18.51 lakh. It too has three rows of seating and since this is the top-spec variant, it’s equipped with features like six airbags, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, auto AC, electric sunroof, leather upholstery and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The XUV500 is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that makes 155PS and 360Nm, and the AWD version only comes with the 6-speed manual gearbox. 

The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a pick-up truck and not exactly an SUV. But it does get a 4WD drivetrain while being within this budget, and so, it’s on our list. The D-Max V-Cross is also a lifestyle vehicle that may not be as suitable for most urban buyers as some of the cars on this list. Even then, it is an interesting option and has just recently received a facelift and the top-spec High(Z) variant is priced at Rs 17.06 lakh.

It is powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine that produces 134PS of power and 320Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It also gets the ability to switch on-the-fly between its 4WD modes. The D-Max V-Cross is well equipped too with Bi-LED projector headlamps, auto AC, cruise control, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, passive entry and engine start and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system among other features. In terms of safety, it gets dual front airbags, rear parking camera, traction control, electronic stability control and ISOFIX child seat anchorage too.

More affordable than the XUV500 is the Mahindra Scorpio which also gets a 4WD version in the top-spec S11 variant, priced at Rs 16.44 lakh. It’s cheaper by over Rs 2 lakh and is still a 7-seater with three seat layout options. The Scorpio, like the XUV500, also gets a 2.2-litre diesel paired to a 6-speed manual, but this one has an output of 140PS of power and 320Nm of torque.

It only comes with dual front airbags and a lot of safety features like ESP with rollover mitigation, hill hold and hill descent control, offered on the XUV500, are missing on the Scorpio. But in terms of comfort and features, the S11 variant offers auto AC, faux leather upholstery, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, cruise control and reverse parking camera with dynamic guidelines. 

At a nearly identical price to the Scorpio 4WD variant, you can get the Safari Storme VX 4x4 for Rs 16.44 lakh too. It uses the same powertrain as the Hexa AWD - a 2.2-litre diesel mated to a 6-speed manual and producing 156PS of power and 400Nm of torque. The Safari is another iconic SUV in the Indian automotive industry and is also the base vehicle for the Indian Army.

Unlike the Hexa, the Safari Storme’s 4WD drivetrain uses a limited slip differential and can switch on-the-fly between 2WD and 4WD-high but you’d need to stop before engaging low-range 4WD. It is, therefore, likely to be more capable in coming out of tough off road situations. It also has seating for seven but is not as plush as the Hexa in terms of the features list. The VX variant gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, CONNECTNEXT audio system by Harman with steering-mounted controls and heated ORVMs.

It’s easy to forget the Force Gurkha when considering a new SUV, possibly because it is primarily made to tackle off-road conditions and is less of a city car for the family. While there are more affordable versions of the Gurkha 4x4 available from Rs 10.75 lakh, the Xtreme 4x4 3-door variant was recently updated with ABS and priced at Rs 13.30 lakh. It is the most recently launched version of the Gurkha and is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that makes 140PS and 321Nm, mated to a 5-speed manual. It also gets a low-range gearbox and comes with a differential lock control.

The Gurkha is the most capable 4x4 off-roader you can buy at this price, however its spartan interiors make it hard to recommend as a family car. Force is expected to update it with a BS6 engine which means it could get an update in safety features as well to meet the new safety norms.

The Force Gurkha Xplorer may offer a 4x4 drivetrain for a lower price, but it is the plucky Renault Duster which is the most affordable family SUV with an AWD option. The Duster RXZ AWD is priced at Rs 13.10 lakh. It uses a 1.5-litre diesel engine that produces 110PS of power and 245Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. 

The top-spec RXZ variant is equipped with features such as auto AC, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, driver-seat armrest, cruise control, electronic stability program, skid plates and more. It also gets dual front airbags, rear parking sensors and reverse parking camera.