It was a dark and cloudy day in Maval, with the sky hanging very low and heavy—a shade of grey threatening to unleash more of the rain that had already transformed the usually serene landscape into a mud-soaked challenge. The drizzle hung in the air as if daring us to turn back. We were on the outskirts of Pune amidst a lot of greenery that would have been inviting on any other day. But we were here for a purpose: a mission to remind the world of what real SUVs were made of, and not even mud or muck could deter us.
Each step added pressure to our boots as they sank deeper into the sludge, creating almost a suction effect. Each twist of the wheel saw the mud cling tighter as though trying to hold the SUVs back from the awaited punishment. Beyond that green, seemingly peaceful curtain of thick shrubs, water-filled pits, and deceitful ruts lay ready to swallow a tyre whole. But amidst nature’s chaos, we were united in a quest for only one thing: pure, unadulterated adventure.
So often, the term “SUV” is used in showrooms for cars that will likely never see a speck of dirt. In that spirit, the convoy includes SUVs from Maruti Suzuki, such as the Jimny, Force Gurkha 5-door, Toyota Hilux, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. The plan was simple: to take these SUVs and see how they fared under conditions most people living in cities would never even dream of. So, let’s dive in!
FORCE GURKHA
Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Does It Fly?
2024 TVS APACHE RR 310 ₹2.75 Lakh - ₹2.97 Lakh (ex-showroom)
Is It A Scooter? Is It A Bike? No! It Is The BMW CE 02
It is rare when you come across a moment where a company brings out a vehicle into the market without knowing who exactly they want to sell it to.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
The Aston Martin Valkyrie still looks like nothing else on four wheels. Probably because it isn’t.
ONE-MAN BAND
We are a cynical bunch of people as we try our best to narrow down our vision and focus on the things that are lacking.
CRISIS AVERTED! THE EXISTENTIAL KIND
Finally, the Yezdi Adventure won’t be suffering from an existential crisis anymore.
ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN
ALTHOUGH IT IS A PERENNIAL ORDEAL FOR ANY MOTORCYCLIST to feel sad while parting ways with a motorcycle, it became even sadder for me this time around.
TVS APACHE RTR 310
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS - “IT IS A MENACE ON WHEELS”.
ACE OF BASE
What happens when you take Porsche's old school entry level model and give it a very not entry level upgrade? This is a 914 as you've never seen it before
MOMS KNOW BEST
Volvo's XC90 was the stereotypical Soccer Mom car. So how will the all-electric EX90 be received among the soccer pitches of Orange County?
THE THEORYOF EVOLUTION
Ridged bladder seats, an inflating steering wheel and an AI track day coach... has Lotus hit on the supercar’s future, or gone mad’?