TO MOBILITY AND BEYOND

The 2021 edition of the Great India Drive was about far more than just a scenic drive

“On a dark, desert highway, cool wind in my hair (cause the Hyundai Creta’s sunroof is open), warm smell of pollution, rising up through the air.” My addendum to the classic Eagles hit comes as we enter Gurugram after spending most of the 2021 edition of Hyundai India’s Great India Drive in picturesque Rajasthan. It wasn’t meant to be a particularly long journey, starting out from Hyundai’s spanking new headquarters in Gurugram on November 25, and heading to the village of Soda in Rajasthan via Jaipur. What it was meant to be, was an embodiment of the ideals that the Korean brand espouses.

Hyundai entered the Indian market 25 years ago with the beloved first-gen Santro, and what a long journey it’s been since for the company. For all its successes — such as being credited with popularising niche segments like the premium hatchback one, and becoming the largest importer of passenger cars in the country — the brand has had to overcome significant adversities, just one among them being the ongoing global pandemic. Today, a buyer looking for a dependable, tech-savvy and easy to maintain means of transport can choose from 12 Hyundai models, with ex-showroom prices ranging from below ₹ 5 lakh to about ₹ 27.5 lakh. There’s an enviable mix of engine types, powertrains and transmissions to choose from in Hyundai’s portfolio, including an all-electric one.