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‘Just because you have a big car, does not mean you own the road!’ Aaa… you might want to take those words back if you had a big mean-eyed, bulked up menacing looking car on your tail. Apparently some cars do own the road, purely by their presence alone.
On Indian roads you have to compete with not just cars of various sizes but Frankenstein-like buses, evilly grinning trucks, humungous trailers and more. Pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists are mere pawns in the game of chess that goes on daily on our Indian roads.
We are quite accustomed to this language on the Indian roads, ‘The bigger vehicle always wrestles for the right of the way’. So we decided to take a look at the cars that make one feel so. Here is a list of five cars that you would not want to mess with on Indian roads.
Price: Rs 24.17 lakh- Rs 26.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
The Japanese car manufacturer introduced the Toyota Fortuner to the world with the tagline which said, ‘The world is mine’. We could very well do with some slight alterations to this line to read, ‘This road is mine!’ It’s almost like an elephant trundling down the road and just a simple honk of the horn is enough to get others scurrying from in front it. Trust us when we say this. The tiny roads of Goa almost magically emptied whenever we took the car around. Now that’s called road presence!
Our road test of the Toyota Fortuner should give you a better insight into the other dynamics of this car.
Price: Rs 10 – Rs 14.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
‘A creature of the wild, the Tata Safari Storme is a beast built to be feared and respected. A true explorer at heart, this powerful beast runs free, refusing to show mercy to any terrain.’ This is how the Tata Motors’ page describes the SUV. Sheer muscle power and brute presence lend it this reputation. Watch it on the roads and you will know what we are talking about. Its imposing presence makes it a favourite with the politicians as well. It’s a great weapon for tearing through crowds. Even the Indian Army has taken a liking to this SUV and has included it in its fleet. Oh! Well, how can we forget Rohit Shetty’s film Singham Returns advertising this beast.
For more on this 4x4 read our experience with the Tata Safari Storme
Price Rs 8.69- Rs 13.45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
Since we are on the filmy trail before the Tata Safari Storme figured alongside the hero in Rohit Shetty’s movies, the Bollywood director had cast the Mahindra Scorpio in his movies. Chasing baddies in this car made helluva great impression. No wonder politicians love this car as well. The Scorpio was also listed as one of the bids to be enlisted as part of the Army fleet because of its sturdiness and size. And now with the new Scorpio in the market, the car has gone through an image makeover. It looks mean and more badass than ever before. Even mean truckers respect it on the roads. It has the image of being a bully and as far as we’ve observed no nervous autorickshaw or speeding biker wishes to be on the wrong side of one. It’s presence at night is equally intimidating; one look at those menacing eyes in the night and the roads are cleared.
Read our impressions about the new Mahindra Scorpio here. You can watch it in action here.
Price Rs 11.19-Rs 15.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
It has been called the car with the macho appeal. The XUV500 in profile is all muscle akin to a bodybuilder on steroids. The large visible wheel arches and the crease at the waist level along with a similar smaller line at the door sill level lends credence to its machoness. The mHawk engine that it is powered with only goes to show how the car operates when speed is on the driver’s mind. And a smaller car better stay out of its way when its in one of these rages.
Price Rs 64.71 – Rs 87.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
The car’s external appearance makes it a formidable force on the road. The shoulder line for example helps to reinforce its wide and muscular stance and its bold and powerful appearance is only heightened by the wheel options. All external aspects especially its headlights work in its favour sending forth the message ‘stay clear’.
Watch our review of the Audi Q7 here.
Special mention:
MARUTI SUZUKI OMNI (with full tinted windows and curtains)
This car is a favourite of the Hindi movie industry as well as the numerous criminal gangs operating in the country. Omnis with tinted windows have now become synonymous with kidnapping. As the movies have been showing, heroine walking on the road, a beaten old Omni drives up alongside her, a door slides open, a pair of hands shoot out and the girl vanishes into the open van. Next shot, an Omni with tinted windows is seen screeching away from the scene of the crime. Need we say more?
