Autocar India SUV off road day 2023

Too long have we stood idly by while the public cried out for change. Well, no more! You see, thus far, we opened our Off-Road Day doors only to the toughest of the tough, the hardest of the hardcore – SUVs designed for recreational off-roading in mind, and nothing lesser. “Where is XUV700?” cried KoolRajesh54, justifiably, while later claiming he could do the same obstacle in his mother’s Alto. Also not wrong was bugatti_fan5918, who said “If you can take Fortuner, why not Skoda Kodiaq???” followed by several words that are unsuitable for print. It, too, is a seven-seat premium SUV with 4WD, after all. 

Off-road Day: The contenders

So, this year, we listened, and opened the field up to a whole lot more of your favourite SUVs, but the basic criterion remains some form of four-wheel drive. It starts with the Maruti and Toyota twins – the Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder – flying the flag for the midsize SUV segment, now that the hugely capable Duster AWD is no more. Next, the fan favourite – the Mahindra XUV700, which surely has some of its tougher siblings’ off-roading DNA infused in it. On the other hand, a crossover with little to no off-roading heritage is the Hyundai Tucson, while the very European Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq, we’re told, are hiding some serious hardware underneath their business-like exteriors.

Conversely, the MG Gloster, which despite having a ladder-frame chassis like the Fortuner, doesn’t get quite as tough a 4WD system. Similarly, Jeep’s luxurious flagship – the gargantuan Grand Cherokee – may not have the hardware of the Wrangler that absolutely dominated last year’s proceedings, but those seven slots on the nose tell you it’s no pushover. And finally, to keep them honest – some real off-roaders. Tiny but tough, the long-awaited Maruti Jimny, which in a short time has already proven itself as a capable 4x4. And the Hilux, whose storied legacy around the world has given it a reputation of indestructibility.

Off-road Day: The course

We’re back at the brown-washed playground that is Learn Offroad Academy in Pali, Maharashtra, and once again, the weather is a lot worse than we bargained for. In fact, our first off-road obstacle came much before we even reached the premises – an overflowing river that quickly swallowed up a road bridge. In the five minutes it took all 10 vehicles to cross, the bridge was completely obscured under the rapids, but all managed the perilous crossing with little stress.

As for the obstacles this year, it’s only fair that we go a little easy on the new blood. After all, just because they potentially could, doesn’t mean they should. As ever, curating the course will be Learn Offroad’s big chief and Asia’s only International 4WD Trainers’ Association (I4WDTA)-certified off-road instructor, Tejas Kothari. He’s used to training people with a variety of SUVs, so he knows what is and isn’t possible, and from what he tells us, we’ll be taking these soft-roaders on a novice trail. Somehow, I’m not convinced.

Off-road Day: Dip and crest

A big part of the problem is the rain, which hasn’t let up for even a moment, and without a wheel turned, the whole course is already turned to mush. All cars are running stock tyres, with their pressures, of course, dropped to 18psi at the very start, but still, this is not going to be a walk in the park. The first obstacle is arguably the toughest, and is what will separate the wheat from the chaff – a drop into and climb out of a ravine about 10 feet deep. It has, of course, filled up with water, and as the Grand Vitara tiptoes in, water is immediately up to its DRLs.

Two concerns here are the manual gearbox and the relative lack of oomph from the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol. In fact, it doesn’t make it through on the first try, but all it takes is a lower gear and a bit more momentum for it to scrabble out without a fuss. Interestingly, even after a few attempts, its Toyota twin isn’t able to complete the same obstacle. We double check the drive mode, and the AWD lock. It’s something of a head-scratcher at first, but we soon realise our test Hyryder has seen a tad too much field duty already. The clutch, as well as the tyres, have been worn all the way down, meaning it’s unable to make the all-important exit, and has to be assisted out. If it was in better shape, it would have done it, no problem.

A very early first DNF, then, but it would be far from the last. As we line up the XUV700, confidence isn’t incredibly high, not helped by the fact that, after trawling through the fiddly AdrenoX touchscreen’s menus, we aren’t able to find an off-road mode or AWD lock. We settle for ‘Zoom’, which we assume to be the Sport mode, for maximum revs, and go for it. It’s not enough though, with an overly intrusive traction control cutting power on the crucial exit climb and a long front overhang causing the front bumper to scrape. After a few attempts, the XUV, too, has to be escorted out of the pit. 

No such issue in arguably the ‘softest’ looking SUV here, the Tucson. In a surprisingly fuss-free turn, it confidently entered and exited the pit with little struggle, not even requiring speed or momentum like the SUVs before it. Put it down to the efficacy of its off-road modes (of which we chose ‘Mud’), but it’s more likely down to the 416Nm of torque that’s delivered incredibly smoothly and effectively by the AWD system.

The VW Tiguan, has an ‘Offroad Expert’ mode, over and above the standard Offroad setting, which presumably increases the effectiveness of the electronic aids. That, however, is not enough either, as even though the drop into the pit is well-regulated (it has quite an aggressive hill-descent control), the exit isn’t so. Struggling for grip, it spins its wheels wildly; with TCS again cutting in at just the wrong time, it simply isn’t able to make it out, and in the process, tears up half the muddy ramp beneath it.

We’re at the halfway point, and it’s time to do some landscaping to try and restore the now-destroyed obstacle with strategically placed stones. Just as well, the next car up is similar to the one that went before it, albeit considerably longer. The Skoda Kodiaq is another SUV that, on the surface, seems out of its depth here, a point punctuated by its additional length, weight and wheelbase. There is a slight struggle on the up-slope, as the front-biased AWD system struggles with all the weight hanging over the back. There’s a lot of wheelspin, but eventually it gets out, with the only casualty being a small piece of rear bumper chrome trim that comes off.

The Gloster’s size alone might give you the confidence to plough through any terrain, but in the back of our minds, without a proper low-range gearbox (it can be made to hold a low gear), we know it’s relying on its off-road drive modes to get it up the hill. Still, despite its size and weight, its tough ladder chassis, good ground clearance and rear-biased 4WD system hurl it out of the obstacle with no fuss. The Grand Cherokee is this year’s calm, dignified and sophisticated player, waltzing gently into the pit and back out of it, almost shaming the others who struggled before it. 

Hopping out of the titanic Jeep and into the tiny and basic Jimny, it momentarily feels like we’ve been knocked back to the bottom of the food chain. Off-roaders are better when they’re bigger, right? Not quite. The bantamweight Jimny – low-range engaged via a sturdy lever – scrabbles through like a scalded cat, almost leaping out at the other end. The Hilux, meanwhile, is a vehicle you almost feel like showing a bit of abuse on a course that’s not too challenging, like this one. Low range engaged, we just force our way through at ramming speed, and it shrugs off this obstacle – which its softer sibling could not – as if it was nothing. Frankly, it would probably have done it in 4H too.

Off-road Day: Rocky road

The next duo of obstacles is a rocky path, followed by what Tejas and his crew affectionately call the ‘Devil’s Hump’, which, as the name might suggest, is a huge mound that you have to cross at an angle. The first one looks innocuous enough, but actually has to be navigated with more care than one would think, as some of the protruding rocks can be a gnarly test of ground clearance, as we’ll find out later. Rush over the rocks too quickly and you also risk ripping a hole in your already deflated tyres. The Devil’s Hump is the more entertaining one for sure. As you cross it diagonally, left to right, the front left tyre shoots up into the air, and as the weight of the engine pushes down, the rear right tyre rises. The trick is to pause at the top, balance on two wheels and see if the 4WD system sends power to the wheels that need it.

Of course, we’re extra careful over the rocks in the Grand Vitara and Hyryder, which have among the lowest ground clearance, as well as the softest suspension here today. Over the hump, though, Suzuki’s AllGrip Select AWD system on both cars takes charge quickly and quietly to get the SUVs across smoothly. The XUV700 shows some of its tough heritage over the rocky stretch, with a solid feel through the steering as each of its wheels navigates the obstacle. Similarly, as it crests the hump, the chassis feels stiff, and the front wheel lands with purpose as we roll down past the obstacle. 

The slow and relaxed movement over the rocks reveals some noise from the Tucson’s suspension, which is quite refined in regular road conditions. Still, the clearance proves to be more than ample and we move over to the hump, where paused up on the crest, there’s an audible ‘click’ as the AWD system gets to work. The Volkswagen handles these obstacles with far more confidence than it did the first one. The rock crawl is steady and it poises itself confidently atop the hump. And true to its businesslike persona, it sails over cleanly and efficiently, without so much as a murmur.

We’re a little more concerned for the mechanically identical but noticeably larger Skoda. A gingerly trudge over the rocks, careful to spot for taller ones, is warranted, and as we make it over the big mound, expectedly, its longer belly makes gentle contact. It’s not a failure though, as after a quick whirr of the airborne wheels, the AWD system gets the message and moves us along. The MG Gloster is where we get overconfident. After its stellar performance in the pit, we take that momentum onto the rocks, quite literally, and our dearth of caution causes this seemingly high-riding ladder-frame SUV to slam down on one of the rocks. Sheepishly, we nurture it over to the hump which it handles well, but the weight transfer is more apparent than ever here.

It’s something that should be apparent with the equally large Grand Cherokee too, but the level of body control and isolation in here is on another level. It’s also here that the slightly firm layer to the suspension we feel out on the road comes in handy, as it lets the big Jeep hold its own on the rocks and the hump. The Jimny and Hilux take these two obstacles like a normal SUV would take a pothole and a speed breaker; this beginner course is almost silly for them. What it reveals, however, is that with its narrow tracks, tall suspension and edge-to-edge wheelbase, the Jimny tends to skip over the smaller rocks. And true to all pickup trucks, with an empty bed and no weight over the rear wheels, the leaf-sprung Hilux gets really bouncy at the rear if you’re not careful.

Off-road Day: Running up that hill

The last obstacle didn’t seem like much when we saw it earlier in the day, but as the rain has battered down for hours non-stop, it now seems a little more daunting. It’s a hill, you drive up it, and down the other side, which sounds simple enough. Trouble is, it’s steeper than it looks, and it has to be attacked with momentum at a slight angle to make it over properly. Moreover, it’s a blind crest at the top, followed immediately by a left turn, and on a surface relieved of all traction, getting that wrong could mean a free-fall down the wrong side of the hill.

Rain still pelting down and the clouds having descended almost to our line of sight, we line the Grand Vitara up for the maiden hill climb. With a good amount of speed, we make it halfway up, only to get bogged down on a gear shift. It costs us the run, and we have to go again, this time short-shifting into second before things get too steep. Relatively light weight means changing directions after the crest is easy, but we’re now aware of how tricky this obstacle really is. The gremlins continue in the Hyryder, as the AWD system now refuses to lock. We put it in ‘Snow’ mode and hope for the best, as we bolt up the hill, remembering the short-shift trick. The lack of tyre tread is apparent especially as we brake after the crest for the left-hander; a little hairier than in the Maruti for sure.

The XUV700, AWD fully functional, did slide laterally a bit on its way up; perhaps Zoom mode was a touch too aggressive for this particular application, as it felt like the torque was coming in too strong. Meanwhile, the Tucson, which has even more torque, once again impressed with its sophistication. There was some bounce from its soft suspension, but power delivery was well managed by the electronics, and it showed no signs of losing control. The Tiguan also impressed on this run, with strong power delivery and rock-solid stability. Credit must also go to the DSG gearbox making quick and, crucially, unobtrusive shifts, making for a smooth climb.

The Kodiaq doesn’t have as easy a time, and it’s clearly the greater weight that’s playing spoilsport. As the slope steepened towards the top, we felt the traction control system struggling over the now desecrated surface, as the AWD system reapportioned power. But just before it lost the battle with the forces of gravity, the big Skoda made it over the hill. Even heavier is the Gloster, but sheer grunt and a more off-road-focused AWD system mean it handles it better. Its Mud mode managed the slip well, and though we were nervous about all that bulk handling the corner with dignity, great visibility meant we were able to react well in time. By the time the Grand Cherokee goes  up, the weather has clearly turned this obstacle from Beginner to Advanced. Even the tracks we forged with the other SUVs has been smudged into oblivion. The Jeep feels heavy, and for the first time flinches a little, requiring some corrective steering. The wide track and impressive electronics sort it out before we get to the top, however.

Any doubts about the Jimny’s power, or lack thereof, were laid to rest once and for all on the slope. It built momentum and held it easily, the four-speed automatic not skipping a beat on the way up. Would it have been trickier in the manual? Perhaps, but all things considered, the strong traction from the AllGrip Pro’s 4H mode, and its light weight, were what allowed Maruti’s minnow to scamper up and over. The Hilux feels like the perfect storm (in this perfect storm), with the best visibility, nice 420Nm of torque, tough chassis and able 4x4 guts. It absolutely dominates the hill, although once again, the light rear end caused some bounce and sideways movement.

Off-road Day: Bonus side slope test

It seemed almost unfair to bore the Jimny and Hilux – titans of off-roading in their own right – with this watered-down (figuratively and literally) obstacle course. The way they simply walked all the challenges, it was only right to give them one slightly harder test. The side slope test, then, makes a triumphant return from last year and is something we wouldn’t even risk attempting with most of the other SUVs. It forces the vehicle into an approximately 30deg lean and then pull itself out of a pit. And just for fun, the field outside the pit was also the side slope of a hill, so exit too hot and it’s game over.

Both vehicles did it of course, but with very different approaches. The Jimny’s lightness came in handy here, but its relative top-heaviness did not. It required quite a few corrections while inside the pit to keep it from tipping, although exiting wasn’t a worry at all with low range engaged. The Hilux had almost the opposite problem, not struggling too much with the slope itself, but being a bit too long to easily exit at the end. After failing once, it mustered all its 2.8 turbo-diesel had to offer to power out, and we were careful not to lock up the wheels after getting out, lest we slide down the side of the hill.

Off-road Day: Conclusion

Now that felt real – challenging, technical and just a little bit tense. It’s the sort of thing you get into recreational off-roading for and also why it’s not for everybody. Some may find the slow pace frustrating compared to a more conventional form of motorsport, while others may find the repeated trial and error exasperating. But for those who are committed, there’s nothing quite like perfecting the technique in a vehicle that’s designed (or modified) to do it. Granted, these people are a small minority, but there are now more than enough SUVs and trucks on the market designed just for this thing.