Which SUVs Offer True 4WD With Low-Range Gearing Under Rs 15 Lakh?
An AWD badge tells you nothing about low range. The reduction gear inside a transfer case is what lets an SUV crawl up a loose slope at walking pace and come back down without riding the brakes, and almost nothing at this price has one.
One SUV in India offers true four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer gear for under Rs 15 lakh: the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, from Rs 12,59,000 for the Zeta PRO to Rs 14,67,100 for the dual-tone Alpha PRO AT. Every Jimny variant has it. The next two cars with the same hardware are the Mahindra Thar in 4WD form from about Rs 15.60 lakh and the Force Gurkha 3-door at about Rs 16.25 lakh, both of which sit above the budget.
That is a short list, and the reason is specific. Plenty of SUVs at this price advertise all-wheel drive, terrain modes or a 4x4 badge. What almost none of them have is the reduction gear set inside a transfer case, which is the part that lets an SUV crawl down a steep, loose descent at walking pace without cooking the brakes.
What true 4WD with low-range gearing actually means
Four-wheel drive sends engine power to all four wheels, which is worth a great deal on loose or slippery ground. The low-range gear set sits in the transfer case between the gearbox and the axles, and it is the feature that separates a genuine off-roader from a soft-roader.
A part-time 4WD system gives you three positions:
- 2H, two-wheel drive in high range, for everyday roads and better efficiency.
- 4H, four-wheel drive in high range, for gravel, mud, sand and wet tarmac at normal speeds.
- 4L, four-wheel drive in low range, where a reduction gear multiplies torque and cuts road speed for steep climbs, rock steps and controlled descents.
Most all-wheel-drive systems shuffle torque between the axles automatically and do it well on a wet road, but without a reduction gear they cannot multiply torque, which is what a steep technical climb actually demands. Traction aids help either way: brake-based limited-slip systems and locking differentials keep power flowing to whichever wheel still has grip.
The practical test is simple. Low range is what lets an SUV crawl up a loose slope at walking pace without slipping the clutch, and come back down without riding the brakes.
The one car under Rs 15 lakh: Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Price: Rs 12,59,000 to Rs 14,67,100. Four-wheel drive with low range is standard on every variant.
The Jimny is a four-seat off-roader on a ladder frame with rigid three-link axles and coil springs at both ends. Its value here is not that it is the cheapest car with a 4x4 badge. It is that the complete hardware set, low range included, is standard rather than reserved for a top trim.
The 4WD system. ALLGRIP PRO lets you shift from 2H to 4H on the move for loose or slippery roads, and 4L engages the low-range transfer gear for the steep stuff. Both gearboxes get the identical system, so choosing the automatic costs you nothing in capability.
Traction aids. Brake LSD brakes the wheel that has lost grip so torque crosses to the wheel that still has some. ESP with hill hold and hill descent control is standard, as are six airbags.
Engine. The 1.5-litre K15B petrol makes 77.1 kW, which Maruti states as 104.8 PS, at 6,000 rpm, with 134.2 Nm at 4,000 rpm. It has idle start-stop. Certified efficiency is 16.94 km/l with the manual and 16.39 km/l with the automatic, which is the real price of this hardware.
Geometry. Ground clearance is 210 mm, with a 36-degree approach angle, a 46-degree departure angle and a 24-degree ramp breakover angle. The departure figure stands out: 46 degrees is better than anything else at this money, and it is what lets you come off a steep bank without dragging the rear.
Jimny variants under Rs 15 lakh
| Variant | Gearbox | Ex-showroom | Dual tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta PRO | 5-speed manual | Rs 12,59,000 | Not offered |
| Alpha PRO | 5-speed manual | Rs 13,45,700 | Rs 13,61,100 |
| Zeta PRO AT | 4-speed automatic | Rs 13,65,000 | Not offered |
| Alpha PRO AT | 4-speed automatic | Rs 14,51,700 | Rs 14,67,100 |
| Prices are ex-showroom Delhi as on 30 September 2026, from Maruti's own NEXA price list, and change often. The automatic costs Rs 1,06,000 more than the manual on both trims, which is a consistent and unusually transparent step. |
The two cars just above Rs 15 lakh
Both of these have genuine low range. Both start above the budget. Mahindra and Force do not publish consolidated ex-showroom price tables the way Maruti does, so the figures below come from dealer and launch reporting and should be read as indicative.
Mahindra Thar
Price: 4WD variants from about Rs 15.60 lakh for the petrol manual. The wider Thar range starts near Rs 10.32 lakh in rear-wheel-drive form, which is worth knowing because the cheap Thar is not a 4x4.
The current three-door Thar, sold as the Thar OG, is a four-seater like the Jimny but with considerably more engine. Its 4WD variants get a low-range transfer case, an electronic locking differential and Mud, Sand and Snow terrain modes. Ground clearance is 232 mm and wading depth is quoted at 650 mm.
Engines are a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol at 162 PS and 330 Nm or a 2.2-litre diesel at 152 PS and 330 Nm, each with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. That is roughly 50 percent more power than the Jimny in either form, and it changes the car's character on a highway far more than it does on a trail.
Force Gurkha 3-door
Price: About Rs 16.25 lakh, with 4WD and low range standard.
The Gurkha is the most single-minded car in this comparison. Floor-mounted levers select 4x4 High and 4x4 Low, and mechanically actuated differential locks on both axles keep it moving in ruts and over rocks where a brake-based system would be working much harder. Ground clearance is 233 mm and the roof-mounted snorkel takes wading depth to about 700 mm.
The engine is a 2.6-litre diesel that Force lists at about 140 PS and 320 Nm, with a five-speed manual as the only gearbox. There is no automatic Gurkha, which rules it out for a lot of buyers before the off-road hardware even enters the conversation.
For a wider look at small off-roaders, see the best compact 4x4 SUVs in India. If your ceiling is higher, compare the best off-road SUVs under Rs 20 lakh and the genuine 4x4 SUVs under Rs 25 lakh.
Which to buy
Under Rs 15 lakh there is no choice to make. The Jimny is the only car with a low-range transfer gear at this price, and it comes with Brake LSD, hill descent control and six airbags on every variant.
The question worth answering before you buy is how often you will actually select 4L. If the answer is a few times a year on a hill holiday, the Jimny's 16.94 km/l and its four seats will matter more to you than the hardware will. If the answer is regularly, on loose climbs and river crossings, then the Rs 1 lakh step up to the Thar 4WD buys real power and an electronic locker, and the Rs 3.7 lakh step up to the Gurkha buys mechanical lockers on both axles and a snorkel.
If your roads are merely bad rather than genuinely off-road, you are better served by the best SUVs for hilly terrain and hill stations, where a competent all-wheel-drive system and more ground clearance will do the job without the fuel and comfort penalty a part-time 4x4 carries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest SUV in India with 4WD and low range?
The Maruti Suzuki Jimny Zeta PRO at Rs 12,59,000 ex-showroom. There is nothing cheaper with a low-range transfer gear.
Do all Jimny variants get low range?
Yes. Every variant, manual and automatic, gets ALLGRIP PRO with the 4L low-range transfer gear. It is not a top-trim feature.
Is AWD the same as 4WD with low range?
No. All-wheel drive shifts torque between axles for grip, usually automatically. True 4WD with low range adds a reduction gear that multiplies torque for steep climbs and slow, controlled descents. An AWD badge tells you nothing about whether low range is present.
When should you use 4L instead of 4H?
Use 4H on loose or slippery surfaces at normal speeds, so gravel, mud and wet roads. Switch to 4L for steep climbs, rock steps, deep ruts and steep descents, where low speed and multiplied torque give you control.
Is ground clearance more important than low range?
They solve different problems. Clearance stops you grounding the underbody on an obstacle; low range gives you the torque and control to climb over it. Serious off-roading wants both, and the SUVs with the highest ground clearance in India are a good place to start if clearance alone is your concern.
Can a part-time 4WD SUV be used as a daily car?
Yes. In 2H it drives like any two-wheel-drive car. Keep 4H and 4L for loose or slippery surfaces, because running four-wheel drive on dry tarmac loads up the drivetrain with no benefit.
Last verified: 2026-09-30