Five SUVs under ₹20 lakh we would take to Ladakh tomorrow

Touring ability is not the same as ground clearance. What matters on a 4,000 metre pass is turbo response in thin air, brake fade resistance on long descents and a suspension that stays composed when loaded to the roof.

The diesel manual SUVs in this segment still hold a clear advantage. Torque delivered low in the rev range means fewer gearshifts on gradients and far less strain on the clutch in stop-start convoy traffic.

Tyres decide more of this than any spec sheet. We swapped stock highway-terrain rubber for all-terrains on two of the five test cars, and both transformed on gravel without any measurable penalty on the highway leg.

Pack a spare wheel with air in it, download offline maps and keep a fuel range buffer of at least 150 km. Every one of these five SUVs will handle the trip; the preparation is what decides how it goes.