Ladder-Frame 4x4s for Adventure Trips: Seats, Luggage and Fuel Range

For adventure trips, the best ladder-frame 4x4 is the one that fits your group and your fuel stops, and the makers' own spec sheets sort the field quickly. For six or seven people, the Force Gurkha 5-door (Rs 17,83,366, 63.5-litre tank, 700 mm wading depth) and the Mahindra Scorpio-N Z4 diesel 4WD (Rs 18,02,499, 786 litres of boot with the third row folded) are the two choices. For a family of five, the Mahindra Thar Roxx 4x4 (from Rs 19,56,000, 57-litre tank, five-star Bharat NCAP) has the most complete package. For two people, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is the cheapest way in at Rs 12,59,000, but its 40-litre tank gives about 678 km of certified range and its boot holds 332 litres with the rear seat folded. That makes it a light-luggage car. All prices are ex-showroom, checked October 2026.

This list deals only with ladder-frame SUVs that offer four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer gear. It ranks them on practical things: how many people they seat, how much they carry, how far a tank goes and what each maker actually publishes. For the full list of ladder-frame models, including the rear-wheel-drive ones, see our guide to SUVs with a ladder-frame chassis in India. For a broader adventure list that also covers all-wheel-drive monocoques like the Grand Vitara, see the best SUVs for off-roading and adventure trips.

The trip sheet: six ladder-frame 4x4s compared

Model (cheapest 4WD trim)	Ex-showroom	Seats	Fuel tank	Certified mileage	Boot	Water wading	Ground clearance
Maruti Jimny Zeta PRO	Rs 12,59,000	4	40 L	16.94 km/l MT, 16.39 km/l AT	211 to 219 L, 332 L rear seat folded	Not published	210 mm
Mahindra Thar OG LXT 4WD	Rs 15,59,500 (petrol)	4	50 L petrol, 55 L diesel	Not published	Not published	650 mm	232 mm
Force Gurkha 3-door	Rs 16,51,881	4	63.5 L	Not published	Not published	700 mm	233 mm
Force Gurkha 5-door	Rs 17,83,366	7	63.5 L	Not published	Not published	700 mm	233 mm
Mahindra Scorpio-N Z4 diesel 4WD	Rs 18,02,499	6 or 7 (by trim)	57 L	Not published	786 L, third row folded	Not published	Not published
Mahindra Thar Roxx MX5 diesel 4x4	Rs 19,56,000	5	57 L	Not published	Not published	650 mm	Not published

Every figure in this table comes from the maker's own brochure or price page. "Not published" means we could not find the figure in the maker's current brochure or on its model page, so we have left the cell empty rather than fill it from a magazine or an aggregator. Maruti is the only maker here that prints a certified fuel-efficiency figure, which is why the Jimny is the only car with a range calculation below.

Two things stand out. Force's 63.5-litre tank is the biggest here, on the 3-door as well as the 5-door. And the Jimny's 40 litres is the smallest by 10 litres, which matters more on a remote route than its 104.8 PS does.

What each maker's numbers mean for a trip

Two people, light luggage: Maruti Jimny

From Rs 12,59,000 to Rs 14,51,700 single tone; Rs 14,67,100 for the dual-tone Alpha PRO AT.

The Jimny is the smallest and cheapest car here, and Maruti's brochure gives the most complete trip data of any maker. Multiply the 40-litre tank by the certified 16.94 km/l and you get about 678 km for the manual. The automatic, at 16.39 km/l, gives about 656 km. Those are certified-cycle figures; loaded, in low range or at highway speed, expect noticeably less, and plan fuel stops around 400 to 450 km on a remote route to keep a margin. That margin is our suggestion, not a Maruti figure.

Luggage is the tighter limit. The brochure lists 211 to 219 litres of boot behind the rear seat, depending on its recline position, and 332 litres with the rear seat folded. Gross vehicle weight is 1,545 kg against a kerb weight of 1,195 to 1,210 kg, so the Jimny can carry roughly 335 to 350 kg of people and gear. Two adults with camping kit fits comfortably. Four adults with luggage for a week does not.

What it does well on the trip: a 5.7 m turning radius, a 3,985 mm length (including the tailgate spare), 210 mm of clearance and a 46-degree departure angle make hairpins and narrow forest tracks easy. The ladder frame carries three-link rigid axles with coil springs at both ends, and ALLGRIP PRO with low range, brake LSD, hill descent control and six airbags are standard on every trim. Maruti also builds in screw holes for luggage hooks and accessories and a rear accessory socket, which helps if you add a roof rack or a fridge. Bharat NCAP lists no rating for the Jimny.

Low range is standard on every Jimny trim, as our guide to true 4WD with low range under Rs 15 lakh explains, so the entry Zeta PRO carries the same off-road hardware as the Alpha.

Two to four people, more power: Mahindra Thar OG 4WD

4WD from Rs 15,59,500 (LXT petrol); LXT diesel 4WD from Rs 16,42,500; ZXT 4WD from Rs 16,60,000.

The three-door Thar OG is also a four-seater, so its trip profile resembles the Jimny's with a larger tank and more engine. Mahindra's brochure gives a 50-litre tank for the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 55 litres for the 2.2 diesel, 232 mm of clearance, 650 mm of wading depth and 40, 36 and 26.4-degree approach, departure and ramp-over angles. The petrol makes 119 kW (about 162 PS) and the diesel 111.9 kW (about 152 PS), both with 330 Nm. The 4WD trims get a part-time system with high and low reduction gears, an electronic locking differential and terrain modes.

Mahindra publishes no certified mileage in the brochure, so we cannot give a range. It also prints no boot figure. The trim to watch is the LXT: its brochure column shows two airbags and no rear camera, both of which are reserved for the ZXT. For a trip car that will spend hours on highways, the ZXT 4WD's six airbags are worth the Rs 1,00,500 over the LXT petrol 4WD.

Two to four people, maximum capability: Force Gurkha 3-door

Rs 16,51,881, single specification.

On paper this is the most expedition-ready four-seater here. Force's brochure gives 233 mm of clearance, 700 mm of wading, a 63.5-litre tank, a ladder-type chassis, a manual transfer case with electric shift for 2H, 4H and 4L, and manually locking differentials on both axles. The 2.6-litre diesel makes 140 PS and 320 Nm, through a 5-speed manual only. Force quotes 39, 37 and 28-degree approach, departure and ramp-over angles, and a 5.5 m turning radius, slightly tighter than the Jimny's.

The weak points for a long trip: two airbags, no automatic, and no published mileage or boot volume. The brochure does list tyre pressure monitoring and LED headlamps, both useful on a night drive.

Six or seven people, real hardware: Force Gurkha 5-door

Rs 17,83,366.

The same drivetrain and the same 63.5-litre tank as the 3-door, on a wheelbase stretched from 2,400 to 2,825 mm and a length of 4,390 mm. Force's brochure lists seating as "6+D", so seven including the driver, and a gross vehicle weight of 3,125 kg against 2,800 kg for the 3-door. The extra length costs manoeuvrability: turning radius grows to 6.3 m, which you will feel on mountain switchbacks.

It is the cheapest seven-seater here with low range and the only one with locking differentials on both axles. As with the 3-door, Force publishes no boot volume or mileage, and the safety kit is two airbags.

Six or seven people, more comfort: Mahindra Scorpio-N 4WD

4WD from Rs 18,02,499 (Z4 diesel 4WD); Z8T 4WD from Rs 22,86,249; Z8L 4WD up to Rs 25,49,000.

The Scorpio-N is the only car here whose maker publishes a cargo figure big enough for a family trip: Mahindra's brochure quotes 786 litres with the third row folded, and the car seats six or seven depending on trim. Its 57-litre tank is the second largest on the list. The 4WD system is Mahindra's 4XPLOR with dedicated 4-high and 4-low gears and an electronic brake locking differential, on the diesel only. The 2.2 mHawk diesel makes 128.6 kW (about 175 PS) with 370 Nm on the manual and 400 Nm on the automatic.

The catch is the cheapest 4WD trim. The brochure's airbag row lists front airbags only for the Z2, Z4 and Z6, with side and curtain airbags from the Z8S up, so the Rs 18,02,499 Z4 4WD has two airbags. The next 4WD trim, the Z8T, costs Rs 4,83,750 more. Mahindra's brochure gives no ground clearance or wading figure for the Scorpio-N.

Five people, the best-rounded package: Mahindra Thar Roxx 4x4

4x4 from Rs 19,56,000 (MX5 diesel manual); AX5L diesel AT 4x4 Rs 21,67,000; AX7L diesel AT 4x4 Rs 23,52,500.

The Roxx is the most expensive car on this list, and for a family of five it is the most complete. It has five seats on a 2,850 mm wheelbase, a 57-litre tank, 650 mm of wading, 41.7, 36.1 and 23.9-degree approach, departure and ramp-over angles, and a part-time 4x4 with high and low reduction gears and an electric locking differential. Mahindra's brochure restricts 4x4 to the 2.2 diesel, rated at 111.9 kW (about 152 PS) and 330 Nm, or 128.6 kW (about 175 PS) and 400 Nm on some automatics.

It is also the only car here with a Bharat NCAP result: five stars, with 31.09 of 32 for adult occupant protection and 45 of 49 for child occupant protection, published in 2024. Mahindra does not print a boot volume, mileage or ground clearance in the brochure.

Which one for which trip

• Two people chasing narrow trails on a budget: Jimny. Plan fuel around a 40-litre tank and pack light.
• Two to four people who want a larger tank and a locker: Thar OG ZXT 4WD for six airbags, or the Gurkha 3-door for twin mechanical lockers and the 63.5-litre tank.
• Five people on long highway legs with trails at the end: Thar Roxx 4x4.
• Six or seven people: Scorpio-N for the published 786-litre load space and the more car-like cabin, Gurkha 5-door for the lockers, 700 mm wading and the bigger tank.

If you are camping rather than overlanding, our list of rugged SUVs for weekend camping looks at the question from the campsite end. If ground clearance alone worries you, compare the SUVs with the highest ground clearance in India.

How we built this list, and what we could not verify

We included only SUVs built on a ladder frame that offer four-wheel drive with a low-range gear, and we listed each at the price of its cheapest four-wheel-drive trim rather than its cheapest trim, because the cheap trims of the Thar, Thar Roxx and Scorpio-N are rear-wheel drive. Sources:

• Maruti Suzuki: the current Jimny brochure linked from the NEXA model page (dimensions, tank, boot, weights, mileage, features) and NEXA's price page and compare tool.
• Mahindra: the Thar OG, Thar Roxx and Scorpio-N brochures, and the trim prices listed on each model page on auto.mahindra.com. The site does not state which city these ex-showroom prices apply to.
• Force Motors: the Gurkha brochure and the ex-showroom prices on forcegurkha.co.in.
• Bharat NCAP: the Thar Roxx result on bncap.in. We found no Bharat NCAP result for the Jimny, Thar OG, Gurkha or Scorpio-N on its ratings page.

What we could not verify: the Toyota Fortuner is the usual seven-seat ladder-frame step up from this group, but Toyota's site refused our automated requests while we were checking, so we have not quoted any Fortuner figure and have left it off the list rather than repeat numbers from elsewhere. Mahindra and Force publish no certified mileage, so only the Jimny gets a range figure. Real-world range on any of these cars will be lower than a certified figure suggests, especially in low range.

Frequently asked questions

Which ladder-frame 4x4 has the longest range for adventure trips?

On published data, we can only calculate the Jimny's: about 678 km from 40 litres at 16.94 km/l. The Force Gurkha has the biggest tank at 63.5 litres, but Force publishes no certified mileage, so its range cannot be worked out from first-party figures.

Which ladder-frame 4x4 carries the most luggage?

The Mahindra Scorpio-N is the only one here whose maker publishes a large cargo figure: 786 litres with the third row folded. The Jimny's brochure lists 332 litres with its rear seat folded. Mahindra and Force print no boot figure for the Thar OG, Thar Roxx or Gurkha.

What is the cheapest seven-seat ladder-frame SUV with low-range 4WD?

The Force Gurkha 5-door at Rs 17,83,366 ex-showroom, followed by the Scorpio-N Z4 diesel 4WD at Rs 18,02,499 (October 2026 prices from each maker's site).

Is the Jimny practical for a long road trip?

For two people, yes. Four adults with a week's luggage will be tight: the boot is 211 to 219 litres with the rear seat up, and the car can carry roughly 335 to 350 kg in total, going by Maruti's kerb and gross weights. The 40-litre tank also means more frequent fuel stops than anything else on this list.

Which of these has the best crash-test result?

The Mahindra Thar Roxx, with five stars from Bharat NCAP: 31.09 of 32 for adult occupants and 45 of 49 for children. We found no Bharat NCAP result on bncap.in for the other five.

Do the cheapest 4WD trims have six airbags?

The Jimny's does, on every trim. The Thar OG LXT 4WD, the Scorpio-N Z4 4WD and both Gurkhas have two airbags in their makers' brochures. Mahindra's six-airbag Thar OG 4WD is the ZXT, from Rs 16,60,000. The Thar Roxx brochure lists side and curtain airbags, but we could not read its per-trim ticks, so check the MX5 4x4 with a dealer.