6 Off-Road SUVs in India With Hill Descent Control (2026)

Hill descent control is only as useful as the gearing behind it. Five of these six pair it with a low-range transfer case; the Maruti Grand Vitara's AllGrip Select has the feature but no low range, so it suits slippery surfaces rather than technical descents. Only the Thar Roxx has been crash tested. And two have airbag counts worth checking: the three-door Thar carries two, and the Scorpio N has two on its lower trims with six only from the Z8S, around Rs 22.86 lakh in 4WD form.

The six compared

SUV	4WD system	Engine	Power	Price, 4WD variants	Bharat NCAP
Maruti Suzuki Jimny	AllGrip Pro, low-range transfer gear	1.5 petrol	104.8 PS, 134.2 Nm	Rs 12.59 lakh to Rs 14.52 lakh	Not tested
Mahindra Thar	4WD, low-range transfer case	2.0 turbo petrol or 2.2 diesel	162 PS petrol, 152 PS diesel	Rs 15.60 lakh to Rs 18.99 lakh	Not tested
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	AllGrip Select AWD	1.5 petrol	103.06 PS, 139 Nm	Rs 16.43 lakh to Rs 18.63 lakh	Not tested
Mahindra Scorpio N	4WD, low-range transfer case	2.2 diesel	up to 175 PS, up to 400 Nm	Rs 18.03 lakh to Rs 25.49 lakh	Not tested
Mahindra Thar Roxx	4WD, low-range transfer case	2.2 diesel	152 to 174 PS	Rs 19.42 lakh to Rs 23.52 lakh	31.09/32, 45/49
Toyota Fortuner	4x4, low-range transfer case	2.8 diesel	204 PS, up to 500 Nm	Rs 39.35 lakh to Rs 50.46 lakh	Not tested
Prices are ex-showroom Delhi for the four-wheel-drive variants only, checked on 12 October 2026. Each model's full range may include cheaper two-wheel-drive versions. Maruti figures come from Maruti's brochures; the rest from the model listings.

Low range or not

Six off-road SUVs sold in India offer hill descent control on their four-wheel-drive variants. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is the cheapest at Rs 12.59 lakh, and it comes standard across the entire range rather than being reserved for a top trim. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is the only one of the six with a Bharat NCAP rating, at 31.09 out of 32 for adults and a full 45 out of 49 for children.

Hill descent control modulates the brakes automatically on a steep descent, holding the vehicle to a slow, steady crawl so the driver can focus on steering rather than feathering the pedal. On loose gravel or wet rock, it is the difference between a controlled descent and a slide.

Five of the six use a part-time four-wheel-drive system with a low-range transfer case, which is what hill descent control is really built around. Low range provides the gearing, and the electronics hold the speed.

The exception is the Maruti Grand Vitara, whose AllGrip Select is an all-wheel-drive system with Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock modes but no low range. Its hill descent control works, and it suits a slippery slope or a broken village road, but it is not built for a technical rock descent the way the other five are.

The six in detail

1. Maruti Suzuki Jimny, Rs 12.59 lakh to Rs 14.52 lakh

The cheapest entry and the only one where every variant is four-wheel drive. AllGrip Pro with a low-range transfer gear, hill hold and hill descent control, a brake limited-slip differential, and a ladder-frame chassis with rigid axles front and rear.

The 1.5 K15B makes 77.1 kW (104.8 PS) and 134.2 Nm, claiming 16.94 km/l manual and 16.39 km/l automatic, with six airbags standard on every variant, all confirmed in Maruti's brochure. Its short wheelbase and 46 degree departure angle make it the pick for tight trails. No Bharat NCAP result, and it seats four.

2. Mahindra Thar, Rs 15.60 lakh to Rs 18.99 lakh

The only SUV here offered with a petrol engine as well as a diesel in four-wheel-drive form: a 2.0 mStallion turbo petrol with 162 PS and 330 Nm, or a 2.2 mHawk diesel with 152 PS and 330 Nm. Four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case and automatic hub lock.

The reservation is occupant protection. The three-door Thar carries two airbags and has no Bharat NCAP result of its own. Searching Bharat NCAP for the Thar returns the Thar Roxx entry, which is a different, five-door vehicle whose rating does not apply here.

3. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Rs 16.43 lakh to Rs 18.63 lakh

The soft-roader of the group. AllGrip Select all-wheel drive on the Alpha variants, with Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock modes plus hill descent control, but no low-range gearing.

The 1.5 K15C makes 103.06 PS and 139 Nm, claiming 19.20 km/l in AllGrip form, with six airbags standard on every variant per Maruti's brochure. Good for weather and broken surfaces, not for serious terrain, and it has no Bharat NCAP result.

4. Mahindra Scorpio N, Rs 18.03 lakh to Rs 25.49 lakh

Four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case, a 2.2 diesel making up to 175 PS and 400 Nm, and seven seats, which none of the others in this price bracket offer.

Check the airbag count on your variant. Six airbags arrive on the Z8S and above; the Z2, Z4 and Z6 below them carry two, and the cheapest four-wheel-drive Scorpio N with six airbags is around Rs 22.86 lakh. That is a wide spread inside one model, sitting well above the Rs 18.03 lakh entry price for 4WD. No Bharat NCAP result.

5. Mahindra Thar Roxx, Rs 19.42 lakh to Rs 23.52 lakh

The only crash-tested SUV here, with 5 stars at Bharat NCAP on 31.09 out of 32 for adults and a full 45 out of 49 for children, covering all variants, and six airbags throughout.

Five doors and more road manners than the three-door Thar, with the same serious hardware: low-range transfer case, electronic locking rear differential, 4XPLOR terrain modes, CrawlSmart auto crawl, hill descent control, 650 mm wading depth and a 41.7 degree approach angle. The 2.2 diesel makes 152 to 174 PS. Four-wheel drive is diesel-only.

6. Toyota Fortuner, Rs 39.35 lakh to Rs 50.46 lakh

The most capable and the most expensive. Part-time 4x4 with high and low range, a locking rear differential, active traction control and downhill assist control. The 2.8 diesel makes 204 PS with 420 Nm on the manual and 500 Nm on the automatic; the petrol is rear-drive only.

Seven airbags as standard across the range, the most of any model here, though it has no Bharat NCAP result at this price.

What to weigh

Hill descent control alone does not make an off-roader. It pairs with low range to be genuinely useful, which is why the Grand Vitara sits apart from the other five despite having the feature.

Only one of the six has been crash tested. The Thar Roxx is the sole SUV here with an independent result, and it happens to be a strong one. For the rest, there is no measured protection figure at any price.

Two have airbag counts worth checking twice. The three-door Thar has two airbags. The Scorpio N has two on its lower trims and six from the Z8S, so the four-wheel-drive variant you can afford may not be the one with six.

FAQs

Which is the most affordable off-road SUV with hill descent control?

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny at Rs 12.59 lakh, with AllGrip Pro four-wheel drive, low range and hill descent control standard on every variant.

Do any of these come with a petrol engine?

The Mahindra Thar offers a 2.0 turbo petrol alongside its diesel in four-wheel-drive form. The Jimny and Grand Vitara are petrol-only. The Scorpio N, Thar Roxx and Fortuner are diesel-only in four-wheel drive.

Which has the best crash rating?

Only the Mahindra Thar Roxx has one: 5 stars at Bharat NCAP, with 31.09 out of 32 for adults and 45 out of 49 for children. The other five have not been tested.

Does the Maruti Grand Vitara have proper four-wheel drive?

It has AllGrip Select all-wheel drive with Snow and Lock modes and hill descent control, but no low-range transfer case. It suits slippery surfaces and light trails rather than technical off-roading.

How many airbags does the Mahindra Scorpio N have?

It depends on the variant. Six from the Z8S upward, two on the Z2, Z4 and Z6. The cheapest four-wheel-drive version with six airbags is around Rs 22.86 lakh.

What does hill descent control actually do?

It applies the brakes automatically on a steep descent to hold a low, steady speed, so you can steer without riding the brake pedal. It works best in combination with low-range gearing, which five of these six have.