India, April 3 -- A Delhi to Manali drive is one of those routes that exposes every weakness in a car. Long highway stretches, broken hill roads, steep climbs and unpredictable traffic demand a mix of comfort, torque and confidence. Here are five cars I would actually trust for this trip.

The XUV 7XO is easily one of the strongest all-rounders for this route. With both petrol and diesel options on offer, it gives you flexibility, but the diesel is the one you want for this drive thanks to its torque and relaxed cruising ability. Moreover, you can also get an all-wheel drive system with the diesel engine. I would highly recommend the automatic gearbox instead of the manual one because of the traffic conditions.

What makes it stand out is...