The monsoon season has officially hit many parts of India, and while it does bring the temperature down, the rain makes driving quite difficult. Roads get slicker, visibility is reduced, and floods can leave you stranded in minutes. Cars such as hatchbacks and sedans (the most popular segments in the country) are not designed to take on severe driving conditions and often fall prey to rough terrains. However, there is a segment – the off-road vehicle – capable of taking on practically anything you can throw at it. With restrictions on travel even more strict now, these off-road vehicles can help us take a much-needed break within the country while maintaining the rules and regulations set by the government.
Duster AWD
The compact SUV from Renault saw overnight success, owing to its butch looks. The Duster doubled up brilliantly as both a city commuter and a highway mile muncher. The French manufacturer recently plugged the lack of an all-wheel-drive option with the Duster AWD – launched in September 2014. The four-wheel-drive Duster is available only with the 110 PS version of the 1.5-liter dCi diesel engine. The Duster AWD has 3 selectable driving modes, 2WD, Auto, and 4WD Lock, if you feel adventurous.
Mahindra Thar
Arguably one of the best off-road vehicles produced by an Indian manufacturer, the Mahindra Thar stands out for all the right reasons. The car's looks, performance, and durability make it one of the best cars to have in India. Under the hood of this beast of a car sits either a 2.0L Turbocharged petrol engine that generates 150Ps of power and 300Nm of torque on manual, and 150Ps of power and 320Nm of torque on automatic, or a 2.2L diesel engine that produces 130Ps of power and 300Nm of torque. In the transmission department, the Thar comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, but it can be held with a 6-speed automatic transmission as well. Some of the features found on the new Thar include LED DRLs, halogen headlamps, air-conditioning, a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, an instrument cluster with a digital MID, cruise control, and steering-mounted controls. For safety, the Thar has ABS with EBD, dual airbags in the front, parking sensors in the rear, and seatbelt reminder in the front.
Toyota Fortuner 4X4
The big Toyota has quite a fan-following. Launched in 2009, the Fortuner houses a 3.0L D-4D diesel engine which pumps out close to a 170BHP and a mammoth 360Nm of torque. What’s more, the latest iteration of the 4X4 comes with an automatic! The high ground clearance, generous torque along the full-time 4WD system ensures you reach your destination whether there’s a road to take you there or not! And reasonably so, it manages to mix comfort and presence with ruggedness and robustness almost seamlessly.
Mahindra XUV500
The Mahindra XUV500 might be getting a bit too long in the tooth now. Still, it is definitely a good option for those who need a sufficiently capable off-road vehicle with an optional AWD system for the diesel engine variant. The XUV500 makes for a good buy in both used and new car markets. The Bold new grille of the XUV500 comes with chrome inserts that make a unique style statement at the very first glance. The XUV500 interior is heaven on the inside and offers heavenly views of the outside through its anti-pinch electric sunroof. A tailor-crafted leather throne awaits you inside. It is 6-way power-adjustable and offers lumbar support adjustment for the perfect driving position. The soft-touch faux leather and fine stitch lines on the dashboard and door trim elevate the luxury quotient by a few notches.
Mahindra Scorpio
The Mahindra Scorpio is among the most recognized SUVs around. It comes with an impressive design, a powerful 2.2-liter diesel engine, and a sufficiently capable AWD system that makes it a pretty good option for off-roading. It can also seat up to seven and is the best option in its price segment. Make a strong statement when you arrive with the dominating chrome-inlay front grille. When the Scorpio’s 17-inch alloy wheels turn, rest assured, heads will turn, too. It has an impressive tailgate, furnished with aero blade wipers and chrome, which lets you command attention every single time. Stylish, LED tail lamps give them something to stare at as you leave them behind, and the projector headlamps with LED eyebrows and chrome put the mean into the machine. The scoop’s ‘low-drag intake’ design amplifies performance to give you an extra edge. Open the doors to plush faux leather on seats, steering wheel, and gear knob. It has stunning fog lamps with chrome bezels so that you can journey heroically into the unknown.
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