The latest to join the BS6 (Bharat Stage 6) bandwagon is the Mahindra Alturas G4. Launched in November 2018, the full-sized SUV is now available in just two automatic variants. Opt of the two-wheel-drive setup, and the asking price is Rs 28.69 lakh. If you want all the bells and whistles aboard, along with a potent 4×4 system, the sticker price is Rs 31.69 lakh. Compared to the BS4 prices, both variants have received a price hike of approximately Rs 1 lakh.

Powering both derivatives of the SUV in question is a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine. It produces 178bhp/420Nm, while a 7-speed automatic (sourced from Mercedes-Benz) handles transmission duties. Talking about sourcing stuff, the Alturas G4 is, in fact, based on the SsangYong Rexton. For a brief period, SsangYong-branded models were on sale in India. However, Indians didn’t accept that brand well.

In case you think that the price difference of Rs 3 lakh between the two variants is only down to the 4×4 system, that’s not true. The two-wheel-drive derivative also misses out on some creature comforts. That list includes LED fog lamps, easy-access mode (the seat and steering wheel move away for an easier ingress/egress), ambient mood lighting, electric sunroof, nine airbags (does duty with two), powered tailgate, auto headlamps and wipers, memory function for driver’s seat and ORVMs and 3D around-view camera. You have to agree that the price gap is more-or-less justified.

In India, the Mahindra Alturas G4 primarily competes with the Ford Endeavour and the Toyota Fortuner. Amongst the three, only the Fortuner is available with a petrol engine option. Courtesy of that, it also has the edge of a lower starting price (Rs 28.18 – 33.95 lakh). The Endeavour (Rs 29.55 – 33.25 lakh), on the other hand, is available with one (diesel) engine and two (6-speed MT and 10-speed AT) transmission options.