Road trips in India are amazing, whether you rumble across the country on a classic Enfield motorcycle or take the safer route in a chartered 4WD. But the key to a fabulous journey is a great car.
The best car for a road trip in India is sturdy, spacious and comfortable. It should also offer excellent safety features and good mileage.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
The Maruti Suzuki Swift is a five-seater hatchback and one of the best cars for road trips in India. It has ample leg room and a comfortable seating arrangement. It also comes with a host of safety features. Its engine can handle long drives with ease and it offers a good mileage as well.
It is also one of the sturdiest cars in the Indian market. Its powerful engine, stable handling, and high ground clearance qualify it for light off-road driving. Moreover, it can easily lug around a lot of luggage.
The Honda Amaze is another great option for long-distance road trips. It is a sedan that can seat five people and offers ample space for luggage. Its spacious cabin is perfect for road trippers who want to drive alone or with a small company. It also has a spacious boot and a sleek design. Its 24.7 kmpl fuel efficiency is a plus for long-distance drives. It is also a great car for cruising along the highway.
Hyundai Verna
Often overlooked, the Hyundai Verna is amongst one of the best cars for road trips. The sedan offers a spacious cabin that can seat up to five people comfortably and offers a comfortable ride. In addition, it has a powerful engine that can drive on all types of roads. It also offers a spacious boot that can fit a lot of luggage.
The Hyundai Verna competes in the C segment of sedans, ruled by Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. The current third generation Hyundai Verna seeks to up the game in this segment with premium features, a more capable petrol powertrain and Level-2 ADAS.
It’s a good idea to look for a used Verna that’s been well maintained. It’s also important to check the car’s service records and make sure it has been routinely serviced at authorized workshops. The service costs for a used Verna are fairly reasonable. A fluidic variant sold after Feb’15 is ideal as these models offer better performance and a modern design. However, do avoid older 1.4-litre engines as these don’t offer adequate acceleration.
Renault Duster
With its rugged design, potent engine and great ground clearance, the Renault Duster is one of the best cars for road trips. It’s also the cheapest 4×4 SUV on the market. It’s a good choice for families, as it offers plenty of space and decent features. The Renault Duster is a great choice for long road trips because it can easily accommodate 7 people, which makes it a great option for large family road trips.
This car has a huge boot that can easily fit a lot of luggage, making it a perfect choice for road trips. It also has a powerful engine that can travel on all types of roads and can handle tough terrains.
The 113bhp 1.5-litre Blue dCi 115 diesel isn’t the most eager performer, but it provides ample low-down grunt for towing or tackling rutted, sandy or muddy inclines. It’s available with four-wheel drive too, which improves stability on faster, rougher tracks. The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel version can run on either petrol or cheaper LPG, which is handy if you need to keep running costs down.
Mahindra & Mahindra XUV500
One of the best cars for road trips, the Mahindra XUV500 offers sizable space and power to keep you comfortable on long journeys. It also offers great ground clearance and can be used for light off-roading. Moreover, it is among the fuel-efficient vehicles on the market and can achieve up to 17 kmpl on the highway.
The SUV also offers features like an automatic climate control system, a touch-screen infotainment system, and six airbags. The top-end W11 variant even gets GPS navigation and a sunroof. The car can be driven by either a two- or four-wheel drive system.
The MG Hector is another good option for road trips because of its impressive safety features and roomy interiors. The SUV can accommodate up to seven people, making it a great choice for family outings. In addition, it can travel up to 800 kilometers on a full tank of gas. Despite being a bit more expensive than other SUVs, the MG Hector is an excellent choice for those who want to take their family on a long trip.
Honda Amaze
The Honda Amaze is a spacious sedan with plenty of legroom and headroom. It is also equipped with advanced features that make it ideal for long journeys. The car is also a fuel-efficient model that can achieve up to 41 MPG on the highway.
The 2023 Amaze is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that offers 89bhp and 110Nm of torque. The car comes with a five-speed manual and CVT transmission options. It is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 160 km/h.
The Amaze is available in a variety of trims and variants. The top-spec VX variant features a 7-inch touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, automatic climate control, and push button start. It also has dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera. It rides on 15-inch alloy wheels compared to the 14-inch ones found on the VFM variant. It also gets follow-me home headlights and cruise control. The car is offered with an extensive network of service centres and a 3-year warranty.
