Nothing is as satisfying to me as sitting behind the wheel of a car and going on a road trip. If you’ve been with me in a car, you’ve likely heard me speak some colourful language, but that’s just how chaotic driving in India can be. That said, 2023 has been a fortunate year for me. Not only have I had the opportunity to drive across the country, evaluating cars and embarking on journeys for various projects with my family, but I have also enjoyed some fabulous drives abroad.
The views one experiences from behind a windshield and the opportunity to spontaneously stop and witness spectacular scenery or discover obscure places are unique to driving. You observe the pastoral life in India, such as the hills above Coimbatore, roads leading to the Nathu La mountain pass in Sikkim, and the journey to Chakrata in upper Uttarakhand. I travelled to northern Karnataka twice this year, both times before the elections. It became evident that many people in other cities often misconstrue the state, associating it solely with the Bengaluru-Mysuru belt.
Not only was the geology of the Krishna River basin breathtaking, but the fact that amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Pattadakal and Hampi have survived for future generations of Indians to behold was something I experienced for the first time. Only on a road trip can you pause to take in the magnificence of the surrounding stones.
However, these trips were not just about the destinations; they were also about the cars I drove. The first-hand driving experiences that I often write about in this column are usually too brief to fully evaluate a vehicle. While passenger vehicles may seem similar these days, you can still see differences—from the steering feel to the gear changes, and especially in overall comfort.
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MP, South Africa to South Korea
The time that ThePrint’s journalist, Sajid Ali, and I spent driving the Hyundai Exter down to Badami (Karnataka) gave me a newfound appreciation for that vehicle. I also enjoyed our travels to Gwalior and Morena in Madhya Pradesh earlier in the year, discovering some incredible spots. Our recent trip to Chakrata was another highlight, revealing a new facet of the northern hills. It’s reassuring to know that there are still some places in the hills untouched by the maddening crowds.
Sometimes, you uncover the true weaknesses of cars. Just a few weeks ago, Honda Car India invited me to participate in the 12th edition of Drive to Discover through Sikkim and northern West Bengal. The steep gradients and hairpin turns took a toll on cars equipped with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Even the company’s managing director, Takuya Tsumura, joked about it. But it’s worth noting that not a single car failed the climb. The journey was demanding, even for manual transmission cars, due to the steep inclines we encountered. The road from Jorethang to Darjeeling proved challenging, reminiscent of trails even mountain goats might find daunting. While Tsumura playfully commented on the drive’s ‘up and down’ nature, I was impressed that Honda subjected their vehicles, including the Amaze compact sedan, to such rigorous testing.
Such experiences, both challenging and delightful, are what one comes to appreciate and love. For instance, driving on a frozen lake in Austria remains a surreal memory, given the counter-intuitive act of navigating a vehicle on ice.
Then there were the breathtaking views while driving down Chapman’s Peak toward the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Witnessing a place I had only read about in middle school was not something I had expected to tick off my bucket list, but I am glad I did. I also saw some penguins; though they’re fascinating creatures, words cannot adequately describe how intensely smelly they are.
Hyundai’s IONIQ5 N, an electric vehicle, is unlike anything I have driven before. It’s been a while since a car put a silly grin on my face while impressing me with its audacious performance. During my visit to South Korea, I also went to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) over the ‘cow bridge’ built by Hyundai’s founder, Chung Ju-Yung. He fled the northern region after stealing a cow from his village and being wracked with guilt, built the bridge to send a hundred cows back after making Hyundai a global giant. Those were different times in the inter-Korean relationship, but credit goes to the South Koreans for turning the North Korean tunnels into a tourist attraction.
So yeah, 2023 was a fantastic year for me and I hope you had a good time reading my columns.
@kushanmitra is an automotive journalist based in New Delhi. Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)