India’s roads can become a nightmare whenever it rains and sometimes areas can become waterlogged after a heavy bout rain as was tragically seen earlier this year in Kerala.
It is in these situations that SUVs can come into their own as they can tackle waterlogged areas with ease compared to other vehicles (sedans, hatchbacks, sports and supercars). In this post, we’ll take a look at the features and pricing of 6 SUVs with the best water-wading capacity.
Ford Endeavour
Water-Wading Capacity: 800 mm
Prices: Rs. 26.33 – 32.81 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The Ford Endeavour is the largest offering in terms of size from the American carmaker currently on sale in India. The massive seven-seater SUV is offered with two diesel engine options in India – a 2.2-litre turbo four-cylinder with 158 Bhp and 385 Nm of torque and the more powerful turbocharged 3.2-litre five-cylinder unit that cranks out 197 Bhp and 470 Nm of torque.
Ford offers four-wheel-drive only with the larger engine option. The Endeavour’s four-wheel-drive system comes with multiple driving modes which drivers can select to tell the SUV what kind of terrain it is dealing with. So if you want a large and extremely comfortable SUV with the ability to conquer nearly any terrain with ease and wade through waterlogged areas, the top-spec version of the Ford Endeavour is a really good choice.
Toyota Fortuner
Water Wading Capacity: 700 mm
Prices: Rs. 27.27 – 32.97 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The Toyota Fortuner is India’s best-selling premium SUV. The Toyota Fortuner is also the SUV of choice for many of India’s most powerful people in India and the current model is the second iteration of this premium sports utility vehicle to hit the country. The Fortuner comes packed with safety features and creature comforts and the engines on offer are very refined and easy to maintain.
The Toyota Fortuner is offered with two engine options in India – a 2.7-litre petrol (164 Bhp | 245 Nm) and a 2.8-litre diesel with 174 Bhp and 450 Nm on tap. Only the top-spec diesel variant of the Fortuner is offered with four-wheel drive as an option. So if you plan to go off the beaten-path, remember to check the top-spec Fortuner when choosing your SUV.
Force Gurkha
Water-Wading Capacity: 550 mm
Prices: 9.75 – 12.15 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The Force Gurkha is often overlooked by wannabe SUV owners thanks to the rather under the radar sales and service network of its maker, Force Motors. However, the Gurkha whose looks are inspired by the famous Mercedes G-Wagen is India’s most affordable SUV to offer three differential locks, something also seen on the legendary German SUV.
The Gurkha is only offered with four-wheel drive in the higher-spec Xplorer variants and draws power from a 2.6-litre turbo diesel engine that cranks out 85 Bhp and 230 Nm of torque. The Gurkha is only offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. While the Gurkha may be missing out on some modern-day safety features, it is still one of the most capable SUVs on sale in India today and a throwback to the old-school way of going off-roading.
Ford EcoSport
Water-Wading Capacity: 550 mm
Prices: Rs. 7.82 – 11.89 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The EcoSport is Ford’s smallest SUV offering in India and is the vehicle that really ignited the flame for the compact SUV craze in the country. The Ford Ecosport comes packed with many features for its price including up to 6 airbags. The EcoSport offers good ground clearance as well at 200 mm. The Ecosport is offered with three engine options – two 1.5-litre units (petrol and diesel) and a 1.0-litre turbocharged Ecoboost petrol engine. The compact SUV is offered with both manual and automatic transmission options.
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Water-Wading Capacity: 500 mm
Prices: Rs. 14.82 – 16.32 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross is a dual-cab pickup truck which is, in fact, more popular than the Japanese carmaker’s SUV offering. Despite featuring a rather large wheelbase (which can be problematic in some extreme sections, the V-Cross is one of the most capable off-roading options on offer in India.
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross draws power from a 2.5-litre diesel engine that cranks out 134 Bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power to all four wheels. The V-Cross is a brilliant offering for those looking for a good-off-roading vehicle, that stands apart from almost everything else on the road with its pickup body.
Mahindra Thar
Water-Wading Capacity: 500 mm
Prices: 6.64 – 9.42 lakhs (ex-showroom)
The Mahindra Thar is the go-to SUV for many members of the nation’s off-roading community. With its short wheelbase, a four-wheel-drive system with a low ratio gearbox, the Thar has the ability to go almost anywhere off-road. The Thar is powered by a 2.5-litre cRDE diesel engine, that cranks out 105 Bhp and 247 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The Thar is a solidly built off-roading vehicle that is built for one reason only – going off-road at an affordable price – which is why it has gained a near fanatical following in the country’s off-roading community.
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