India is a huge country in every aspect, be it area, population or diversity. It is among the fastest emerging economies in the world, which has made significant progress in the country. However, keeping the economic and demographic concepts aside, India is also an extremely beautiful country with some amazing places that one can visit. The country has an extensive road network that connects different states and cities, thereby making it easy for people to travel. India is also full of adventure aficionados who love to go on road trips to explore new places. There are many aspects about a road trip that need to be figured out before going but nothing is more important than the car. Although one take almost any car on a long route, there are certain models that are better suited for travelling long distances. Many industry experts, over the years, have tried to analyse which cars are the best to take on road trips.
There are a number of cars in the hatchback segment that can be taken on road trips. Some experts feel that Maruti Suzuki Swift is better suited than other models due to a number of reasons. In the first place, this hatchback is solid, spacious and comfortable, factors that are absolutely essential while going on a road trip. Maruti Suzuki Swift comes with large boot space, which helps travellers to store all important things. However, it is the fuel-economy of Swift that makes it ideal for long distance travelling. Diesel version of Swift runs on a 1.3-litre engine that delivers an output of around 73 bhp and peak torque of 190 Nm. In addition, people going on a road trip can also avail the benefit of the excellent service station network, which is present all over the country.
Sedans are comfortable, reasonably fuel-efficient and perform well on long routes, thereby making them perfectly suitable for going on highways. There are some superb cars in this category, which are ideal for five people to travel for long distances. Hyundai Verna, by far, is one of the most acclaimed sedan in the Indian car market. Apart from being stylish, technologically advanced and full of safety features, Verna is a highly comfortable sedan that is fuel-efficient. A number of aspects about this model make it the right choice for taking on trip to a place far off. Exteriors of Verna boast of excellent aerodynamics, which enhance the driveability of this Hyundai car.
Another car that can be taken for a road trip to a new city or place is the new Octavia, the executive sedan from the Czech-based auto maker. Introduced recently, this model has been earning a lot of acclaim from critics for its bold design, spaciousness, appearance, convenience features and safety. Featuring the crystalline design philosophy, this model has a bold front grille with 19 vertical slats, tornado lines, attractive rear triangles and tails lamps. Interiors of this car come with a chrome package, superb air conditioning system, electrically adjustable driver and multi-functional steering. Although a road trip is more about fun than driving but these features certainly make things better. Skoda Octavia is available to customers in both diesel and petrol engine options. Petrol version of Skoda Octavia runs on 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre engines, producing outputs of around 138 bhp and 178 bhp, respectively. On the other hand, diesel variant of this model is fitted with a 2.0-litre engine that delivers maximum power of 141 bhp.
There is no doubt in the fact that utility vehicles are the best for road trips as they are solid, rugged, spacious, comfortable and have the ability to perform in unfavourable terrains. There are a number of good Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in the Indian market that can be chosen for a trip. Compact yet spacious, Renault Duster is among the most successful cars in India at the moment. It is a typical utility vehicle with a touch of luxury and technological sophistication. Spacious enough to comfortably accommodate five people, this model has an excellent performance along with reasonably good fuel efficiency.
Mahindra & Mahindra is known for its expertise in the utility vehicle segment and has produced some of the best models in the category. XUV500, in recent times, has been a game changing vehicle for its manufacturer, earning plaudits from critics and customers. Recently, the Indian auto maker launched the entry-level variant of this car. A lot of experts feel that this car is ideal for travelling to rocky terrains due to its off-roading capabilities.
