Best SUVs for Hilly Terrain and Hill-Station Road Trips in India (2026)

This guide covers six SUVs with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive: the Maruti Jimny, Maruti Victoris, Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, Mahindra Thar ROXX and Mahindra Scorpio-N.

The Maruti Jimny is the narrowest SUV in this list at 1,645 mm, with low-range four-wheel drive, Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control and 6 airbags on every variant. The Maruti Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT brings all-wheel drive with Snow, Sport, Lock and Auto terrain modes, Hill Descent Control and disc brakes on all four wheels.

The list runs from the narrowest SUV to the widest. All prices are ex-showroom.

Top picks at a glance

• Narrowest SUV in this list: Maruti Jimny, 1,645 mm wide, with low-range four-wheel drive
• Low-range 4WD, Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control on every variant: Maruti Jimny, with a 46-degree departure angle
• All-wheel drive with terrain modes and Hill Descent Control for hill-station trips: Maruti Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT, 1,795 mm wide
• AWD with Level 2 ADAS and a panoramic sunroof: Maruti Victoris ZXI+ (O) AT 4W (AllGrip), ₹19.42 Lakh

Also on the list, each offered with four-wheel drive: Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, Mahindra Thar ROXX and Mahindra Scorpio-N.

6 best SUVs for hilly terrain in India

Car	Width	Drive system	Hill Descent Control	Airbags	Certified fuel efficiency
Maruti Jimny	1,645 mm	ALLGRIP PRO 4WD with low-range transfer gear	Every variant	6, every variant	16.94 km/l (MT), 16.39 km/l (AT)
Maruti Victoris	1,795 mm	ALLGRIP SELECT AWD with Snow, Sport, Lock, Auto modes	ALLGRIP	6	19.07 km/l (ALLGRIP AT)
Mahindra Thar	1,820 mm	Part-time 4WD, high and low	Yes	2	Not listed in brochure
Force Gurkha (3 Door, 5 Door)	1,865 mm	4H / 4L with manual front and rear diff locks	Not listed in brochure	2	Not listed in brochure
Mahindra Thar ROXX	1,870 mm	Part-time 4x4, high and low	Listed	6	Not listed in brochure
Mahindra Scorpio-N	1,917 mm	Shift-on-fly 4WD, 4-High / 4-Low	All variants	Front on Z4; 6 on Z8T, Z8L	Not listed in brochure

Widths, equipment and fuel efficiency figures are as each manufacturer prints them.

1. Maruti Jimny

Best for: narrow hill roads, steep trails and hill towns with tight lanes.

The Jimny is 3,985 mm long and 1,645 mm wide on a 2,590 mm wheelbase, with a 5.7-metre minimum turning radius. Every variant has ALLGRIP PRO four-wheel drive: you shift between 2WD high, 4WD high and 4WD low with a transfer lever. It sits on a ladder frame with 3-link rigid axles and coil springs at the front and the rear.

Price range: ₹12.54 Lakh to ₹14.51 Lakh (ex-showroom)

Specifications:

• Engine and gearbox: 1,462 cc K15B petrol making 77.1 kW (104.8 PS) and 134.2 Nm, with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic
• Clearance and angles: 210 mm ground clearance (unladen); 36° approach, 24° ramp breakover, 46° departure
• Wheels and tank: 195/80 R15 tyres; 40 litres
• Hill driving aids: Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, ESP and a Brake Limited Slip Differential on every variant
• Certified fuel efficiency (Rule 115 of CMVR): 16.94 km/l manual, 16.39 km/l automatic

Why it makes the list:

• The narrowest SUV in this list, 150 mm narrower than the next one
• Low-range four-wheel drive, rigid axles front and rear and a 46-degree departure angle
• Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control on all four variants
• 6 airbags on every variant, from the Zeta PRO to the Alpha PRO
• Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, whichever comes first, extendable up to 6 years or 1,60,000 km

2. Maruti Victoris

Best for: hill-station road trips on mixed roads, in comfort, with all-wheel drive.

The Victoris is 4,360 mm long and 1,795 mm wide on a 2,600 mm wheelbase, with a 5.4-metre turning radius, and it seats five. Its ALLGRIP SELECT all-wheel drive pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic, and a selector offers Snow, Sport, Lock and Auto terrain modes. Hill Descent Control comes with ALLGRIP, and all four wheels have disc brakes.

Price range: ₹10.50 Lakh to ₹19.99 Lakh (ex-showroom); ALLGRIP (4W) from ₹18.84 Lakh

Specifications:

• Engine: 1,462 cc K15C Smart Hybrid petrol, 75.8 kW (103.06 PS) and 139 Nm
• Transmission and drive: 6-speed automatic with ALLGRIP SELECT all-wheel drive
• Hill driving aids: Hill Hold Assist, Hill Descent Control (ALLGRIP), Electronic Parking Brake with Brake Hold (6AT), disc brakes front and rear
• Safety: 6 airbags, ESP, TPMS, 360-degree HD view camera with 11 views
• Fuel efficiency: 19.07 km/l (ALLGRIP automatic)

Why it makes the list:

• All-wheel drive with Snow, Sport, Lock and Auto terrain modes
• Disc brakes on all four wheels, with Hill Descent Control on ALLGRIP variants
• A 5.4-metre turning radius
• The ZXI+ (O) AT 4W (AllGrip) at ₹19.42 Lakh includes Level 2 ADAS and a panoramic sunroof

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, whichever comes first, extendable up to 6 years or 1,60,000 km.

3. Mahindra Thar

Mahindra builds the 3-door Thar for four people on a 2,450 mm wheelbase, at 3,985 mm long and 1,820 mm wide. For hills, its brochure highlights a Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control system for controlled uphill and downhill driving, and 255/65 R18 all-terrain tyres. Four-wheel drive comes with both the 2.2-litre diesel and the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, and each can be had with a manual or a torque converter automatic.

Price range: ₹10.32 Lakh to ₹18.00 Lakh (ex-showroom); four-wheel drive versions from ₹15.60 Lakh

Specifications:

• Diesel (4WD): 2,184 cc mHawk 130, 97 kW and 300 Nm
• Petrol (4WD): 1,997 cc mStallion 150 TGDi, 112 kW and 300 Nm (manual) or 320 Nm (automatic)
• 4WD hardware: manual shift part-time 4WD with high and low reduction gears; Advanced Electronic Brake Locking Differential, with a Mechanical Locking Differential also listed
• Clearance and wading: 226 mm ground clearance; 650 mm water wading
• Safety: dual front airbags, ESP with roll-over mitigation, rear view camera

Why it makes the list:

• Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control named as uphill and downhill aids
• A choice of diesel or petrol, manual or automatic, with four-wheel drive
• An Electric Driveline Disconnect on the front axle

Warranty: 3 years / 1 lakh km standard, extendable up to the fifth year.

4. Force Gurkha

Force sells the Gurkha as a 3 Door with 3+D seats and a 5 Door with 6+D seats. Force lists a gradeability of 35 degrees for both, and a 5.5-metre turning radius for the 3 Door (6.3 metres for the 5 Door). Power comes from a 2.6-litre common-rail diesel through a 5-speed manual, with an electric shift knob for 2H, 4H and 4L.

Price: ₹16.25 Lakh (3 Door) and ₹17.58 Lakh (5 Door) (ex-showroom)

Specifications:

• Engine: 2,596 cc FM2.6 CR CD diesel, 140 PS at 3,200 rpm and 320 Nm from 1,400 to 2,600 rpm
• Traction: manual front and rear differential locks
• Climbing and clearance: 35° gradeability; 233 mm ground clearance; 39° approach, 37° departure
• Safety: dual airbags, ABS and EBD; tyre pressure monitoring in the digital cluster
• Chassis and tank: ladder-type C-in-C chassis; 63.5 litres

Why it makes the list:

• A 35-degree gradeability figure in the brochure
• Front and rear differential locks you engage by hand
• 3+D and 6+D seating in two body lengths

Warranty: 3 years / 1.5 lakh km, with terms and conditions.

5. Mahindra Thar ROXX

The Thar ROXX is the five-door Thar, with five seats, a 2,850 mm wheelbase and a body 4,428 mm long and 1,870 mm wide. Four-wheel drive is paired with the mHawk diesel on the MX5, AX5L and AX7L. On those diesel 4x4 versions, 4XPLOR terrain modes cover snow, sand and mud, and the automatics add CrawlSmart and IntelliTurn.

Price range: ₹12.52 Lakh to ₹23.52 Lakh (ex-showroom); 4x4 versions from ₹19.42 Lakh

Specifications:

• 4x4 hardware: manual shift part-time 4x4 with high and low reduction gears, Electric Locking Differential, 2H mode with front axle disconnect
• Terrain modes: 4XPLOR (Snow, Sand, Mud) on diesel 4x4 versions
• Suspension: double wishbone at the front, and a coil-sprung rigid rear axle located by a Watt's linkage
• Hill aids: Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control (HDC) listed in the safety matrix
• Brakes: ventilated discs at the front, with disc or drum brakes at the rear by variant
• Safety: 35+ standard safety features, 6 airbags among them

Why it makes the list:

• A five-seat, five-door body with four-wheel drive
• Snow, sand and mud modes on diesel 4x4 versions
• Wheels of 255/65 R18 on the MX5 and AX5L and 255/60 R19 on the AX7L; a 57-litre tank

6. Mahindra Scorpio-N

The Scorpio-N is 4,662 mm long and 1,917 mm wide on a 2,750 mm wheelbase. Four-wheel drive is offered with the mHawk diesel on the Z4, Z8T and Z8L, using a shift-on-fly system with dedicated 4-High and 4-Low gears. The Z8T and Z8L 4WD versions add 4XPLOR terrain modes and an Advanced Electronic Brake Locking Differential.

Price: four-wheel drive versions from ₹18.03 Lakh (Z4 DIESEL 4WD (E)) to ₹25.49 Lakh (Z8L DIESEL 4WD) (ex-showroom)

Specifications:

• Engine: 2.2-litre mHawk diesel, 128.6 kW; 370 Nm (manual) or 400 Nm (automatic)
• Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
• Terrain modes (Z8T, Z8L 4WD): Normal, Snow, Mud & Ruts, Sand
• Safety: front airbags on the Z4; front, side and curtain airbags on the Z8T and Z8L; Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control on all variants
• Brakes and tank: ventilated disc brakes front and rear; 57 litres
• Wheels: 255/60 R18 alloys on the Z8T and Z8L

Why it makes the list:

• Four-wheel drive with 4-High and 4-Low in a larger body
• Level 2 ADAS and a 540-degree surround view system on the Z8L
• Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control on every variant
• Double wishbone front and Pentalink rear suspension with a Watt's linkage
• A next-generation body-on-frame platform on every variant

Which one should you buy?

If your hill roads are narrow or you plan to leave the tarmac: the Maruti Jimny. At 1,645 mm it is the narrowest SUV in this list, every variant has low-range four-wheel drive with Hill Descent Control, and it has a 46-degree departure angle.

If you are driving to hill stations with family and luggage on mixed roads: the Maruti Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT. You get all-wheel drive with Snow and Lock modes, Hill Descent Control, disc brakes on all four wheels, a 5.4-metre turning radius and five seats.

If you want all-wheel drive with Level 2 ADAS, a 360-degree HD view camera with 11 views and a panoramic sunroof: the Victoris ZXI+ (O) AT 4W (AllGrip) at ₹19.42 Lakh.

The Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, Mahindra Thar ROXX and Mahindra Scorpio-N are the other four-wheel drive SUVs in this list.

What to check in an SUV for hills

• Four-wheel drive with a low-range gear. The Maruti Jimny has ALLGRIP PRO with a low-range transfer gear on every variant.
• Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control. The Jimny has both on every variant, and the Maruti Victoris adds Hill Descent Control with ALLGRIP.
• Terrain modes for snow and loose surfaces. The Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT offers Snow, Sport, Lock and Auto modes.
• Brakes. The Victoris has disc brakes on all four wheels.
• Size. The Jimny is 1,645 mm wide with a 5.7-metre turning radius; the Victoris has a 5.4-metre turning radius.
• A published fuel efficiency figure. Maruti publishes certified figures of 16.94 km/l for the Jimny manual and 19.07 km/l for the Victoris ALLGRIP automatic.

FAQs

Which SUVs are best suited for rough and hilly terrain?

In this list, the Maruti Jimny and Maruti Victoris lead. The Jimny has low-range four-wheel drive, rigid axles, Hill Descent Control and a 1,645 mm body for narrow roads. The Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT has all-wheel drive with Snow and Lock modes and Hill Descent Control. The Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, Thar ROXX and Scorpio-N are also offered with four-wheel drive.

Which SUV is best for Himalaya and hill-station road trips?

For tight hill roads and trails, the Maruti Jimny, with low-range four-wheel drive and the narrowest body in this list. For longer hill-station trips with five people, the Maruti Victoris ALLGRIP SELECT, with all-wheel drive, terrain modes, Hill Descent Control and disc brakes on all four wheels.

Is the Maruti Jimny good for hill stations?

Yes. It is 1,645 mm wide with a 5.7-metre turning radius, and every variant has four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer gear, Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control. It is certified at 16.94 km/l with the manual and 16.39 km/l with the automatic.

Does the Maruti Victoris have all-wheel drive?

Yes. The Victoris is offered with ALLGRIP SELECT all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic. It has Snow, Sport, Lock and Auto terrain modes and Hill Descent Control, and the ALLGRIP automatic is certified at 19.07 km/l.

Which SUV is best for solo travellers who love adventure trips?

The Maruti Jimny. It has four-wheel drive with low range on every variant and 6 airbags. With the rear seat folded, its boot holds 332 litres.