Off-road heroes

Ride where you fear to walk. The author suggests three hardcore machines that will ensure your safety as you head into the wilderness in the summer

Come summer and it's time to head to the rugged countryside, preferably in the hills. Leaving the smoothness of macadammed roads behind would be fun - bumping along rock-strewn dirt tracks and crossing mountain streams is a visceral experience. And for such an adventure, you would need a sturdy sports utility vehicle, or SUV. Caution: many crossovers or even big hatchbacks on stilts claim to be the ultimate in off-roading vehicles.

But yes, they are just claims. Modern-day SUVs are not just about tackling challenging terrains, they are also built to provide comfort and come with top-notch safety features, besides the manners of a city-bred vehicle. Forget your Innovas and Endeavours, you would want a real off-road hero. But you'd have to be realistic about the costs. Adventure with a touch of class comes at a price. Here are three hardcore mudpluggers that will leave you impressed.

MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS G63 AMG

The G-Wagen has been in production for over 33 years and the German army swears by it. Retaining its right-angle design, the new G63 AMG has a twin-turbo bison of a heart, a 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine, which is capable of a mindboggling 544 BHP. Due to its brawny image, the G-Wagen was used for stunts in A Good Day to Die Hard where the SUV fell from a great height and not only managed to survive but ensured, due to its advanced safety features, that the stuntman walked out unhurt.

The SUV was dubbed as "Hero Car" by the crew. The G-Class is equipped with all-wheel drive which has a 2-speed transfer case and an extraordinary three locking differentials. This makes sure that all terrains and conditions are tackled with ease. With its 7-speed automatic transmission, the G63 AMG offers the widest span of gear ratios of any SUV.

So whether you are crawling down a steep hill or cruising on the highway, there's an optimum gear for the situation. However, be warned, due to its non-aerodynamic designing, the G63 AMG is not the smoothest SUV when taking corners. Also being a petrol vehicle, it's all downhill when it comes to mileage. So if you own an oil field then look no further as this old-school SUV is built like a tank and will take you places where people won't even dare to walk.

Engine: 5461 cc
Power: 544bhp@5,500 rpm
Torque: 760 Nm@2,000 rpm
0-100km: 5.4 seconds
Ground clearance: 196 mm
Price: Rs 1.5 crore (ex-showroom)

JEEP WRANGLER

This is a must-buy vehicle for fun-loving, adventure seekers. Yes, there is an uncanny resemblance between the Wrangler and the Mahindra Thar, but the Jeep is wider and larger in size. Wrangler's coil-spring suspensions provide the appropriate cushion to tackle, while the anti-spin rear differential keeps the wheels moving on rocky terrain - or wherever you take it.

The electronic rear-locking differential gives the Wrangler better control whether traveling on- or off-road. The high ground clearance allows it to ride over stony roads without a hiccup. The cabin, unlike its Indian cousins, is not bare basics. The ride quality has been improved for city driving but it still has a tendency to wallow. Perhaps its extreme off-roading pedigree is at fault here.

In India, the Wrangler will be powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine which will churn out a healthy 197 BHP. It will not score big points in the refinement department, but then if you are in the woods, the Wrangler will only add to the atmosphere of ruggedness. The Wrangler will soon be launched in India and it is expected to be priced in the region of Rs 20-30 lakh.

Engine: 2776 cc
Power: 197bhp@3,600 rpm
Torque: 460 Nm@1,600 rpm
0-100km: 10.6 seconds
Ground clearance: 231 mm
Price: To be launched

RANGE ROVER SPORT

This legendary SUV has always been one of the foremost all-terrain vehicles and travels beyond where the roads disappear. The company's philosophy is to be the best on all terrains. The 2013 Range Rover has shed some serious weight, 317 kg, which is approximately equivalent to the average weight of four large Indian men. So what's the secret? Liposuction? Not quite. It's the use of aluminium for the rigid frame and most of the body panels.

This is a first in the SUV segment. Aluminium is more the preferred metal for luxury sport sedans. This definitely makes the Ranger Rover Sport more agile. This third- generation Rover's air suspension ensures that it is capable of soft or stiff damping depending on the road conditions. It takes sharp turns with ease due to the dynamic response-active anti-roll bars which considerably reduce the body roll.

The new brakes ensure that the 2.4 tonner slows to a halt with an effortless touch on the pedal. The Ranger Rover comes with a feature called Terrain Response 2, which tells the driver when to raise the ride height of the suspension or select low range for the transmission.

Land Rover's system for electronic calibration of the engine, transmission, center differential and suspension for off-roading has been made even more sophisticated, it can adjust these settings automatically. The flagship, the Autobiography, is powered by 4.4-litre V8 diesel engine that generates 335 HP and 700Nm of torque. This huge power means the Range Rover is more than capable of traversing mountain roads or untamed tracks. This SUV also has all the comforts of a limousine.

Engine: 4,367 cc
Power: 335bhp@3,500 rpm
Torque: 700 Nm@1,750 rpm
0-100km: 6.9 seconds
Ground clearance: 295.5 mm
Price: Rs 2.38 crore (ex-showroom)