Watch the Mahindra Alturas G4 SUV go off-roading in our video
We drove the Alturas G4 around a small off-road track on the outskirts of Jaipur and given its weight, were mighty impressed with the capabilities. Although it does not get an automatic differential lock, the clever traction control ensures that power / torque only goes to those wheels that have ample traction.
This allows the Alturas G4 to tackle tricky situations, the ones you see in the video below. Further, wheel articulation is massive and this big Mahindra loved lifting its front and rear wheels for our cameras: Take a look!
Mahindra’s latest and most expensive product offering, the Alturas G4 is a true blue SUV, one that can take you places. We say this because not only does it come with a proper 4×4 set-up that offers 2H, 4H and 4L (low ratio), this Toyota Fortuner / Ford Endeavour rival also packs in impressive ground clearance of 244 mm and a host of safety and driver aids that come in handy during adventurous outings.
The Mahindra Alturas G4 is essentially a rebadged for India Ssangyong Rexton. Mahindra owns a majority stake in Ssangyong and though the earlier Rexton wasn’t a hit in India, the company is betting hard on the Alturas. It is slightly more affordable than its direct rivals and also packs in segment leading features. This includes a 360 degree view camera, one that also comes in a lot handy during off-road excursions as you can see all obstacles around the vehicle. In terms of engine, this one gets a 2.2-litre turbo charged diesel motor that is good for 178 bhp of power and 420 Nm of torque. Mated to a 7 speed Mercedes-Benz sourced automatic gearbox, the Alturas is seriously quick for a Mahindra.
The Alturas is sold in two versions of 4×2 and 4×4. While the former is priced at Rs 26.95 lakh, the latter comes with a sticker price of Rs 29.95 lakhs. As we said earlier, the equipment level is certainly its USP and the cabin does feel luxurious given ample use of leather and high quality materials. That said, the 3rd row of seats offers the least space among rivals and visibility too is poor given the massive metal body around the D pillar.
Key rivals of the Mahindra Alturas – the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour – also offer a four wheel drive layout. Among all SUVs, the Ford Endeavour has the most advanced four wheel drive system with a terrain response feature.