Introduction

What comes to your mind first when you hear the word ‘Jeep’? A burly, capable, barebones utility vehicle right? Well, for those who had missed it, Jeep, as generic as that word is, is a brand in itself. A brand that has become so synonymous with off-roaders that an entire segment of cars got named after it. Just like photocopies being called ‘Xerox’, or bottled water being called ‘Bisleri’. Jeep arrived in India last year and their third ever Camp Jeep on the subcontinent was held in Mumbai. A good chance to see the machines in their element, right? Read on.

The trail

Jeepers like taking things head on and so did we. First up was a slope that looked more like a cliff to me, one that I would not be keen on walking down. The most challenging part there was to not touch the brakes. If it wasn’t the instructor issuing the orders, I would be chuckling. But I was holding on for dear life as the wheels went over the edge. If you thought you were in for a long story of how scared I was till we touched down, there is none coming.

That is because there was absolutely no drama. My pulse settled down in a minute as the Wrangler held on to the loose mud like a leech, all by itself. I was holding on to the steering just for the sake of it and we trudged our way down, locking and popping the differentials automatically, the computers working their magic underneath. And then it was a cakewalk all through the course.

None of the obstacles were easy by any means. The rock patches, the climbs, the slopes, the sideways inclines et al were designed to be tough. If you were outside the car and saw it perform the tasks, you would be rather underwhelmed. As I said, there is no drama. There is so much articulation in the suspension that the special articulation course also managed to get only the Cherokee’s wheel airborne.

When you get in the driving seat and you see the obstacles in first person is when you realise how difficult each of those were. I walked out of the Wrangler awestruck with its simplicity and ability. The Grand Cherokee in the other hand is a much more civilized tool. It gets plush leather seats, electric sunroof, LCD screens for the rear passengers and all the luxuries an expensive SUV would have in its tow.

I secretly wanted it to struggle through the course for it is the tony, white-collar car that might not even see dirt in its entire life, exactly like most modern SUVs. But then, when it sailed through all the obstacles with the panache of the Wrangler but also with the finesse of a luxury sedan, I found myself at a loss for words. If you own SUVs or want to own one, you should take time out and see the Jeeps in action. They are like the Sharma Ji ka beta who always does things the way they should be done.