Last Updated: September 18, 2019 Swairik Das
The pits, dusts, and paves seem to be friendly rather than bumpy on an Indian road trip when you are driving one of the best cars, your soul mate, which is suitable for Indian roads. Purring the minds of every perfervid traveller who is fond of road trips in India… whether it is an adventure journey from Manali to Leh or a leisure trip from Chennai to Puducherry, these cars are surely going to drift you miles, miles and miles from spick-and-span freeways to countryside corduroy and drop you in a fantasy world where the drive seems to be a pleasant affair. It’s one of those accelerated kinky instances where each time you pull the brake against a pit, your seat becomes a spongy bed that rock you spasmodically to and fro with the damper underneath. The moment you give the gear a blow to four; the road then becomes a ballroom… where steering the wheels makes you feel like you are passionately swinging in rhythm with your soul mate. As you cut through that last tempting curve, the sensational rush increases all the more… yes the destination is reached… alas, the intimate drive will come to an end. The rear view mirror reflects the drops of candid moments that you had with your soul mate. So don’t MINGLE… be in a steady affair and pick your soul mate from the list of top 10 cars/vehicles that you would like to drive on a road trip in India.
Mahindra Thar
When you decide to head towards the offbeat destinations in the Indian Himalayan region, Mahindra Thar gives you the opportunity to get intimate with the unsmooth landscape. This stalwart of a vehicle is a reprise of the early days of open jeeping that can combat sheer descent and ascent of rock in Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh, Zanskar region in Jammu & Kashmir, parts of Garhwal region, and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Hold your accelerator… this vehicle can also traverse the shallow streams that meander through valleys And can even zip through the wildlife zone and Thar Desert. A swore stud for an adventure freak traveller… with a virile body, advanced diesel engine, and 4×4 wheel drive… the Mahindra Thar is available in three variants – DI 2WD, DI 4WD and CRDe.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Leh via Manali
- Chandigarh to Dalhousie
- Guwahati to Tawang
- Bangalore to Ooty
- Ahmedabad to Kutch
- Bangalore to Coorg
- Bangalore to Munnar
Price starts from: 4.82 Lakhs (Appx.)
Mahindra Scorpio
Drive it wheresoever you go… whether into the wild Or rugged terrains… the Mahindra Scorpio is a darling for every traveller as it can adjust its mood to any altitude, climate, and topography. It is rightly called a playboy as well as a thunder down the road who will give you the best memories on a road trip in India. A traveller driving the Mahindra Scorpio is surely a pleasure seeker who would like to exploit the road from Mumbai to Pune via Khandala and Lonavla AND strip the verdure of Kashmir valley. The Mahindra Scorpio comes with three variants – 2.1L Petrol I4 116 hp, 2.6L Turbodiesel I4 115 hp, and 2.2L M-Hawk Turbodiesel I4 120 hp, and is available in 7 different models.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Leh via Manali
- Chandigarh to Dalhousie
- Guwahati to Tawang
- Bangalore to Ooty
- Ahmedabad to Kutch
- Bangalore to Coorg
- Bangalore to Munnar
- Kolkata to Darjeeling
- Kolkata to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass via Gangtok
- Guwahati to Shillong
Price starts from: 8.40 Lakhs (Appx.)
Mahindra Bolero
A concrete on wheels… it is specifically built for some exclusive travellers who prefers to hit the off-roads anytime or at any season. The Mahindra Bolero isn’t just any SUV that you know but it’s a beast on road that bestows a privilege upon a countryside drive. Its masculine exteriors and comfortable interiors including an advanced digital display simply woo the mind of the travellers. This beast comes with one engine and 16 different versions.
Suggested road trips:
- Guwahati to Tawang
- Kolkata to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass via Gangtok
- Delhi to Hunder via Manali, Leh and Diskit
- Bangalore to Coorg
- Vizag to Araku Valley
Price starts from: 5.90 Lakhs
Tata Safari Storme
A sought after monster that to be esteemed, feared, and tamed… the Tata Safari Storme is considered as a true explorer that can snake through the mountains as well as cut across jungles. This monster is available in 4 versions with 1 engine and 1 transmission and 1 fuel options.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Leh via Manali
- Chandigarh to Dalhousie
- Guwahati to Tawang
- Bangalore to Ooty
- Ahmedabad to Kutch
- Bangalore to Coorg
- Bangalore to Munnar
- Kolkata to Darjeeling
- Kolkata to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass via Gangtok
- Guwahati to Shillong
Price starts from: 9.94 Lakhs
Mitsubishi Outlander
And when you think of a lascivious and suave journey on road… this gentleman brings forth a candid experience even through the most undesirable roads. As swift as a hawk on road, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a mid-size crossover that has been upgraded into a plug-in hybrid model called Outlander P-HEV that comes with 7 engines and 3 transmissions. He is a picky traveller who would like to zoom around in this hawk through different terrain ranging from the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to the rocky Ladakh region.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Leh via Manali
- Chandigarh to Dalhousie
- Guwahati to Tawang
- Bangalore to Ooty
- Ahmedabad to Kutch
- Bangalore to Coorg
- Bangalore to Munnar
- Kolkata to Darjeeling
- Kolkata to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass via Gangtok
- Guwahati to Shillong
Price starts from: 21 Lakhs (Appx.)
BMW Mini Paceman
This cute little baby is as swift on road as it is easy to steer, gear and brake. The BMW Mini Paceman is a subcompact crossover or SUV that can reach the greatest distance in space or time… cutting through off-ramps, paves, shallow streams, and mountains. The model is based on the Mini Countryman and is found in different variants with 4 engines, 2 transmissions, and upgraded dimensions.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Corbett National Park
- Delhi to Ranthambore National Park
- Delhi to Kanha National Park
- Delhi to Dharamshala
- Kolkata to Jaldapara National Park
- Kolkata to Gorumara National Park
- Siliguri to Kaziranaga National Park
- Siliguri to Shillong
- Bangalore to Ooty
- Mumbai to Goa via Khandala, Lonavla and Pune
- Mumbai to Ajanta and Ellora via Aurangabad
- Bangalore to Bandipur National Park via Mysore
- Bangalore to Coorg via Mysore
- Chennai to Alleppey
- Hyderabad to Maredumalli and Rampachodavaram
- Hyderabad to Horsley Hills and Talakona
Price starts from: 30 Lakhs (Appx.)
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster
She is smooth, sonant, and steamy and that’s why Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster is a dearie amongst all travellers on road. Whether you head uphill or downhill, sway her on freeways, and whirl her on a beach… she will give you the utmost comfort if you are modest. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster… although a rare babe on rowdy Indian roads BUT once she hits the road, she is likely to TURN ON every passerby. On the other hand she is a beguiler who comes in different colours ranging from bright yellow tang to marron black… having unprecedented performance levels powered by world-class engineering.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Udaipur via Jaipur
- Delhi to Chandigarh via Karnal
- Delhi to Kolkata via Allahabad and Varanasi
- Kolkata to Guwahati via Siliguri
- Mumbai to Goa via Pune
- Bangalore to Pondicherry
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Delhi to Ahmedabad via Jaipur and Udaipur
- Ahmedabad to Mumbai via Surat
- Hyderabad to Vizag
Price Starts from: 1 Crore (Appx.)
Mercedes 280SL
Right away she will throw you back to the classic era between the ‘60s and the ‘70s. The Mercedes 280 SL is a czarina on roads… that was regenerated with an advanced engine that was the next stage of evolution for the M130 and a larger bore increased displacement to 2,779cc, thus giving the car 180-horsepower and increased torque. She makes for a perfect drive into a heritage diorama that creates any traveller to feel like a monarch.
Suggested road trips:
- Jaipur to Udaipur
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer via Jodhpur
- Delhi to Agra via Mathura
- Delhi to Lucknow
- Delhi to Khajuraho via Orchha
- Delhi to Bhopal and Sanchi via Jhansi
- Delhi to Amritsar
- Kolkata to Puri and Konark
- Chennai to Pondicherry
- Bangalore to Mysore
- Bangalore to Hampi
- Bangalore to Badami
Price starts from: 45 Lakhs (Appx.)
Jaguar XK150
Now she is a lady of pleasure for any traveller who loves to seek the regal incense in the midst of concrete jungle. Driving her once is surely ditching your long and happy relationship. The Jaguar XK150 is another classy dame that will pull you back to the ‘50s and the ‘60s. She comes in 5 different models – XK 150 3.4, XK 150 3.4 SE, XK 150 3.4 S, XK 150 3.8 SE, and XK 150 3.8 S – with 5 different engines and advanced dimensions.
Suggested road trips:
- Jaipur to Udaipur
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer via Jodhpur
- Delhi to Agra via Mathura
- Delhi to Lucknow
- Delhi to Khajuraho via Orchha
- Delhi to Bhopal and Sanchi via Jhansi
- Delhi to Amritsar
- Kolkata to Puri and Konark
- Chennai to Pondicherry
- Bangalore to Mysore
- Bangalore to Hampi
- Bangalore to Badami
Price Starts from: 48 Lakhs (Appx.)
Hummer
You need to be a hunk to drive this monster. It is the perfect and ultimate pick for a challenging road trip in regions like Ladakh, Zanskar, Nubra, Arunachal Pradesh, and Thar Desert. This midsize truck was introduced as a SUV in 2006 underpinning the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It has a masculine exterior and interior that comes in one single model with 3 engines (separately) and 1 transmission.
Suggested road trips:
- Delhi to Hunder via Manali, Leh and Diskit
- Delhi to Gulmarg via Chandigarh and Srinagar
- Chandigarh to Hunder via Srinagar, Kargil and Diskit
- Siliguri to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass via Gangtok Guwahati to Tawang
Price starts from: 60 Lakhs (Appx.)
Published: 08 Jan, 2015
Brought up from the cultural capital of India, Kolkata, Swairik Das is a passionate traveller who seeks to travel and explore the length and breadth of the country. He is also a dedicated travel writer, blogger and photographer who by heart is also an adventure freak. His focus is mostly into exploring and writing on trekking, jungle safaris and several adventure activities; religion, festival, heritage, people and cuisine.