Most of the cars we see on our roads today come with a monocoque chassis. However, there are still some models out there that come with a ladder-frame chassis. A ladder-frame chassis consists of two long beams on the sides of the vehicle, with multiple cross beams connecting them, making it look like a ladder.
Ladder-frame chassis have been known for their durable construction and their ability to handle rough terrain—a reason why we see them on hardcore off-roading SUVs. On the other hand, the chassis isn’t as polished as monocoque-based cars in terms of fuel efficiency and ride and handling characteristics on the road.
Here’s our list of the SUVs and MPV that come with this chassis under Rs 50 lakh in ascending order:
14. MG Gloster
Price: Rs 38.33 lakh – Rs 43.16 lakh
Starting the list is the MG Gloster, the only MG SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 161hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, or a 215hp 2.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel, with 4WD available on the latter and both engines having automatic gearboxes only. The Gloster can also be had with six seats in the top Savvy trim.
Other than having 4WD, drive modes, and an electronically locking rear differential, the Gloster doesn’t get as much off-road-oriented hardware as the Fortuner. In our review of the Gloster, the SUV impressed us with its ride quality, especially at higher speeds and over bad roads. While there’s a fair bit of body roll, it corners confidently along with its light steering.
13. Isuzu MU-X
Price: Rs 34.53 lakh – Rs 37.98 lakh
The MU-X is Isuzu’s 7-seater SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. The MU-X is sold only with a 1.9-litre diesel engine producing 163hp and 360Nm of torque, mated to an automatic transmission with AWD. The MU-X also gets off-road hardware, including a high-range and low-range transfer case, and a 4WD shift-on-the-fly switch.
In our review, the MU-X fared well in terms of ride at lower speeds, but it gets crashy as you go higher. There’s a lot of body roll around the corners, and the heavy steering doesn’t help with the experience either.
12. Toyota Fortuner / Legender
Price: Rs 33.64 lakh – Rs 48.85 lakh / Rs 41.54 lakh – Rs 46.75 lakh
The Fortuner is the most expensive SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis in the GR-S trim. The Fortuner gets a 166hp 2.7-litre petrol or a 204hp 2.8-litre diesel engine. The diesel gets manual and automatic gearbox options, while the petrol is automatic only. 4WD is only available with the diesel engine, which also gets a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with the automatic gearbox. The Fortuner also gets a Legender variant with cosmetic differences, but it only gets the diesel engine.
The Fortuner gets off-road hardware, especially for the 4WD variants, like a high-range and low-range transfer case, electronic differential locking, and a 4WD shift-on-the-fly switch. In our experience with the Fortuner, it does handle rough terrains and bad roads well, but the ride quality at lower speeds is bumpy. There’s also noticeable body roll while cornering and nose-dive under braking.
11. Toyota Hilux
Price: Rs 28.02 lakh – Rs 35.37 lakh
The Toyota Hilux is one of the pickup trucks on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It only gets a diesel engine similar to the one on the Fortuner, paired to either a manual or an automatic gearbox. It also gets off-road hardware like an electronic differential locking, shift-on-the-fly drive setup, and high-range and low-range transfer cases.
Like most ladder-frame vehicles, the ride comfort of the Hilux falls short on city roads in our review. But when it comes to off-roading, it comes with great traction across terrains—though the approach, departure, and breakover angles aren’t great, especially due to the rear overhang being too long.
10. Isuzu D-Max Highlander/V-Cross
Price: Rs 20.34 lakh – Rs 29.65 lakh
The D-Max is one of the pickup trucks on this list, other than the Hilux, with a ladder-frame chassis. Available in the Highlander and V-Cross trims, the pickup trucks get the same 163hp 1.9-litre diesel engine as the MU-X SUV, but the automatic gearbox, AWD, and off-road hardware are available only on the V-Cross.
Our review of the V-Cross talks about how the pickup absorbs bumpy roads and imperfections with ease, but the ride quality is quite bouncy.
9. Toyota Innova Crysta
Price: Rs 18.65 lakh – Rs 25.36 lakh
The Innova Crysta is the only MPV in its class and on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. The Crysta is sold only with a 2.3-litre diesel engine producing 150hp and 343Nm of torque and comes only with a manual transmission. The Innova Crysta, being an MPV, does not get off-road-oriented hardware.
In our experience of the Innova Crysta, we found the ride quality to be bumpy, especially on the 17-inch alloys. But overall, the Innova gets a comfortable ride on variants with 16-inch alloy wheels, though it is lumpy at low speeds.
8. Force Gurkha 3-door/5-door
Price: Rs 15.95 lakh – Rs 17.26 lakh
The Gurkha is Force Motors’ only SUV sold in India with a ladder-frame chassis. The Gurkha is sold only in a fully loaded trim with either 3-door or 5-door options. The Gurkha gets a 2.5-litre diesel engine producing 140hp and 320Nm of torque, mated to a manual transmission with AWD as standard. The Gurkha also gets a shift-on-the-fly 4WD switch along with high- and low-range transfer cases. The Gurkha is the only SUV here that gets a snorkel for air intake.
Our review of the Force Gurkha talks about the 5-door having a more settled ride quality in comparison to the 3-door. While bad road patches are handled with ease with a stable ride at moderate speeds, there’s still noticeable side-to-side movement. Off-road ability is great, but cornering isn’t as good.
7. Mahindra Scorpio N
Price: Rs 13.20 lakh – Rs 23.17 lakh
The Mahindra Scorpio N is the most expensive Mahindra SUV with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 200hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 130hp 2.2-litre diesel, and a 173hp 2.2-litre diesel engine. All engines come with manual and automatic gearboxes. However, 4WD is available only on the 173hp diesel engine. The Scorpio N also gets off-road hardware like a shift-on-the-fly 4WD switch, electronic differential locking, multi-terrain modes, and a high-range transfer case.
The SUV, in our experience, had better-controlled body roll around the corners and better-maintained pitching and squatting under braking and acceleration, respectively. The ride quality is a bit bouncy, especially at the rear—typical of ladder-frame SUVs.
6. Mahindra Scorpio Classic
Price: Rs 12.97 lakh – Rs 16.70 lakh
Mahindra sells the Scorpio Classic alongside the Scorpio N SUV, which also possesses a ladder-frame chassis. It comes only with a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 130hp and 300Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Unlike its N sibling, it doesn’t get much off-road hardware.
While the Scorpio Classic in our review, does light work of bad roads, the ride is still busy on cracks and potholes. The ride is bouncy, and there’s side-to-side movement as well.
5. Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Price: Rs 12.31 lakh – Rs 14.44 lakh
The Jimny is the only Maruti SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. In fact, it’s the only one here with a 4×4 drive setup paired with a petrol engine. The Jimny is sold solely with a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 105hp and 134Nm of torque, mated to either a manual or an automatic gearbox. The Jimny also gets the ability to switch drive setups and the ability to switch between high-range and low-range transfer cases.
The Jimny is really good at off-roading, as noted in our review of the SUV. However, the ride is rocky, especially due to its boxy design on the highway. There is also some body roll around the corners.
4. Mahindra Thar Roxx
Price: Rs 12.25 lakh – Rs 22.06 lakh
The Thar Roxx is the 5-door equivalent of the Mahindra Thar with a ladder-frame chassis. It gets a 150hp 2.2-litre diesel engine, a 172hp 2.0-litre diesel, a 160hp 2.0-litre petrol, and a 174hp 2.0-litre petrol. Only the 172hp diesel, 150hp diesel, and the 160hp petrol engines get an automatic gearbox. 4×4 is exclusively available on the diesel engines with manual and automatic gearboxes.
The Thar Roxx gets off-road tech like multi-terrain modes and an electronic locking differential. In our review, the Thar Roxx has a well-settled ride. While there is a fair bit of body roll, it is well controlled at high speeds. Off-road ability has always been a USP of the Thar.
3. Mahindra Thar
Price: Rs 9.99 lakh – Rs 16.99 lakh
The Mahindra Thar is the most affordable 3-door off-roader SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It comes with a 150hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 119hp 2.2-litre diesel engine, and a 132hp 2.2-litre diesel engine. 4WD is available on the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol with manual and automatic transmissions. The Thar gets similar off-road features as the Thar Roxx.
Our review of the Thar notes that the SUV has a lumpy ride at low speeds, with prominent body roll felt in the cabin at all speeds; bump absorption isn’t good either. But the ladder-frame chassis lends a good experience when it comes to off-roading.
2. Mahindra Bolero Neo
Price: Rs 8.49 lakh to Rs 10.49 lakh
The Mahindra Bolero Neo is another SUV in the brand’s portfolio with a ladder-frame chassis. The Bolero Neo comes only with a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 100hp and 260Nm of torque, mated to a manual transmission with a RWD setup. The Bolero Neo doesn’t get much in terms of off-road hardware like the Thar SUVs, but it gets a locking differential.
In our experience with the Bolero Neo, we found the Neo’s off-road ride well composed, but on the road, body roll is present around the corners.
1. Mahindra Bolero
Price: Rs 7.99 lakh – Rs 9.69 lakh
The Mahindra Bolero is the most affordable SUV on this list with a ladder-frame chassis. It comes with a sole 1.5-litre diesel engine producing 80hp and 210Nm of torque, mated to a manual gearbox with a RWD setup.
Our review of the Bolero mentions how the ride quality is compliant at low speeds but wayward as you go faster. There’s a fair bit of body roll around the corners as well.
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