First Time Off-Roading, And It Had To Be The Jeep Wrangler!

To all those reading, welcome to my diary! This chapter is about the time when I had the first ever off-roading experience at “Camp Jeep”, conducted in Film City, Goregaon. 

I have been a proper car enthusiast since early childhood, someone who could tell a V6 from a V8 right and recognize cars just from their tail lights. While I have been an avid sedan enthusiast, an SUV’s appeal and ruggedness delights my heart. 

When I got to know about Camp Jeep, an off-roading event, it hardly took me a second to say yes to my manager, who asked me if I was available on Saturday for an event. Usually, I like my Saturday mornings to be slow and if someone tries to wake me up early it feels a personal attack, but the thought of stepping inside a Jeep and exploring the wild made waking up at 7 AM a rather easy and exciting task. Who knew excitement could replace an alarm clock?

So here’s how my Saturday morning unfolded, and a mere call from my manager turned out to be an opportunity to have an experience that would give me a whole new perspective! 

The Reception

Well, inside Film City, very close to the countless Bollywood movie sets and some popular TV show sets, I reached the location. A welcoming setup with the capable Wrangler on one side and the Grand Cherokee on the other, the vibe felt lively, and there was passion in the eyes of the Jeep team dressed in uniforms with Jeep logos. 

There was a lovely breakfast setup at the event, and usually, I am someone who gets tempted seeing plenty of food options right in front of me. But in this case, the excitement of getting behind the wheel kept me full. That being said, I couldn’t resist having a cup of chai before the adrenaline-fueled drama unfolded. 

Which Car Would You Pick? 

Our first task was to register for the event, and the Jeep team asked me a simple question: Which car would you pick for the experience? Without having to think about it, I opted for the Jeep Wrangler! What were the other options? Well, one could choose from the Compass, Meridian, and the Grand Cherokee as well. 

While the other cars on the list are capable, the Wrangler, of course, cannot be matched, and I wanted to experience the beast, trying to understand why it is one of the best off-roaders currently. 

A Little About The Wrangler 

The Wrangler is Jeep’s off-roader SUV, known to be among the best in the business. It is priced between Rs 67.65 lakh and Rs 73.24 lakh, over three times the price of a Thar Roxx! Yes, the Wrangler is expensive, but is truly for those who dare to stand out from the crowd and own an SUV that satisfies the enthusiast inside them. 

The engine is a true delight for petrolheads, featuring a capable 2-litre turbo-petrol unit that puts out 270 PS/ 400 Nm. That’s more than enough grunt to ensure that it doesn't get stuck anywhere. But engine power is not all you need and the gruntful unit is also complemented by several off-roading hardware. 

It features multiple off-road modes, a low-range transfer case, electronically disconnectable sway bars and locking differentials. Furthermore, it also sports a Gorilla Glass windshield, providing additional protection if things go south during your off-roading trails. With the technical specs out of the way, let’s get going…

It Began

I was guided inside a shiny red Wrangler, accompanied by an off-road specialist instructor. While I am someone who likes sleek low-slung sedans that go fast, he was someone who prefers butch SUVs that drives (or rather crawls) on all four wheels.  As I sat inside and adjusted the seating to my position, I told my instructor that it was my first time going off-road, and he replied, “Don’t worry, you’ll be good”. This made me feel settled and somehow more comfortable in my seat. I cranked up the Jeep, in a rather un-Jeeply manner. A simple touch of the push-button and I was already thanking Darwin, who said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change…”

As we approached the first challenge, my instructor slotted the Wrangler into 4 Low, set the hill descent control to 10 kmph, and asked me to just focus on the steering wheel to get an idea of how efficient the Wrangler’s hill descent control is. While the terrain was really steep, the Wrangler succeeded in effortlessly braking at the right time, showcasing that technology can truly make your life much easier! I was left awestruck and impressed already, but decided to keep my emotions in check and focus on the…

Challenges Ahead 

After that, the instructor turned off the hill descent control, leaving me to control the Jeep on my own. I manoeuvred through the various rocky terrains and challenges, realising how effortlessly the Wrangler was able to manage the obstacles.

As things started to look easy, the most difficult challenge was right in front of us, just 50 metres ahead — a 50-degree incline! To conquer it, I took a deep breath and first visualised how the car and I would be able to reach the top without any difficulty. I did my part and tried to best judge the corners of the SUV, and slowly started to give throttle inputs. 

One thing I was totally impressed by was the Wrangler’s low-end torque, which meant we could surpass most of the challenges at just 1,500 rpm! While the steep incline felt scary at first, we were able to successfully complete the challenge without breaking a sweat. 

After this challenge, there were some minor adventures before we reached the endpoint of our trail. 

After completing it, there was a sense of accomplishment and relief inside me. While the trail was not really beginner-friendly, it is something that could be done by the average driver with some level of driving skills. Also, kudos to my instructor, a fine gentleman who made my experience wholesome and a lot easier! 

Another Experience Awaits!

Once I got done with my experience in the Wrangler, I heard someone say that we can register again. A round two? Listening to this made me feel even more excited, as I quickly went and registered myself, this time opting for the Grand Cherokee. I thought to myself that I have now experienced off-roading in a no-nonsense and indescribable off-roader, now let’s try doing it in a luxury SUV, which is meant to be sophisticated. 

Meet The Grand Cherokee!

Powered by the same engine as the Wrangler, the Grand Cherokee was completely different in other aspects. Welcomed by its luxurious cabin and rich materials, I first didn't feel like taking it off the tarmac, because it is not really meant for that, and someone who is going to end up buying a Grand Cherokee won’t really fancy taking it off-road. The Grand Cherokee being the flagship Jeep in India showcases the brand’s true strength and capability, thereby enhancing the brand image. Being a CBU, it is pricey but its combination of luxury and off-road capability truly makes it a proper all-rounder. 

The long bonnet of the Grand Cherokee does make you feel a bit intimidated at first, but as you start driving, you get used to it. As we began the trail, my instructor reminded me that the Grand Cherokee being a LWB version (Globally also available as a 2-row SUV in the short-wheelbase avatar) required more care and precaution around corners and sharp turns. 

Even though the Grand Cherokee and other SUVs like the Compass and Meridian had an easier route when compared to the Wrangler, there were different sets of difficult challenges, including axle articulation zones and steep ramps, created to test the SUV and the driver to the limit. 

Above is a picture of the steep incline and decline challenge, which initially looked very nerve-wrecking but turned out to be very exciting and satisfying. The adrenaline rush inside me made me quickly approach the ramp without worrying too much. I tried to position the wheels of the car correctly and successfully managed to reach the top, keeping my hands as steady as I could. After reaching the top, I could hardly see what was in front of me and had to initially rely on my judgement and the 360-degree camera to show me where the tyres were. After reaching the ground, I exhaled a sigh of relief and realised that it wasn’t as difficult as it looked!

While the Wrangler felt like it was meant for such adventures, the Grand Cherokee felt slightly out of place. Don’t get me wrong! The Grand Cherokee was easily able to tackle all the challenges and is a supremely capable SUV. So if you occasionally decide to take your Grand Cherokee off-road, you won’t need to worry about getting stuck. However, its large dimensions and plush cabin aren't best suited for your trails. 

A Wholesome Interaction 

After completing my second off-roading drive, I met my senior, who was about to begin his drive in the Jeep Compass. He insisted that I accompany him, and I took the back seat as the Compass’ engine roared to life and we buckled our seatbelts. 

As we were about to begin our drive, a young kid, probably around 10 years old, joined the backseat with me. As the Compass tackled all the obstacles without hesitation, I started explaining to the kid how the various features of the SUV work and he too was very eagerly listening to my explanations.

During my interaction with the boy, about off-roading and cars in general, I could see the spark in his eyes and the willingness to learn in his heart! Interacting with him reminded me of a younger version of myself, from being a young boy fascinated about cars to having a career that revolves around them. 

After the drive concluded, he was reunited with his parents and gladly started explaining his time in the Compass to his folks. 

Dirt. Grit. Glory. 

“Go Anywhere. Do Anything”, the popular Jeep tagline, would be the best way to summarise my experience at Camp Jeep. One thing is for sure that Jeep builds authentic SUVs that don’t fear travelling off the beaten path. The trail was not about speed, but rather about precision and careful moves. Such experiences provide you with a whole new outlook on off-roading and the capabilities of off-road SUVs like the Wrangler. 

Watching an off-roading video on YouTube or a scene in a movie v/s actually driving on uncharted trails are two completely different things. When you're behind the wheel, you feel all the sensations, while you keep going ahead in anticipation and excitement of what’s next! 

As a beginner in the world of off-roading, this experience did not just give me a story to tell, but also taught me a lot about the skill. My adventurous Saturday morning taught me that off-roading is not going fast; it is about maintaining the pace.  

The well-trained instructors taught me the importance of giving constant throttle inputs and the significance of knowing where all four wheels of your car are. Moreover, I was also impressed by the importance of technology. Features like hill-descent control, and 360-degree camera add an extra layer of safety and protection to ensure utmost caution. 

The off-road camp was not just for media representatives, but also for customers who are interested in buying a Jeep SUV, or just want to explore the capable machines off-road. And the cherry on top? It was a completely free camp for potential or existing customers. 

If you have an off-roader at home, I urge you not to just use it as a mall crawler, but to occasionally take it out in the wilderness, where it truly belongs. I left the place with a big smile on my face (larger than the Wrangler’s grille), wanting to do it all over again, or simply just go for another round! The experience gave me a high that lasted for over a day, but also memories that I would cherish forever. Now if I ever see a Wrangler on our roads, I am sure I will be transported back to the day. 

If my manager is reading this, I need more such experiences! Please sign me up :)