VW Polo GT TDI to Sandakphu: Can a car take on India's toughest 4x4 trail in the East Himalayas?

Not for nothing has the trail from Manebhanjang to Sandakphu being christened the toughest 4x4 road in the Eastern Himalayas. Leading to the highest peak in West Bengal the track is frequented by trekkers who come to view four of the five highest peaks in the world. The difficulty level is so high the locals use five decade old Land Rovers on this track.
Will a car be able to tackle this route? That’s the question we aimed to answer with the Volkswagen Polo GT TDI. Over the course of two days we faced rain, hail, snow and slush making the task even more daunting. But the Polo amazed us climbing all the way up to 10,500 feet and we only had to turn back due to snow in Sandakphu.
Watch this extraordinary video where we celebrate ten years of the Polo India by muscling it up the 4x4 track in one of the most beautiful regions of India, and against all odds.
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Hosted by Sirish Chandran and using the VW Polo GT TDI that has a 1.5-litre Diesel engine making 108.5bhp and 250Nm mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. This is what The Thrill Of Driving is all about!
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[@abhishekkhewa8191]

I am a polo owner and I drive in these conditions quite often( during monsoon),the car is awesome and never gave me trouble. Your video put a grin on my face. Thanks A PROUD POLO OWNER FROM SIKKIM.

[@pornavobasu8348]

My dream car is Volkswagen Polo

[@napoleon25]

Proud to be a VW Polo owner.

[@dheeraja5649]

Hi, is the ground clearance of polo good enough?

[@abhishekkhewa8191]

@Dheeraj A hi, it depends on your driving style. If you carry the full load of passengers and luggages then the ground clearance poses a few problem, but if you drive around with relatively with few people, the ground clearance is enough. Plus we get 16inch alloys from the company post 2018 and that has improved ground clearance further.👍

[@dheeraja5649]

@@abhishekkhewa8191 Thank you for the reply. I have to travel through some village roads which are always in bad shape. Also, the bumpers in Bangalore are really unscientific, those have been deliberately built to pose the drivers with a hurdle rather than to do their function as speed breakers 😖. I always scratch the underbelly of my bike 😥.

[@thegamersclub8999]

4:47 respect moment to every vw polo car owners

[@IamBoudhayan]

Not much for MPI engines though.

[@franklinpaul2152]

Polo had definitely made it's Mark in India. I still remember the HUGE ADD on newspapers about the mileage claims 🔥🔥

[@Sunil-fg1rf]

The editor of this video needs to be given a hike ! Awesome job

[@jaydochaywalker8099]

For driving 10kms off road, with a crew to clear big rocks?? Moreover the off roads appeared quite civil, mostly cobbled roads.

[@tiger1995grvr]

@UCqAK-dTLtB8Onnzn8iEKdhQ he said editor u moron

[@shreyansvasa9272]

Feeling proud being Polo owner for last 6 years. Tata Punch used same track recently in their marketing campaign. But, this video of Evo, Polo gave me more goosebumps!

[@mayadevi6446]

No in Punch it was a different track

[@evoIndia]

Not for nothing is Sandakphu called the land of Land Rovers! It's one of the more difficult challenges we've accepted: driving a car up a 4x4 track in the Himalayas, but then again that's what the challenge is all about! What do you think of our video, driving the Polo on the Manebhanjang to Sandakphu track?

[@demongodspov7816]

Loved it Sirish, a job well done by your team. Why dont you try a jtp tiago or a nexon and see if they can really stretch their legs?

[@newvidshorts]

I can also do that Nothing special bro

[@yash73721]

Nothing extraordinary...not worth a challenge..an average driver can do that...just come to hills..himanchal uttarakhand you find plenty of such trails apart from famous roads...i go to such places for picnic..with front wheel drive petrol hatchbacks... Seriously evo india..dont fool people

[@beatlife2515]

Says toughest 4x4 trail road, Shows mostly paved roads..

[@abhishekgiri1201]

You have to go there to believe it !! I am from Darjeeling , its actually a trekking range and the moment ur about to reach sandakphu the real ordeal begins more than 60 degree inclines with a rocky trail thats where the fun begins !!

[@jayaram.ramanarayanan]

@@abhishekgiri1201 60degree? We’re asking in real life. Not Hill climb racing!

[@abhishekgiri1201]

@@jayaram.ramanarayanan Yes dats real life not saying for the sake of saying as I said u have to go there to believe it !!

[@ayushrawat4183]

@@jayaram.ramanarayanan yes it’s sometimes more than that and then with the power grip that are your tyres matters a lot

[@kusorarefan6667]

@@jayaram.ramanarayanan 😂"Hill Climb Racing" are yaar

[@raghavendrabs8936]

What an amazing adventure and this video, I don’t know how many times I watched this video. Truly inspiring and I set my mind to take this challenge with my VW POLO. Wish me luck Sirish😄

[@rammohang4760]

A Tata Indica V2 with 68 hp engine coul do the climb you have shown at about the same time and without anyone removing the rocks on the road.

[@newvidshorts]

True man They are just making ads

[@motorportal]

May be .. may be not .. because the ground clearance is even lesser in the Indica than the Polo

[@newvidshorts]

Pranav Rawat only thing is ground clearance You can take any viechle

[@motorportal]

@@newvidshorts yepp ... this journey could have been completed by any car sold in India

[@the_lonerider]

my hometown is in himachal and there is a shortcut to go to my home which includes crossing river beds and ok ok deep and slush and we had a indica before man that car could do tht easily indica had a ok ground clearance with nice torque and yeah at that time santro, 800 , zen and fiat uno use to come so it was still the best choice and it never let us down...🤘 so most of the time its not about cars u can see many supercars owners easily tackle the speed breakers but some cant so its all about the skills...

[@Raw_kay_shh]

Polo is one of the best powertfull hatch backs u can buy in India Only A Volkswagen can build a Volkswagen

[@imsharookcr5665]

Damn right. But everyone fails to understand about VW in India....

[@imsharookcr5665]

Drive other cars and diver polo. Definitely they will say wow for the polo

[@Raw_kay_shh]

Mainly because of the high cost maintenance and most of the VW genuine parts aren’t available outside the authorised service centres

[@MenelRules]

Because they cheat with defeat devices...!

[@psypeggygaming81]

Only volkswagon can build that danm volkswagon🥰🥰🥰

[@midlifecrisis920]

Kalipokhri to Sandakphu is the real deal. Gairbas to Kalipokhri is difficult but does not nearly offer the same challenge. So I would say it was a job 40% done. Would have loved to see at least the Tiguan 4x4 make it all the way.

[@evoIndia]

It started snowing and that meant the Polo with FWD had to turn back. Tiguan would have gone but the challenge was to see how far up the Polo would make it

[@gagan6329]

Is it same trail which was showed by TATA Motors at Tata punch launch and which was covered by Tata punch all the way up?

[@manishmahto1282]

@@gagan6329 yes

[@parasgumber4710]

there is no single shot of car going through slush was waiting for that...

[@adianimates]

The background music is too loud and distracts from the content shown.

[@pawanchandru001]

The lines the build quality and the design, the engine and ride n handling, man why this car should be one of the best cars money can buy 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@fayiz9638]

'EVO'. An applause for your camera work. Your videos are always a visual treat.

[@pavanreddykarri3114]

Polo and figo and punto are best hatchbacks in India..

[@muthulingam3579]

Polo

[@PrajwalLingaraju]

But suprisingly GT is called "hot hatch"!!!

[@newka5472]

Like mindedness, I preciate your thought

[@kaushal21fb]

That nobody buys. :(

[@adnaanpardawala]

Even Jazz is. 1.5 L Diesel has lots of grunt in it.

[@anuragtamta6643]

Polo Most underrated car in indian car market .

[@Edwin-kb8pu]

@@ashishmunghate1524 maruti is shit

[@ranjanmaithani6263]

@@Edwin-kb8pu this is GT version means 22 lakhs for this car. No car in maruti costs this much also. For this price you have many more options

[@rahulasdfg1]

@@ranjanmaithani6263 it's not GTi just gt TDI 10_11 lakh rupees only...

[@saauvikdas7346]

@@ranjanmaithani6263 bekar muu kyu kholta h bhai jb pta nhi h 🤑

[@ashakashyap9196]

Abe chutiya kya bol rha Soch smjh ke toh bol

[@prasadhirnay]

Wow ! A fantabulous car! I think I got my answer about which car to buy!

[@evoIndia]

thank you!

[@saauvikdas7346]

Did u buy the tsi?

[@karthikkumarg441]

Really Superb Polo👌 and editing another level bro.....Polo and Vdo Editng 👌

[@niteshmandara1118]

Im very happy after seeing this video in tuf road bcz Im very much happy with my polo since 2015 still now..its unbelievable performance tq Volkswagen..😍👍

[@swarajdora]

Why are these kind of videos not so popular. 🥺🥺

[@ayushkrish]

Very impressive.... my love increase 10 times more on polo after watching this video.... tq evo

[@saisp8124]

Omg sireesh wr were you,?its because of you I became automotive enthusiast,,glad that u r back 🥰🥰😘😘😘😘

[@ajikps]

Good attempt #TorqueMeister! Would have loved to see the GT making it to the last mile, though.

[@farzandfz1481]

Any car can go anywhere if it has sufficient ground clearance and if the driver knows how to drive.

[@smiles101]

I absolutely agree with you as I spent 4 years on Hills and seen MS 800 also climbing. All you need to know "Drive"

[@Kamalchagla]

Try it before you say something like that

[@BertieJasokie]

@@Kamalchagla Tried, Tested and Confirmed. The Polo is no exceptional car.

[@newvidshorts]

Kamal Chagla bro We have done something special with old Zen. Which you can't even think

[@smiles101]

Don't tell me, I drove the vehicles of different power not 1, not 2, +3 years on hills. Better you try...

[@namami-govinda]

Very powerful video...thanks team evo india.

[@rajeshnair2143]

Oh forgot- you guys rock!! Who would be crazy enough to take the Polo to Sandakphu? Amazing!!

[@ayushapoorva]

Lol amazing reaction that the locals there 😂

[@raj_87]

Love your video and my favourite vw polo🚘

[@MATHEWS_AUGUSTINE]

First of all Thank you EVO INDIA bringing us such wonderful visuals and this reminds me when I took my Alto K10 (2013) to hill stations in IDUKKI DIST, Kerala. Remember Alto has just 90nm torque and nobody was there to any help But that was even more difficult terrains than what you showed in this video. Any way hats off to team Evo India. Look forward to watching more like this in coming days.

[@NishantSharma-cv9ww]

in hills u need skills to drive if u don't know how much u have to rev there is no use of polo tiguan

[@Lifting7999]

Am a polo lover....loved that BGM and it gave me goosebumps... Muwaaaahhhhh polo...❤️❤️❤️

[@reeshavhati]

This gave me goosebumps because I’ve been to Tonglu twice and I never went up higher because of the dangerous road. Congratulations EVO and thank you VW for this amazing machine.

[@SayonBiz]

Respect. Its the POLO GT. Honestly VW Polo and Abarth Punto are the best hatchbacks in India. But they REALLY need to be refreshed now. Its aging for a long time now. its time for the golf or the gti

[@AnkitSaini-ij6wl]

Indians are limited to alto or maruti stuff bro. You know it

[@parijatbarman8395]

I must hats off to your team and the host to drive that terrain. Viewers this is not that easy path. Myself once went on bikes to Sandakphu and while returning own vehicle was not in good condition. Hats off to polo being a 2 wheel drive car it accepted the challenge and completed it. Good job guys.

[@rahuldobhal9037]

Thinking of a trip with my 90 hp 2020 Polo TDI 1.5 , happy to see the video

[@abhijeetmh]

You can dare to take such difficult roads only through Polo, wow, hats off to your courage as well to take it to such difficult road

[@pcadamtaylor4262]

Good video an inspiration for India like the compassion

[@abhijeetanand96]

This is one of the best channel I have came across.They have the diffrent way to review cars.It is unique.I bet that in future they will be successful in gaining views.

[@siangetz8808]

Top notch editing... Video editor deserves a raise.

[@rakeshrak6254]

You have very nice driving Skills . Extraordinary reviews 👌 👏

[@namibiswas6205]

I really enjoy the video vary nice polo is a powerful machine

[@shubhamsakhuja1842]

Awesome POLO .. and Videography is very good.

[@pai9622]

Sandakphu: the toughest 4x4 trail in eastern Himalayas. Arunachal Pradesh: are we a joke to you?

[@xxxxxx-ep9ix]

Exactly...they should come n try our road...

[@manoharsirigere5953]

Hahaha😅🤣😂 funny bro

[@joydip29]

rajen rai They don’t know the terrain at all

[@ExploreWithSandeepG]

The video doesn't do justice to the inclination or angle of climb, so without visiting the place with such an unfamiliar vehicle to this kind of place, judging will not add any value. Thanks

[@mohawkbrown]

It's tough because of the degree of the incline, not the road surface

[@abhishekchelsea]

Its normal in Nepal for hatchback to go in places like that.

[@rajanadhikari6197]

exactly

[@dbj6370]

Reply garni nepali matra ho😂

[@Neonwhite47]

I have taken my Polo GT TSI on muddy tracks many times and never got stuck or lost traction even once

[@dheerajduppalli1453]

and best of all. u can get really good deals on GT TDI in second hand market. this beast has as much torque as a polo GTI. cant say the same about tsi though

[@celebratelife3152]

What a great way to celebrate its 10th anniversary.. 🙂🙂✌✌👌👌

[@tourismhub6668]

Tata punch did this....the Indian Brand....Hence it's the 1st official front wheel car to make Sandakpu ...Hats off Tata

[@abin19861986]

An awesome tribute to an awesome car

[@nandakishorekutti]

I shld appreciate the vw tdi bcos. Our family 4 members were able to ascend kalhatty hills easily and the mangala off roading of arnd 7 to 8km

[@foxyboii]

This channel deserves millions of subscribers

[@rudrakshsaha5936]

I got to sandakfu and thn phalut top with my alto800 Its no big deal...just keep the man machine combo good Local landrover drivers( although all run mahindra engines) create a lot of rumour.Dont listen to them

[@abhisek.lahiri]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@tg1577]

That's my Boy ! Was waiting for someone to comment like you ..Even a nano can go through if u have a good driver and a peaceful mind !!

[@moheetmaurya3728]

Much easier in nano as it is a rear wheel drive with rear mounted engine to give traction at the rear by it's weight.

[@S.Kapfo57]

Yaaa that road is too good compared to what we got in many part of North East.😅 And yes Alto 800 can easily get to that and even further ...

[@newvidshorts]

tejaswy gandham na bhai nano ma bhut mushkil ha

[@KiranKumar512]

Okay, before boasting out, what modification have you done on that polo?

[@sandeepks8380]

With the shown cement/paved roads, I can take my Santro there without any hassle and without removing the rocks like you guys did😂😂

[@mohawkbrown]

Lol.. Lets see how your Santro tackles the inclines.. The surface doesn't matter half as much as the inclines do

[@NishantSharma-cv9ww]

hill driving is only about skills if ur enough skilled then u should take ur santro in these terrains

[@vnm92nx]

Leave santro even nano can do it...these 4×4 guys are those types of guys who says only royal Enfield can beat the Himalayas where's a splendor is good enough for Himalayas 🤣

[@AlexPandianJ]

@@shahanjahan2368 Damn your words are very true and tight slap to them

[@milindkadam2366]

Superb !

[@mehfirmp]

which is the best... automatic or manual

[@DarviGroup]

I'm so happy to own it one. The VW car are the best in market German technology for budget ..

[@vishnuprasadshh2190]

True I am in love with my new polo gt tsi

[@wangyallama5897]

as the tank of gt is 45litrs so, did you carry extra diesel uphill?

[@sibun7113]

This video of Sirish is just awesome. I watch it every month

[@NalinKhurb]

Damn. If it had off roadish tyres, it could make the whole climb. And you guys did not even deflate the tyres lol, amazing

[@AlexPandianJ]

Myself and friends took 2 Swift and a Figo to the chikmangallur and Coorg for wild camping and went across the roads worse than that. All went except Figo which the axle slightly broken. But still we completed the trip and return to Chennai. All the cars loaded with full luggage and 5 members in each. So any car easily can do that and these enthusiasts create much hype for unreliable polo.

[@richardprabhakar]

I just love polo, own a TDI it’s just awesome

[@prawinsanthanaraj3391]

punch with 86 ps power achieved it brilliantly

[@chewangpalzor6980]

Foggy day ma be glass 😂😂👌👌 but video is good

[@mgspec]

Bs that no other car can travel this route.. Alto 800 can and ofcourse the figo diesel rocket..

[@BertieJasokie]

I drive my Wagon R on waaayy shittier roads. Slow crawling with decent GC.

[@madmaxvince]

True.. in hill ranges , the alto is the preferred small car .infact after the Jeep, the alto is the preferred car , even over the softroaders and compact SUVs..

[@mohawkbrown]

Have u taken an Alto 800 up to Sandakphu?

[@tusharathale6521]

I am also using polo. It is a good car and had tried for off road. It performed very well.

[@BalaKalatheeswaran]

My Ford freestyle with traction control and hill hold control will do this without sweating a bit 😅

[@sanysteevenoronha3167]

what if i do it with a tiago? nor a nano?

[@svp_a7497]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ratulrsp]

A POLO GT is a POLO GT. BAAP BAAP HOTA HAI

[@thoughtfulsd]

Is the ground clearance of the polo good enough for driving in the Himalayas?

[@arko966]

where did you guys borrow the music track from?? at @3.05

[@manithrottler]

Polo in an emotion.! you won’t get that feeling with other cars. A proud polo owner :-)

[@Force711]

Nice job Evo. I agree Polo GT TDI is a very good machine. But I reserve to your conclusion 'no other hatchback can do this terrain' you are forgetting Figo diesel and Freestyle diesel. Both got higher ground clearance than Polo and it has amazing power infact for Figo power to weight ratio is better than Polo. Pls do some homework before making such conclusion! There are lot of potential buyers will look up to you when you make such statements. Having said that, kudos to your team having 2*2 to climb a such steep terrain. Impressed!

[@evoIndia]

We have driven the Figo, Freestyle, et all - not on this terrain but those cars are no strangers to us. And it is with that experience in the bag that we make this statement.

[@Force711]

@@evoIndia - End of the day, I will take that as your opinion than just a fact. I hope you guys take constructive criticism in a positive way.

[@AbhinavSingh-xq1wt]

Will it perform same with more than one person in car?

[@Anish79159]

Sir. I have polo because part is very costly. But why and not easy to replace.

[@Rajeshkumar-pt7hf]

When polo update comes to india...european version🤩😘😍

[@abreakeven_trader]

What does altroz diesel compare to this? First time car buyer here looking/waiting for an automatic.

[@hemanthp6999]

Hats off to effort and proud Vw owner Vento we own 😊👍

[@aarsh1902]

How do you a see nexon diesel in this track??

[@techiebanker]

The Figo TDCI can go anywhere the Polo TDI can go

[@rajeshpandian478]

Can I take my Polo GT TSI to leh and Manali?

[@durgeshdilippawar]

Can polo mpi 1.0 2020 trending climb this?

[@wilbursoans8414]

Can the polo high line 1.0 petrol tour like this one...?

[@arindampal4982]

no problem at all with tata nexon also .....only tyre sometimes skidded because of mud

[@irfanzaher1913]

I have a polo GT TDI and everytime I get shoved in my seat with the 250nm torque (stock) combined with the solid build quality and high speed stability, I feel greatful to god that I have chosen the perfect Diesel pocket rocket. These 3 features cannot be found in any other indian hatchback. Just waiting to remap it n grin even more.

[@ashishrana8593]

I hv 1.2 MPI 1st Gen Polo. The riding quality is really awesome. My main concern is that when I hv to visit my village which is near to China border, I can't take my Polo due to low ground clearance & the condition of road is very bad. Due to full load in the car some time it get hit from below.

[@wangyallama5897]

awesome.

[@raghavendrabs8936]

What are tyres used for this Polo Sirish

[@rajeshtk1246]

@evo india Did the GT TDI scrape its belly on its way up to Sandakphu?

[@johy2007]

The last few kms is really (even on foot). If you have not done that, no bragging rights.

[@dileepkhankhan8320]

Interesting

[@sambitparida4370]

This channel is everything Autocar wanted to be.

[@sankhadeepsaha8307]

It would have been an easy peasy crawl with Figo Diesel instead !

[@svp_a7497]

For sure❤️

[@blesson1891]

Volkswagen : our sales way lower what should we do EVO: YES😂

[@neilaloysius3634]

And now this decade old model will sell for another decade .

[@sunandhks9011]

Still they won’t give us 6 speed manual TSI

[@hunny333]

@@sunandhks9011 your wish is complete now👍

[@uttkarsh1953]

@@neilaloysius3634 go for latest baleno (tin can) polo isn't for feature cravers it's for pure enthusiasts

[@kameshwarandevarajan915]

@@sunandhks9011 offered

[@Easyfact001]

Ek hi dil kitni baar jeetogi meri jaan polo 😘😘

[@adityasundar324]

This is a fantastic video. I think Car companies should consider offering AWD hot hatches (something which the Golf R does) . Stamp in an Engine which makes 150-160 horses and price it around 15-16 L OTR, it will definitely sell. AWD not only helps in off road situations but also for spirited driving. I had my hopes raised when MS was testing the S-Cross All-grip, but it never translated to anything fruitful.

[@samiranpal6323]

Impressive

[@durgeshdilippawar]

Can we achieve this with Polo 1.0 MPI?

[@vickyprabhat]

Here after Tata Punch went all the way up to Sandakphu driven by Samantha. Punch really got off-road capabilities.

[@sumeetsamy]

Please try lonavla to rajmachi road during monsoon for best off roading

[@rajeshnair2143]

Would you recommend the GT TSI or the GT TDI? For the enthusiast?

[@TheShivaprasadr]

TSI

[@anujd9082]

Probably a TDI would satisfy the enthusiast more, with better torque and manual shifting.

[@rajeshnair2143]

@@anujd9082 yes even I feel so