Off-roading culture is sure growing in India at a fast pace. With the popularity of the all-new Mahindra Thar going through the roof, there are quite a good number of customers out there who seem to be interested in the 4X4 vehicles. Well, here is a video of the old Mahindra Thar, Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu V-Cross trying to climb a steep sand dune. The results are in this video.

The video by Lokesh Swami shows a group of off-roaders testing their vehicles on an extremely steep climb. The first one to try the climb is the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, which is modified with a few aftermarket accessories. After trying several times, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross just could not go over the crest to reach the top. In fact, after the first attempt, the V-Cross tried climbing the steep incline again and it did reach a bit higher but the vehicle gets stuck near the top.

Next off, the new-generation Toyota Fortuner goes down to attempt the climb. After the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross fails, it was the Toyota Fortuner that tried the same climb. Interestingly, the Fortuner climbed the incline without any problem and it reached the top without a sweat.

Next, the first-generation Mahindra Thar goes down to make the climb. The Mahindra Thar is also has a lot of modifications including aftermarket tyres. The driver of the Thar attempts to try to climb several times and fails near the top of the incline. It tried at least five times before someone flattened the track made by the other vehicles.

At last, the Mahindra Thar was able to climb the incline in one attempt without getting stuck through the incline.

Is Fortuner a better choice?

Compared to the old-generation Thar and the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, the Fortuner sure is loaded with the features. However, handling a vehicle during any off-road course is dependent on the ability of the driver and not on the capability of the vehicle itself.

Nonetheless, the Toyota Fortuner offers A-Trac, which is a unique feature in the vehicle. The A-Trac system of the Fortuner works as a supplement of the rear differentials. The system monitors the movement of the wheels and detects any slipping of the wheels. It then uses the brakes to stop the spinning wheel and ensuring that the power goes to the other wheel with traction. This ensures that the vehicle passes through without much struggle.

Other attributes of the vehicle like breakover angle, approach angle are also very important during such climbs. However, it is always the driver of the vehicle who needs to understand the limitations and capabilities of the vehicle to overcome the challenges during off-roading. That is why professional drivers spend so much time with their vehicles to understand it completely before entering a competition.