Volvo 9400 series 12m & 14.5 metre luxury coaches

Remember the days of yore when bus rides were a trip to hell in India? While we blamed potholed roads for those uncomfortable back breaking journeys, we never really blamed the obsolete technology that went with the buses of those days. Nobody really knew that buses in India were built on truck chassis, with engines mounted in the front, with both sound and fury and smoke and heat, all dissipating within the passenger cabin, sending many of the passengers into bouts of nausea and sickness.

All that changed when Swedish truck and bus maker Volvo came into India at the turn of the 21^st century. People in India then realised that travelling in a bus meant a journey to heaven. For the first time Indian bus rides were undertaken in buses built on bus chassis which gave as much comfort as travelling in your favourite sedans. Not only passengers were happy with their rides, but drivers too were pleasantly surprised with the ease at which the buses handled and the incredible steering response generated while driving the buses.

Thus, when Volvo Buses invited us to drive two of their mammoth luxury coaches that were launched recently, we readily agreed. The test was conducted at a track within their plant in Hoskote in Karnataka.

I drove the 12 metre 8 litre vehicle first. The engine was mated to a 6 speed synchromesh manual transmission. Except for getting used to its size, there was almost nothing that was different from an ordinary sedan. It offered power steering, adjustable steering wheel, and a whole host of controls that aided driving and braking well. All one had to get used to was how to corner the vehicle, which ultimately proved easy thanks to those massive outside rear view mirrors. Driving on a straight road was as easy as pedalling a bicycle in a park. The same went for the 14.5 metre bus which was powered by an 11 litre diesel engine. This engine was mated to an I-shift 12 speed automatic transmission. And driving an automatic bus was as effortless and easy. Here one had to be a tad more careful because of its massive length. But power steering coupled with features like hill start aid, EBS and ESP, it matched the ease provided by a sedan.   After driving a couple of times around the track, I certainly felt as though I have been driving buses all my life.

To prove that the company is ahead of the curve in terms of technology, one must keep in mind that the engines powering these buses are Euro V emission ready and these are built in India along with Euro VI engines at the VECV Pithampur plant and exported to the outside world. Since India does not have norms for Euro V engines, these very same engines are being certified for BS IV norms!

While driving these luxury coaches was rather effortless, it was the interiors which offered a slew of comfort features. Reclining and cushioned seats offer top notch seating comfort for the passengers. Features like your own charging points next to your seats for your mobiles and other gizmos come quite handy in long distance travelling. The 14.5 metre bus even has a small chemical toilet for passengers. I particularly did not like its location as it was built somewhere in the middle of the bus. This could inconvenience passengers seated close to the toilet. Ideally this should have been situated at the rear of the bus, away from where the passengers were seated.

The long bus also has a small pantry area with a coffee maker attached. Long journey in such a bus would definitely be a treat. But what makes these new Volvo buses a lot more endearing is that fact they are very safe. From the luggage area to the engine compartments, Volvo has fitted sensors that can detect fire, smoke and rising temperatures. In case of fire or smoke, fire extinguishers get activated, preventing any mishap. Volvo has also ensured several escape routes for passengers in case of  any kind of mishap, by providing hammers, foldable ladders etc. Many of its large window panes comes with emergency buttons which when pressed during crisis can shatter the tempered glass, ensuring that you can escape through these large windows.

There is no denying the fact that Volvo has established a benchmark in the bus segment in terms of quality, safety, passenger comfort, features and driving ease, ever since they have started doing business in India. With the introduction of these two new buses, the 14.5 metre one and the 12 metre one, Volvo Buses benchmark has gone a notch higher. As for my overall experience with these two mammoth vehicles from Volvo Buses, I must admit I had a whale of time!