Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

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Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar Roxx are hardcore off‑roaders first and family cars second, so they’re great on broken roads but compromised as primary road‑trip machines.They really come into their own on dirt tracks, bad village roads and unpaved sections, and they also deliver that rugged, “tough toy” appeal - the Thar Roxx especially has a lot more visual muscle and emotional pull. But for a family of five, we’d immediately rule out the Jimny: it’s simply too narrow for three adults or growing kids to sit comfortably in the back for any length of time, and luggage space is also very limited.The Thar Roxx can realistically take a family of five, but for long highway runs, its suspension is on the firmer, bouncy side, and overall refinement isn’t as good as some of the softer, more road‑biased SUVs. You’ll feel more vertical movement, more noise, and over a full day’s drive that gets tiring, especially for rear passengers.If your main requirement is road trips with the family and you don’t have a specific off‑roading need, a “soft‑roader” is the better tool for the job. Something like the Tata Sierra 1.5 diesel gives you the same tough‑as‑nails image and presence, but with a far more comfortable ride, more space, better highway manners and a more relaxed driving experience over long distances.

Tata Sierra

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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The choice of model depends on your usage. If you go for trips outside Manali and need off-road ability, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is the right pick for you. It is a superb off-roader and will let you explore trails around Manali. The 4x4 capability will also come very handy in the rain when it tends to get slushy and in the winter when you'll have snow to deal with. The Jimny's narrow width also makes it manageable on tight, hilly roads. On the flipside, the turning circle is large, so you'll need to put in more effort on narrow winding roads. What also works against the Jimny is its engine's performance. It lacks punch and can feel frustratingly underpowered.If you don't intend to use your vehicle for off-road adventures and will only use your car in fair weather, the Skoda Kushaq is easily the better everyday choice in terms of performance, comfort and features. Its turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines deliver punchy performance, which you will appreciate on hilly roads. The Kushaq is also significantly roomier than the Jimny.Do note, the Jimny is a four-seater while the Kushaq can accommodate five passengers in reasonable comfort. The Kushaq also packs in more features and technology, giving it a more premium feel.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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For your usage of mainly city driving (30km daily) with occasional highway trips and a family of four, we would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq.The Kylaq offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin for four adults, and the torque converter automatic is smooth, which makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. It is also compact enough, so parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces won’t be an issue. On highways, too, it feels stable and enjoyable to drive.The Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue are good options for the city as well, but both use a DCT automatic, which is not as smooth at low speeds as a torque converter, especially in stop-and-go traffic.The Citroen Basalt is actually great value for money and offers excellent cabin space, making it very comfortable for a family. However, it is a larger car, so it won’t be as easy to park and manoeuvre in the city. If you prioritise space and comfort over ease of driving, it is definitely worth considering.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not suitable for your needs. It is primarily an off-roader, has heavier steering, and is not as easy to drive in the city. The ride is also bouncy, and overall, practicality is limited for family use.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Citroen Basalt

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

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The main reason the Jimny is adept at handling the slope up is its rear-wheel-drive layout. Unlike the rest of Maruti's model range, the Jimny (like the Gypsy before it) uses a ladder-frame chassis and a longitudinally mounted engine that sends power to the rear wheels. This is in accordance with its AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, which can then engage the front axle on command. However, a rear-wheel-drive layout is inherently better at tackling steep slopes as the weight of the car falls onto the rear wheels when the nose is pointed upwards, and power at the rear 'pushes' the car up the hill. In a front-wheel drive car like the Swift, the car is trying to 'pull' its way up the hill using wheels that don't have enough traction, hence momentum is required to get it going. While an AWD car like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris will help to an extent, what you want is a RWD car. Our recommendation at your budget is the Mahindra Thar Roxx, which is available at your budget in a decent mid-spec variant. Its combination of rear-wheel drive and strong petrol and diesel engines should make light work of that slope, with enough control to tackle the sharp turn at the end safely.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

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Without knowing your budget, it's hard to guide you to the right vehicle. We have listed the options for you to consider - Maruti Suzuki Jimny - Great off-road and efficient enough for a 4x4. However, small size means a tight cabin, and performance is dullMahindra Thar 4x4 - Very capable off-road and good engine. Two door layout is inconvenient for rear seat passengersMahindra Scorpio N 4x4 - Capable off-road, strong diesel engine, seating for 7 passengersMahindra Thar Roxx - Excellent off-road, strong diesel engine, great imageMaruti Suzuki Victoris AWD - Decent off-road ability, engine scores well for efficiency. Power and performance is unexciting

Mahindra Thar

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

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Yes, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is very adept off-road, thanks to Suzuki's All-Grip Pro 4X4 system, which also features a low ratio. However, it does feel bouncy on regular roads - just like most 4X4s. Thus, we would recommend you look at the all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. These SUVs use Suzuki All-Grip Select, which does not have a low ratio but has a Snow mode and also allow you to lock AWD. For the winter Spiti trails, this should suffice. Moreover, these SUVs will be far better in terms of ride comfort in the city and on the highway.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

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The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is an off-road vehicle and doesn't make for an ideal city vehicle. While small in size, the Jimny has a large turning circle, the steering is on the heavier side (which means it'll need more effort), and the ride isn't the comfiest you can get for the money. Fuel economy is also not exceptional for this size of vehicle. However, your daily commute of 6-8 km is short enough to overlook many of these lesser aspects of a Jimny. It's an undoubtedly charming vehicle that stands out from the crowd. Alternatively, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which is a comfier, more practical and easier to live with compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

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There are not many AWD or 4x4 vehicles that meet all your requirements perfectly, but there are some to consider. Your best option is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, the ZXI Plus AWD AT variant, although you will have to stretch your budget slightly.It is a 5-star rated car from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, so you're well covered on safety, and overall, it is a well equipped and comfortable family car. As a bonus, it comes with Maruti's renowned reliability and low running costs.Alternatively, you could consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx, the MX5 2.2 Diesel MT 4x4 variant, which is also safe and offers more space and a more robust 4x4 system, but it's not as reliable or comfortable as the Maruti Suzuki.Or you could look at the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, which is a capable off-roader and falls easily in your budget, but it is not as comfortable, and its small size makes it less practical as a family car.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

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Without knowing your budget, it'll be difficult to recommend an ideal car for you. For under Rs 10 lakh, consider the Tata Punch, a tough little car.If your budget is between Rs 10-15 lakh, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Jimny 4x4 for its small footprint yet rugged nature.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Tata Punch

Autocar India

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There are two options for you to consider. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is a good pick for many reasons. First and foremost is its ladder frame construction that makes the Jimny feel tough and capable to deal with the worst of roads and surfaces. There's also the added ability of 4x4.The Jimny is great off-road and can take you to places where few other like-priced cars can. The Jimny is also narrow, which comes in handy on hilly roads. Maruti Suzuki's strong after-sales support and easy parts availability will also ensure years of stress-free ownership. Drawbacks on the Jimny are its large turning circle, small cabin (there's only space for 4) and unexciting engine. If you aren't in need of something as hardcore, the Honda Elevate is an option to consider. It stands out amongst front-wheel drive SUVs thanks to a tough build and robust suspension that feels absorbent even on big potholes and poor roads.Compared to a Jimny, the Elevate is more upmarket inside and has comfortable seating. Being a Honda car, it will last long without giving any major mechanical issues.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny