THE ESSENCE OF MOTORING

When wanderlust calls and the open road beckons, our intrepid souls answer - and the Hyundai Tucson does, too

From day one, the spirit of motoring has been in our blood, daring us to venture beyond the ordinary and to embrace the thrill of the unknown. With a Hyundai Tucson at hand, now was as good a time as any to pack a few bags, leap into it and hit the road. We had discussed a few destinations and the desire to go somewhere we'd never been won out, so the magnificent Dhuandaar Falls in Madhya Pradesh became our Google Maps entry. The Tucson seemed to smile as well, as eager as us to head out as soon as possible. As the rain battered its windshield in Mumbai, we knew this adventure was destined for greatness. Without delay, we set out on a 750-km journey from Mumbai to Nagpur via the new Samruddhi Mahamarg.

The Mumbai-Nashik highway soon greeted us with open potholes and worse, putting the Tucson's ride quality to the test - it was exceptional, in case you're wondering. No pothole could dampen our spirits, as its suspension kept us isolated from the horrors underneath us. We felt like astronauts floating over the lunar surface, to be honest, which tells you just how well the Tucson performed. Once on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, a controlled expressway stretching into the horizon, The Tucson really came into its element. Its adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist became our co-pilots, guiding us with finesse and ensuring a smooth journey, keeping us fatigue-free.

Almost before we knew it, we arrived in Nagpur, an interesting mix of the modern and the old, of chaos and serenity.