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
This story is from the September 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Next Great Family MPV?
“Whoa, that’s a nice-looking Minivan!” Said no one ever.
MG COMET
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.
BMW i7
WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks
NEXT LEVEL
Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings
MANUAL LABOUR
Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...
PRO VS SLOW
At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner