Throughout the pandemic and lockdowns, we have not missed even one print issue

Welcome to the 5th Anniversary issue of the magazine.

Never could we have imagined the situation that we find ourselves i n this September. The pandemic that the world has been battling for the major part of the year seems to be on the upswing in our country as we inch closer to the 1 lakh daily new infections with each passing day. The automotive industry is struggling to find its feet even as the tried and trusted brands make a comeback and reach the already low benchmarks set in 2019. The brands that don’t have small cars or new offerings or are perceived as boutique are still struggling, failing to match even last year’s performances.

We have been busy driving one of the most anticipated though niche vehicles in the industry – the 2nd generation Mahindra Thar. Mahindra has widened its mass-market appeal, made it modern and comfortable but tried to retain its basic styling and off-road capabilities that have made it iconic. Also driven this month is another highly anticipated SUV that has the potential to be a game-changer in its segment especially after the runaway success of its bigger sibling last year. Yes, we have driven the Kia Sonet and have the first drive report in this issue along with two comparison tests, lots of anniversary special features as well as some more SUVs – VW’s T-Roc, Renault’s Duster turbo and the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross that had been lying dormant ever since the company shunned diesel engines and now makes a comeback in its petrol avatar.

Throughout the pandemic and throughout the lockdowns, we have not missed even one print issue of the magazine and continue to make it available in a digital edition as well, free to download. Whatever might be your cup of tea, there is a whole lot of flavours this month as well and till the next cuppa, stay safe and as more and more of us get back on the roads, stay belted and always wear a helmet if you are on a two-wheeler.