Best Cars for Long Drives from Vijayawada — Which One Should You Rent?

The Maruti Swift is India's most popular hatchback for a reason. On flat highway drives — and Vijayawada to Hyderabad on NH65 is one of the flattest, smoothest highways in the country — the Swift is genuinely hard to beat. It is light, responsive, fuel-efficient, and comfortable enough for 4–5 hours of continuous driving without feeling like punishment.

At 20–23 kmpl on the highway, a Vijayawada to Hyderabad trip (275 km) costs about ₹1,650 in petrol at current prices. Return journey included, you spend roughly ₹3,300 on fuel. That is cheaper than most cab fares for the same route — and you have the car to yourself all day.

The Swift's 1.2L petrol engine has adequate grunt for highway overtaking, and the suspension is tuned for comfort rather than sportiness — which means you will not feel every road joint through your spine on a long run. The AC is strong, which matters in Andhra Pradesh temperatures.

Where the Swift struggles is boot space (268 litres is tight for 4 people with overnight luggage), and ghat roads expose its 163mm ground clearance as genuinely limiting. Do not take a Swift to Araku. Do not take a Swift to Tirumala if you can avoid it. But for the Highway 65 run to Hyderabad, the coastal drive to Chennai, or the flat stretch to Ongole? It is the perfect tool.

If you are renting one car and you are not sure exactly what the road will be like, rent the Creta. It is the most popular self drive car booked from Vijayawada for good reason — it does everything well without being exceptional at any one thing. And on long drives, that versatility matters.

The 190mm ground clearance means you can handle the Araku ghats comfortably, including the rougher approach sections near Borra Caves. The 433-litre boot swallows 4 people's overnight bags without drama. The turbocharged 1.5L engine has strong midrange torque for highway overtaking and confident ghat climbing. The cabin is genuinely comfortable — wide seats, good headroom, a well-damped ride that doesn't transmit road imperfections harshly on long stretches.

The Creta's highway fuel economy of 16–19 kmpl is not as impressive as the Swift, but it is more than acceptable given the extra capability you get. On a Vijayawada to Hyderabad run, the Creta costs roughly ₹2,200–2,600 in fuel compared to the Swift's ₹1,650 — a difference of about ₹600–900, which most people are happy to pay for the extra space and comfort.

There are cars. And then there is the Toyota Innova Crysta. For a family pilgrimage from Vijayawada to Tirupati, for a multi-generational road trip with grandparents in the second row, for any journey where 7 people need to arrive feeling like they just had a comfortable flight — the Innova Crysta is the answer that has not changed in 20 years.

The diesel engine is what makes the Innova irreplaceable on ghat roads. The 2.4L diesel produces 360 Nm of torque — nearly double the Creta's figure — which means the Tirumala ghat road, with its steep gradients and sharp switchbacks, is handled in a relaxed, planted manner rather than with the anxious revving a petrol SUV might need. Engine braking on the descent is strong and predictable. The Innova does not feel stressed on any ghat in Andhra Pradesh.

The second and third row seats are where the Innova separates from the competition. They are genuinely car-seat wide, with enough legroom for adults to sit comfortably for 5–6 hours. Elderly passengers — who are a significant part of any Tirupati pilgrimage — find the Innova's tall doors, high ride height, and easy entry/exit significantly more comfortable than any SUV.

The trade-off is daily rate (₹4,500) and fuel economy (12–15 kmpl). On a Vijayawada to Tirupati return trip, the Innova costs roughly ₹3,200–4,000 in diesel. Split across 7 people, that is ₹450–570 per person — arguably the cheapest comfortable transport available for that route.

The Mahindra Thar is not for everyone. It has the highest daily rate, the lowest fuel economy, and rear seats that are not designed for comfort on a 6-hour drive. But for the right trip — and there are very specific trips where the Thar is the only answer — it is an experience no other car delivers.

Araku Valley is the Thar's home turf from Vijayawada. The route from Vizag to Araku (the approach most people take) involves 36 km of Eastern Ghats ghat road with 52 curves. The forest roads near Borra Caves and the approach to Padmapuram Gardens have sections that make hatchback drivers genuinely nervous. The Thar's 226mm ground clearance, 4WD system, and 300 Nm diesel torque turns all of this into fun rather than fear.

If you are a group of 4 people who want an adventure trip — not a family pilgrimage — and you are going to Araku, Borra Caves, Papikondalu approach roads, or the forest areas near Nallamala, the Thar adds an energy to the drive that no crossover SUV can match. The open-top option (when weather permits) on ghat roads is genuinely one of the best driving experiences in Andhra Pradesh.

Do not take the Thar to Tirupati as your primary vehicle for a family pilgrimage — the rear seating is too compact for elderly passengers and the fuel cost is high. And do not take it if you are 5 or more people. But for 3–4 adventurous travellers heading to the Eastern Ghats, it is the car that makes the story.

The Innova Hycross is the most technologically advanced car in our long drive fleet. Its strong hybrid system delivers 21–23 kmpl in mixed driving — extraordinary for a 7-seater. On the Vijayawada to Hyderabad highway run, the Hycross can complete the trip on about ₹1,800–2,000 of petrol. For a car that seats 7 people in genuine premium comfort, that fuel efficiency is remarkable.

The cabin is where the Hycross earns its premium positioning. The panoramic sunroof transforms any highway drive — watching the Krishna River landscape pass overhead on the way out of Vijayawada, or the ghats opening up near Araku — it is simply a better experience than any other 7-seater offers. Noise insulation is exceptional; the hybrid powertrain means the engine is barely audible at highway speeds. Second-row captain's chairs in the ZX variant are the best seats of any car we operate.

The Hycross is better than the Crysta on highways and for passengers who prioritise comfort. It is marginally less capable on very steep ghats compared to the diesel Crysta — the hybrid's naturally aspirated 2.0L petrol makes less torque than the Crysta's diesel. For Tirupati ghats it is completely fine. For Araku ghats it handles well. For serious off-road, the Crysta diesel has the edge.

If the NH65 to Hyderabad is your route and fuel cost is your primary concern, the WagonR CNG is the most economical long drive option in the entire fleet. At 32–34 km per kg of CNG and CNG prices around ₹82/kg in Vijayawada, the cost per 100 km works out to roughly ₹75–80 — less than half the petrol equivalent.

A Vijayawada to Hyderabad one-way trip (275 km) costs approximately ₹2,100 in petrol at ₹108/litre for a petrol hatchback. The same trip in the WagonR CNG costs roughly ₹660. On a return trip, you save about ₹2,900 in fuel. That is a meaningful number.

The CNG WagonR is not a driver's car. The 1.0L CNG engine has adequate power for flat highways but will feel strained on inclines or when fully loaded. CNG also reduces boot space because the CNG cylinder sits in the luggage area — factor this in if you are carrying more than 2–3 bags. And CNG filling stations between Vijayawada and Hyderabad are reasonably spread, but you need to plan your stops — do not assume you can fill anywhere.

The WagonR's upright body gives it surprisingly good headroom and front seat comfort despite its small footprint. For two people on a 4–5 hour highway run with light luggage and a tight budget, this is a genuinely sensible car.

The Toyota Fortuner is what you rent when the destination is not the only thing that matters — when the drive itself needs to feel significant. It is India's most recognisable premium SUV, and on the open highway from Vijayawada, it owns the road with a presence that no other car in this list matches.

The 2.8L diesel engine produces 204 PS and 500 Nm of torque — the most of any non-sports vehicle we operate. Highway overtaking is effortless, ghat climbs are relaxed, and the Fortuner's body-on-frame construction gives it a planted, unshakeable feel at 120 km/h that monocoque SUVs simply cannot replicate. Long-distance fatigue is minimal.

The premium cabin — leather seats, a premium sound system, ventilated front seats in higher variants — makes 6–8 hour drives feel shorter than they are. The 220mm ground clearance means the Fortuner goes everywhere the Thar goes, with more passenger comfort and more boot space.

The Fortuner makes most sense for: corporate travel where the car needs to project seriousness, a special occasion road trip (anniversary, milestone), a group of 5–7 who want the best possible experience and are splitting the cost, or anyone doing a long multi-day circuit and wants a car that handles every road with confidence.