Hyundai, India, Extreme, Corners, Creta, Venue, Exter

Even after a quarter of a century of incessantly driving across the country, we at Autocar India have barely scratched the surface of everything India has to offer. And that should give you an idea of the vastness that we’re dealing with here. We don’t see that as a deterrent, though. Only motivation. This is the fuel we put in our tanks as we set off on our most ambitious challenge yet – driving to all four corners of the country in a stellar line-up of Hyundai’s cars. Right from the freezing cold of Kashmir in the North to the lush green mountains of Kibithu in the East, down to the coastal beauty of Kanyakumari in the South and finally the vast expanses of Kutch in the West – the aim was clear for the Hyundai 4K Extreme Drive.

Autocar India Editor Hormazd Sorabjee and HMIL Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer Tarun Garg (R) flagged off the proceedings.

The Frigid North

– Jay Patil

To start off a drive that has “Extreme” as part of the title is daunting, to say the least. Traversing the extremes of the Northern mountains is indeed a tough task, but thankfully, my partner throughout this would be Hyundai’s superstar, the Creta. All the comfort and features one would need along with all the practicality and safety of an SUV.

We made our way out of Srinagar, bidding farewell to the gobsmacking Dal Lake adorned with shikaras, knowing very well that this would be the most we would see of civilisation.

Left: Mighty Himalayas in every direction, smooth blacktop underneath and the superbly competent Creta mastering it all; Right: The extremely picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar made for the perfect backdrop against which to start such an incredible adventure.

Soon, the first of the challenging sections presented itself – the smooth and level road leading out of Srinagar began to climb and, eventually, led up to the mighty Zoji La pass. Crossing Zoji La, even in fair weather conditions, is never really easy, thanks to a blend of big sharp rocks, massive steep drops, sub-zero temperatures, and, of course, landslides, making this one of the toughest mountain passes in the world. The name ‘Zoji La’ literally means mountain pass of blizzards, and this was something that obviously worried me as I tip-toed my way through the treacherous roads ahead, careful not to smudge the lines between excitement and safety.

A quick stop at the stunning Kargil War Memorial provided a poignant pause on Leg 1.

However, with the Creta in its stride, there was no stopping us, and as always, there was a lovely reward for getting through as we rolled past the town of Dras. The reward was a visit to the riveting Kargil War Memorial, where the Indo-Pak war of 1999 saw 545 Indian soldiers lay down their lives for the country, showing unimaginable amounts of bravery in the face of adversity. The mind is often overcome by an inexplicable feeling, something that doesn’t quite transfer well onto magazine pages when in the company of brave martyrs who gave their lives for something larger than them. One swells with pride and inspiration standing under the waving tricolour, ready for almost anything – and both the Creta and I carried that spirit with us for the rest of our journey. Leh was the next stop, and the pristine road conditions were nothing short of a cakewalk for the Creta. The well-marked roads were the perfect opportunity to make full use of the Level 2 ADAS, which put my mind at ease and helped me focus almost entirely on the breathtaking views that lay ahead.

However, the smooth drive was soon riddled with sub-zero temperatures and high-altitude woes as we approached Hanle, which would also be our halt before taking on Umling La – the highest motorable road in the world. This spectacle is built at a higher altitude than the Everest Basecamp, which is something my sea-level-accustomed brain couldn’t grasp well enough. With my head going slightly light as we continued climbing, I was taking sips of water from my frosted water bottle in an attempt to not let the Creta down. We took off driving further north from an already astonishing 17,000ft, and while I started to struggle with breathing, the Creta, with its naturally aspirated petrol engine and CVT, was unfazed. Once at the top of Umling La, nothing could take away the sense of accomplishment. It’s not every day that you get to say that you are at the top of the world – almost literally. I even felt a sense of pride in the fact that almost no one had ever been at a higher altitude in a car. My lungs soon signalled that it was time to head back down, so I got back in the Creta once again and headed back downhill.

Leh’s vast expanses were best enjoyed behind the wheel of the Creta.

The drive back was like a waterpark slide and everything was at 2x speed. Sarchu, Jispa, Zirakpur, Chandigarh, and Delhi blew by like a prickly sphere of tumbleweed in an old Hollywood Western, and before I knew it, I was handing the car back to Hyundai with some incredible memories and a cheeky grin of being a part of the best leg out of the four.

The Lush Green East

– Simran Rastogi

With massive expanses of green hills and mountains still untouched, Northeast India is always an adventure waiting to unravel. Mine began some distance away, in Gurugram, where I took the wheel of the Creta and pointed it East. The first few days were a far cry from what was to come – flat, smooth highways cutting through the heartland of the nation, and the Creta’s intuitive ADAS features keeping me relaxed and safe. Having feasted on some melt-in-your-mouth galouti kebabs in Lucknow, the landscape began to change once I passed the chicken neck at Siliguri and made my way towards Assam. For one, the lovely aroma of tea leaves began to fill the air, and my surroundings got more and more green with every kilometre.

Above: The aroma of tea leaves filled the air on Leg 2; Below: No trip through Assam would be complete without a visit to Kaziranga.

Of course, no journey through Assam would be complete without a trip to Kaziranga, and with it housing over 70 percent of the world’s one-horned rhinos, we, of course, made some great sightings. With that out of the way, we carried on deeper into the Northeast, with my journey punctuated by local bamboo-shoot smoked meats and spicy Bhut Jolokia pickles, along with sightings of the mighty Brahmaputra river. Speaking of which, I crossed the river a number of times over the course of my drive, and each time was more impressive than the last. Whether it was the unique double-decker Bogibeel Bridge that simultaneously serves both railways and road vehicles, or the mighty Bhupen Hazarika Setu that stretches nearly 10km long, it was nature and technology in perfect harmony.

The double-decker Bogibeel bridge was one of many breathtaking infra projects we drove over.

It was only after passing through the quaint little village of Tezu that I properly started climbing upwards through the thickly forested mountains, setting the scene for what was to come. The Creta effortlessly devoured one hairpin after another, coming alive even more than usual once I slotted it into Sport mode. It was a special moment as I arrived at the Walong War Memorial on the eve of the 62nd Walong Day to mark the triumph of the Indian Army over advancing Chinese troops. A poignant pause on an incredible trip was then followed by something truly unique. Having made the drive up to Kibithu the following morning, I got to experience the country’s very first sunrise that day, from the Easternmost tip of the nation – a very special feeling indeed. While clear skies were not on our side, braving the biting cold winds at Kibithu served as a reminder of how extreme conditions can get, even in the face of unwavering natural beauty.

Deep in the thickly forested mountains of the Northeast, driving alongside glacial rivers.

That morning at Kibithu drove home how diverse our great country is. While one moment we were passing through hamlets cut into the dense forest, the other we were faced with mountains in every direction with a view of China off in the distance. With the second box of this epic nationwide drive ticked off, I headed back to Guwahati, where I handed over the reins not only to a new anchor but also a new car.

The breathtaking scenery around Kibithu stole our hearts.

The Vibrant South

– Zaran Mody

My leg on the Hyundai 4K Extreme Drive saw me driving a car I’d never driven before, on a route I’d never driven before, so there was a buzz of energy in the air as I landed in Guwahati to take the reins of the Exter. It was a slightly strange first couple of days in the East, with the sun setting by 4:30pm and total darkness by 5:15. But while there was daylight, I enjoyed the lush green tea plantations of Assam and the wetlands of West Bengal, before rolling into ever-charming Kolkata. And immediately, the clocks turned back. Driving alongside archaic trams and ancient Ambassadors felt like a real blast from the past, before I set off towards Odisha.

Kolkata’s still-functioning trams are like rolling time machines.

Met by stunning natural beauty at the Chilika Lake, I took some time out to go boating and spot some of the local wildlife, of which there is lots. From this point on, the plan was fairly simple: keep driving South along the coast. I passed through the incredibly picturesque city of Visakhapatnam, stopping to check out an interesting shipwreck on the beach, followed by some unbelievably intricate historical temples in Vijaywada. I then dropped by Hyundai’s sprawling factory just outside Chennai, before finally reaching one of the highlights of my leg. Through these densely packed little South Indian towns and cities, the compact footprint of the Exter really came to the fore, allowing me to slice through narrow lanes and carve through traffic with ease. Despite this, it succeeded at feeling plush and roomy on the inside throughout the journey, making for a great road trip car.

Quaint little fishing villages along the coast added to the charm of South India.

Enjoying some delicious biryani at a Dindigul Thalappakatti restaurant was always on the cards, but I didn’t expect to be able to do it at an outlet just a few kilometres away from the town of Dindigul itself. With that box ticked off, it was onwards to Madurai, where the following morning, after having driven through the city’s fascinating narrow streets and checked out its ancient temples, I treated myself to a traditional filter coffee and masala dosa. I was now on the home stretch to Kanyakumari, but since it was a 4,000+km journey for me, I figured a little detour wouldn’t hurt. And so it was off the highway and on the B-roads to Dhanushkodi, where the incredible beach-side views were like something out of a movie. Having taken in the salty oceanic air and sunk my feet into the pristine sand, I was back behind the wheel and heading South against the backdrop of the many imposing windmills that populate this region. Rolling up to the southernmost tip of the nation and being faced with the iconic Swami Vivekananda statue off the coast, it really felt like the culmination of a truly awesome journey, and one that I reflected on over the final couple of days as I drove up to Bengaluru to hand over the reins for the final leg.

The southernmost tip of the country, Kanyakumari, made for a picturesque end to the third leg of the drive.

The Barren West

– Saumil Shah

It was Shapur who handled the highway stint from Bengaluru to Mumbai, crossing the Atal Setu before finally handing me the keys to the Hyundai Venue on an unusually chilly morning in Mumbai. My stint was definitely not the longest one, but I was especially excited to be the one crossing the chequered flag in Koteshwar – the westernmost point of our country. The first thing I did was point the nose of my car north because while the final destination was Koteshwar, my first stop was in the ancient city of Vadodara in Gujarat. As much as I wanted to get lost in the thought of reaching that ultimate, final extreme, there was the small matter of navigating Mumbai’s morning rush hour first. Thankfully, the Venue’s torquey 1.5-litre diesel engine made light work of the chaos, and before long, I was stretching its legs on the open highway. Sadly, this stretch of highway isn’t quite as pristine as what we had on the other legs, but India is a vast nation and it can’t all be perfect. So I set about navigating the potholes and rough patches that peppered my route, but it wasn’t as much of a challenge as I thought it might be, with the Venue’s balanced suspension setup taking it all in its stride.

Visiting the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara made for a beautiful backdrop.

After eight hours behind the wheel, the city lights of Vadodara finally appeared on the horizon – a welcome sight after a long day on the road. A good night’s rest was in order before the final day of this incredible journey, but not before soaking in the charm of this historic city first. I woke up with the western sun gleaming in my eyes and visited Vadodara’s historic Laxmi Vilas Palace, built by the Gaekwad family – a prominent Maratha family – back in 1890 during the British Raj. Funnily enough, this palace is four times the size of Buckingham Palace, the command centre of British colonial rule all over the world. Ironic, I know. With that fresh dose of patriotism and a full tank in the Venue, I then set off towards Bhuj, inching ever closer to the grand finale of the Hyundai 4K Extreme Drive.

The arrow-straight roads in Kutch were the perfect canvas to stretch the Venue’s legs.

As I drove across the heartland of Gujarat, the state unfolded in all its contrasts – bustling hubs like Ahmedabad and Surat, famed for their industrial prowess, stood in stark contrast to the untouched beauty of places like Gir, home to the majestic Asiatic lion. But the real highlight lay ahead: the legendary Rann of Kutch. Vast, white salt flats stretched endlessly towards the horizon, shimmering under the sun. Rolling into Bhuj, I couldn’t help but think about the city’s resilience. The devastating earthquake of 2001 has left scars that will never fade, yet the region has risen through the rubble like a phoenix emerging from the ashes. If turning adversity into opportunity were a sport, the citizens of Bhuj would be world champions. It is a story of extreme destruction, but more importantly, extreme recovery. With the kilometres flying by, before I knew it, I’d parked up at Koteshwar and was standing by the Arabian Sea. As I took a moment to reflect on the adventure, it really sunk in how different this setting was from the towering snow-capped mountains of Kashmir where we first set off.

The end of a truly awesome adventure as we parked the Venue at Koteshwar after over a month of incredible driving.

And That’s A Wrap

When the idea for the Hyundai 4K Extreme Drive was first brought up, it seemed almost preposterous. Well over 10,000km of driving across the nation, with conditions ranging from sub-zero temperatures to sweltering heat, over all sorts of good and bad roads, and in some cases no roads at all. But very quickly, after the initial shock and awe had worn off, the team did what we always do – rolled up our sleeves and found a way to make it happen. And just look at how it turned out! We touched our borders with two different neighbouring countries, stopped off at every single water body that surrounds us, ate all sorts of wonderful food along the way, spotted all manner of fascinating wildlife and took in some breathtaking views.

And then there are the real soldiers that made it happen – the Hyundai cars. Despite the enormity of the challenge and the vast distances covered, we never once had to stop for so much as a puncture; breakdowns were never even on the back of our minds. Over its 26-year history in our country, the carmaker has surpassed one sales milestone after another, leaving an indelible mark on the Indian market. And now, its cars have conquered all four corners of the country.