Daddy's Day Out: Jeep Trails Goa '24

I prefer south Goa over the north because I'm not a party animal and my vacation itineraries always include a minimum 10 hours of sleep and unhealthy food. I like to stay away from north Goa because of the army of people who come for endless partying and burning big holes in their pockets at the casinos. The Jeep Trails invite was the perfect getaway for me to unwind and relax, especially since it was a day after my birthday.

The first day was relaxing, unlike other Jeep Trails’ events held over the years that were really driving focused and intensive. They tried to keep the driving to a minimum in this iteration, and focus more on the lifestyle and experience, which is fair because the owners are already driving a few hundred or thousand kms to reach Goa from their hometowns. Over sunset, the driver briefing was held where the instructions and rules were made clear and the route was explained. The DOT 4x4 trail was the one I was most excited about, because it was a specially curated trail only for Jeep, and it’s also where the first media drive for the Jeep Compass happened in 2017. The owners shared their experiences with their Jeeps and why they prefer the brand. None of the guys looked like hardcore off-roaders but I knew that their cars were very capable and they were up for a fun weekend.

A total of 12 owner cars were present at the event, and aligning with the safety and experience, Jeep had a support vehicle for each owner car. So there were 12 support vehicles which included – Wranglers, Meridians and Compasses. More than the Wrangler Rubicon, I wanted to drive the Grand Cherokee but alas, they didn’t have a media car of their flagship SUV in India. Not that the Rubicon was a bad deal, by any measure. Our day started off with a short 20km drive to a church in South Goa, which was almost 450 years old and had beautiful architecture. Then we headed over to Cabo-de Rama, which was about another 20km away, to a cafe called Cape Goa for breakfast. The view from the cliff-side cafe looked straight out of a movie.. From there, we had a short two-hour drive to the off-road trail curated by Jeep, known as DOT 4x4. The two-hour haul included tarmac, dirt trails, and corners where we tested the Wrangler’s possibilities with different modes.

At the DOT 4x4 trail, we had lunch first and then started our expedition. I lined up quickly right behind the lead car, because I wanted to power through obstacles to really see how good the machine is, and also not be stuck behind the owners that might take it a bit easy. The Wrangler floated over everything, almost making me feel like it’s just a bad patch of road in Pune. To my surprise, the Compass and the Meridian with their owners behind the wheel almost kept the same pace on the trail as my Wrangler. We tested articulation, steep climbs and water wading, where I engaged the rear- diff lock, the 4L mode and of-course put the sway bar disconnect into action. The diff-lock engage notch has a great button feel to it, and these are really the things that make a car so different. The hard-top roof, unlike the Thar, is super easy to use. Just twist four latches and it pops off and comes back on as well the same way. We did the trail twice, once with the convoy and a second time where only my Rubicon and a 4x4 Meridian with a Jeep official went. This time around, the Jeep official had to show-off a bit didn’t he? Considering how much he trusts the car and us journalists as well, we kept a good pace through the obstacles. I was a bit hesitant at first to go this fast, but because he was in front of me and I could see him do it in a Meridian, I knew the Wrangler would do it better, and with bells and whistles. My daily drive is a Ford Endeavour, which I occasionally take off-road as well, but the Wrangler Rubicon just feels so different. The handling may not be as good, but the outright capability of the 4x4, diff lockers and sway bar disengage puts it in another league. Oh, and the presence. Nothing comes close. If I ever replace the Endy, a Rubicon it is.

On our way back, we decided to drive the Compass, which my co-driver and I hadn't driven yet. The cabin was plush and opulent, with the large infotainment screen and black leather interior. The drive felt comfortable at cruising speeds, suspension was soft but felt planted on the road and overall felt like a competent SUV. Worth the price? If you are an avid off-roader who wants a capable mid-size SUV, then definitely worth the price. After reaching our hotel in the evening, we got ready for a midnight dinner on a yacht. Even though Jeep is an automotive company, it knows how hospitality works. Their aim of promoting themselves as a lifestyle brand aligns with events and experiences like these, with well- thought activities, quality control and planning a great getaway.

How was my ultimate experience? The idea of living with the Wrangler came true for me, and it being as iconic as it is, still sticks true to its roots. Being a journalist and an off-roader, I would’ve liked a much tougher obstacle course, especially when you’re in a Rubicon. Jeep is heading in the right direction with these experiences – so much of the allure of the brand is about freedom and adventure and they’re tapping in to those very sentiments on a drive like this.I would love to go for another Jeep Trails experience. Zanskar Valley in a Grand Cherokee. Time to manifest this dream.