Off-Road SUVs With the Lowest Running Cost Per Km in India (2026)

Off-road capability and fuel efficiency rarely show up on the same spec sheet. A genuine 4x4 built with a low-range transfer case, locking differentials, or a ladder-frame chassis is engineered to survive terrain, not to sip fuel doing it, and most buyers shopping this category treat running cost as an afterthought next to approach angles and wading depth.

That gap between capability and cost still varies more than most buyers expect. Some genuine off-roaders keep running costs surprisingly close to a regular hatchback, while others make no attempt to hide the fuel bill that comes with serious off-road hardware.

This list ranks genuine 4x4 off-road SUVs on sale in India by estimated running cost per kilometre, using ₹100 per litre for petrol and ₹90 per litre for diesel, so anyone weighing weekend trail use against daily running costs has an actual number to work with.

Key Takeaways

• Lowest running cost overall: the Mahindra Scorpio-N's 4XPLOR diesel trim comes out cheapest at roughly ₹5.65 per km, the best figure of any genuine off-roader on this list. That result comes from diesel's lower per-litre price working in its favour, and it edges out even the segment's lightest, most fuel-sipping petrol option.
• Fuel type nearly cancels out a mileage gap: the Maruti Suzuki Jimny posts the highest raw mileage on this list at 16.94 km/l, yet its running cost lands within two paise per km of the diesel Thar's. Petrol's higher price per litre eats up most of that mileage advantage.
• Diesel dominates the top of this list: four of the six entries run on diesel, and that is not a coincidence. Diesel's lower price per litre consistently pulls ahead of petrol once mileage and fuel cost are combined.
• Price and running cost do not move together: a ₹40 lakh Toyota Fortuner beats a Mahindra Thar petrol variant on running cost, despite costing far more. Sticker price is a poor predictor of what an off-roader actually costs to drive.

How Is Running Cost Calculated

Running cost per km is fuel price divided by ARAI-certified mileage, using ₹100 per litre for petrol and ₹90 per litre for diesel. Only genuine 4x4 SUVs with low-range or equivalent serious off-road hardware are included. SUVs offering all-wheel drive purely for on-road traction, without dedicated off-road capability, are excluded.

Off-Road SUVs With the Lowest Running Cost Per Km

Rank	Model	Fuel type	ARAI mileage	Estimated running cost/km
1	Mahindra Scorpio-N 4XPLOR	Diesel	15.94 km/l	₹5.65
2	Maruti Suzuki Jimny	Petrol	16.94 km/l	₹5.90
3	Mahindra Thar Diesel 4WD	Diesel	15.2 km/l	₹5.92
4	Toyota Fortuner 4x4	Diesel	14.2 km/l	₹6.34
5	Mahindra Thar Petrol 4WD	Petrol	15 km/l	₹6.67
6	Force Gurkha	Diesel	12.4 km/l	₹7.26

Estimated at ₹100 per litre petrol and ₹90 per litre diesel.

1. Mahindra Scorpio-N 4XPLOR

Price: part of the Scorpio-N's ₹13.49 lakh to ₹24.34 lakh range; the 4XPLOR 4WD diesel trim sits toward the upper end.

The Scorpio-N's 4XPLOR trim adds a proper 4WD system with low-range gearing to Mahindra's mainstream SUV. Its diesel engine posts the best running cost of any genuine off-roader on this list, helped by diesel's lower per-litre price relative to its solid mileage figure.

Premium features:

• 4WD with low-range transfer case (4XPLOR trim only)
• Terrain response modes
• Multi-terrain technology with hill descent control
• 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyre option

Engine: 2.2-litre diesel producing up to 175 PS and 370 to 400 Nm, depending on state of tune.

Mileage: 15.94 km/l, ARAI certified, on the manual transmission.

Boot space: 200 litres with the third row in use, expanding significantly with it folded.

Transmission: 6-speed manual; an automatic is available on other trims, though not always paired with 4WD.

Warranty: standard Mahindra warranty terms apply.

Safety: 5-star Global NCAP rating for the wider Scorpio-N range.

Where it falls short: 4WD and the 4XPLOR off-road package are reserved for specific higher trims, not available across the lineup.

2. Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Price: ₹12.54 lakh to ₹14.67 lakh ex-showroom.

The Jimny is the only compact off-roader on this list and the only one without a diesel option, yet its light kerb weight and small-capacity petrol engine bring it within a fraction of a rupee of the diesel entries above it on running cost.

Premium features:

• AllGrip Pro 4WD with low-range gearing, standard across the range
• 210mm ground clearance
• 36-degree approach angle, 46-degree departure angle
• SmartPlay Pro+ touchscreen

Engine: 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol producing 103 to 105 PS and 134.2 Nm.

Mileage: 16.94 km/l on the manual or 16.39 km/l on the automatic, ARAI certified, the highest raw mileage figure on this list.

Boot space: limited, among the smallest here, a known trade-off of its compact size.

Transmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed torque converter automatic.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, whichever comes first.

Safety: 6 airbags standard; no ADAS.

Where it falls short: small boot space and a dated 4-speed automatic gearbox, both trade-offs of its compact, lightweight design.

3. Mahindra Thar Diesel 4WD

Price: part of the Thar's ₹10.32 lakh to ₹18.00 lakh range; 4WD diesel trims sit in the upper half.

The Thar's 2.2-litre diesel, paired with 4WD, lands just behind the Jimny on running cost despite a lower raw mileage figure. Diesel's lower price per litre closes most of the gap.

Premium features:

• 4WD with low-range transfer case
• 10.25-inch touchscreen (2026 refresh)
• Rear AC vents
• Rear-view camera

Engine: 2.2-litre diesel producing 118 to 132 PS and up to 300 Nm.

Mileage: 15.2 km/l, ARAI certified, on the manual transmission.

Boot space: limited with all seats in use, a known constraint of its short-wheelbase, four-seat layout.

Transmission: 6-speed manual; a torque converter automatic is available at a lower mileage of around 13 km/l.

Warranty: standard Mahindra warranty terms apply.

Safety: 4-star Global NCAP rating.

Where it falls short: remains a strict four-seater, unlike the more practical five-seat Thar ROXX.

4. Toyota Fortuner 4x4

Price: ₹40.03 lakh to ₹42.32 lakh ex-showroom for the 4x4 diesel variants.

The Fortuner is by far the most expensive SUV on this list, yet its diesel engine is efficient enough for a full-size, body-on-frame off-roader that it beats the Thar's petrol 4WD variant on running cost, despite being a considerably heavier vehicle.

Premium features:

• 4WD with low range, terrain select modes, and a locking rear differential (on select trims)
• Hill-start and downhill assist control
• 7-seat cabin layout
• Full-size off-road spare wheel

Engine: 2.8-litre diesel producing 201 to 204 PS and up to 420 Nm.

Mileage: 14.2 km/l, ARAI certified, on the manual transmission.

Boot space: 296 litres with all rows in use.

Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic, both available with 4WD.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, standard.

Safety: 5-star ANCAP rating.

Where it falls short: its price puts it well outside what most buyers on this list are shopping for, even though its running cost is competitive.

5. Mahindra Thar Petrol 4WD

Price: part of the Thar's ₹10.32 lakh to ₹18.00 lakh range; the petrol 4WD trim sits in the upper half.

The Thar's turbo-petrol engine trails its own diesel sibling meaningfully on running cost. That gap is a clear illustration of how much fuel type matters, even within the same model lineup.

Premium features:

• 4WD with low-range transfer case
• 10.25-inch touchscreen (2026 refresh)
• Rear AC vents
• Rear-view camera

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol producing 150 to 152 PS and up to 320 Nm.

Mileage: 15 km/l on the manual or 13 km/l on the automatic, ARAI certified.

Boot space: limited with all seats in use, the same constraint as the diesel variant.

Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic.

Warranty: standard Mahindra warranty terms apply.

Safety: 4-star Global NCAP rating.

Where it falls short: meaningfully higher running cost than its own diesel variant, for buyers who do not specifically want the petrol engine's refinement.

6. Force Gurkha

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

The Gurkha carries the most dedicated off-road hardware on this list, including front and rear locking differentials as standard. That focus on capability over refinement shows up directly in its running cost, the highest of any SUV covered here.

Premium features:

• Standard 4WD with front and rear locking differentials
• Factory-fitted snorkel
• Ladder-frame chassis built for serious water wading and rock crawling

Engine: 2,596 cc FM2.6 CR CD diesel producing 140 PS and 320 Nm.

Mileage: 12.4 km/l, ARAI certified, on the manual transmission, the lowest on this list.

Boot space: limited, prioritising a mechanically simple, rugged layout over cargo practicality.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only.

Warranty: standard manufacturer warranty terms apply.

Safety: not independently crash tested by a major agency.

Where it falls short: the highest running cost on this list, a direct trade-off for having the most serious off-road hardware of any SUV here.

Conclusion

For the lowest running cost in a genuine off-roader, a diesel 4WD trim from a mainstream SUV is hard to beat, and the Scorpio-N's 4XPLOR proves that a serious off-road package does not have to come with a painful fuel bill. That said, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny deserves a closer look for buyers who do not want to chase a specific trim just to get 4WD. It comes with AllGrip Pro and low-range gearing standard across the entire range, not locked to a single variant the way it is on the Thar or Scorpio-N. Its running cost sits within a couple of paise of the diesel entries above it, despite being the only petrol-only SUV here, so buyers are not paying a real penalty for that simplicity.

The one trade-off worth going in with eyes open: the SUV with the most dedicated off-road hardware, with locking differentials and a snorkel, also carries the highest running cost here. That capability comes at a real, ongoing cost rather than a one-time price tag.

FAQs

Which off-road SUV in India has the lowest running cost?

The Mahindra Scorpio-N's 4XPLOR diesel 4WD trim has the lowest estimated running cost on this list, at roughly ₹5.65 per km, assuming a diesel price of ₹90 per litre.

Is the Maruti Suzuki Jimny cheaper to run than the Mahindra Thar?

They are very close. The Jimny's higher raw petrol mileage nearly offsets the Thar diesel's lower per-litre fuel cost, leaving only a few paise per kilometre between them.

Why does the Toyota Fortuner have a lower running cost than the Mahindra Thar petrol, despite costing much more to buy?

The Fortuner's diesel engine, despite powering a much heavier vehicle, is efficient enough that its running cost undercuts the Thar's turbo-petrol engine, which is in a smaller vehicle but burns pricier fuel.

Does the Force Gurkha's high running cost reflect poor engineering?

Not necessarily. Its running cost reflects a design priority on off-road hardware, with locking differentials and a snorkel, over the aerodynamic and weight optimisation that improves efficiency.

Are there any petrol off-road SUVs with a lower running cost than diesel options?

Among the models on this list, no petrol off-roader beats every diesel one. The Jimny comes close to the diesel entries but does not undercut the cheapest one, the Scorpio-N 4XPLOR.