Even though SUVs are hot commodities today with many people in India opting for it, many of them are modified compact versions of SUVs that are good for city roads and paved highways. The real SUV experience comes with an elevated riding position, a good road presence and good ground clearance. More importantly it comes with the added feature of 4WD or 4-wheel drive.
In most commuter cars, power from the engine is directed to the front two wheels only. It is these wheels that pull along the rear wheels using momentum and thus the car moves. But while off-roading where surfaces are uneven and often steep, more traction and torque is pull the car out of a ditch or over an incline. Therein, 4WD comes in handy. In cars with 4WD, all four wheels are powered. This also helps the car gain traction on slippery surfaces or while driving in sand.
Under the 30-lakh mark, there are several good cars available for the masses. There are quite a lot of good options out there for the public to choose from. Let's take a look at the 4WD/AWD vehicles which you can choose from under Rs 30 lakhs:
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A Mahindra Thar without a 4WD is like chai without sugar. As a rugged all-terrain vehicle, all the trims including the basic one, AX 4-STR Convertible Petrol MT, priced at 15.80 lakh, comes with four wheel drive feature. The 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine also comes with an impressive 300Nm torque, perfect for hauling the car over rough terrains.
The Force Motors Gurkha, which is Thar´s primary competitor in this segment, has only one trim. It's a 2.6 litre diesel engine with 4WD in manual transmission. And this trim comes loaded with luxury and safety features including 4 captain seats, 7 inch infotainment touchscreen, ABS with EBD, adjustable steering, parking sensors and TPMS among others.
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The Mahindra XUV700 AX 7 Diesel AT AWD 7 STR is one of the top trims in the XUV700´s line-up and is priced at Rs 27.10 lakhs. It's a 2.2 litre turbodiesel automatic with All Wheel Drive and an impressive torque of 450 Nm that helps if you take the car off-roading.
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We would not categorize the D-Max V-Cross by Isuzu as a generic SUV since it is a pickup truck. However, the vehicle is powered by a huge 2.5L diesel engine and a 4WD manual transmission in its Z trim, which makes it perfect for off-terrain rides. This trim is priced at 26.93 lakhs. But if you are willing to shell out more, this sturdy pickup also offers 4WD in automatic variant for 31.15 lakhs.
