2021 New Tata Safari Review: Check Out The Pros And Cons

The new Safari is vastly better than the old one and even without the Safari name, it is one of the most complete products that Tata Motors have rolled out in recent times.

New Delhi:  Let’s not get too worked up on the name and also bring some nostalgia into this article. The previous Safari still has a cult following but times have moved on and Tata Motors have rightly embraced modernity. The previous Safari had a towering stance along with having a go-anywhere personality which many liked. But it also lacked any sort of modern-day features, was handful in the city and was a product of a bygone era. The new Safari is vastly better than the old one and even without the Safari name, it is one of the most complete products that Tata Motors have rolled out in recent times.

The Harrier was the start and the Safari takes it forward. Don't think too much about the name and the Safari is a competent three-row premium SUV. It is also beyond a posh Harrier as there is plenty which has been re-worked for the Safari. The new Safari has to fight out the Innova Crysta, MG Hector Plus and some others in the three-row segment but the Safari has an added sense of ruggedness which we like. It is sharing the Harrier platform obviously but the Safari's looks are more butch. The Harrier is sportier while the Safari looks longer and bigger.

The new Safari has presence, no doubt and everywhere we went, heads turned. It is shinier and more premium looking plus the new grille shouts more while the longer roof plus slightly more boxy dimensions give it a further advantage here. It is certainly one of the top SUV choices at its expected price point if you want to make a statement- having presence to rival an Endeavour or Fortuner. There is also more than a hint of the previous Safari in the way the roof is designed plus there is a larger quarter glass as well in the new Safari. The wide tail-lamps are nicely done too and so is this new blue colour which is exclusive to it. Oh, and those 18-inch alloys further complement this design! The new Safari is a looker no doubt and that's half the job done there.

You need to 'climb in' and those hefty doors are further pointing towards it being more than a 3-row SUV. The overall first impression of the interior are that it looks and feels premium. It does show the expected quality which any buyer would want at this price while the white leather/interior colour scheme is classy along with the new wood finish. It is not glossy and looks right; not gaudy as well. There is a soft-touch dashboard while even the leather wrapped steering wheel is nice to hold. In terms of technology the Safari does decently here. The 8inch touch screen is too small though and we would like a bigger unit. Else you get various features like a powered drivers’ seat, massive panoramic sunroof, captain seats, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, climate control, ambient lighting, JBL audio with 9 speakers and more.

However maybe a powered tailgate would have been in handy or a better rear camera display? But that is the only complaint as the Safari after the Altroz gets the connected tech feature which gets you the usual suite of location/vehicle diagnostics/remote functions. Plus, the unusual hand-brake and the USB port location of the Harrier has been done away with as the Safari now has an electronic handbrake which is more convenient, needless to say. However, the Safari is also about three rows and comfort. So, let's get straight to that. More than the 3rd row, the 2nd row captain seats are the real reason you want to buy this SUV. The seats are immensely comfortable while legroom/headroom is excellent while there is also a 'Boss Mode' where you can move forward the front seats though it is not electronic. The third row is a fairly agreeable place to be and is not just there to be mentioned in the brochure. Access to the third row is decent and for small journeys, any medium sized adult would fit.

In terms of engines, the Safari carries the Harrier's 2.0 diesel and that's fine because post the power bump plus the automatic being offered, the Safari/Harrier is now much easier to drive. The diesel engine makes 170bhp and 350Nm while the automatic is a 6-speed torque converter. If you are buying a Safari then this is the gearbox to go for as the automatic makes more sense as it is smooth for city use and reasonably responsive when you want it to. However, compared to the Harrier I drove earlier, the steering is lighter and that makes it easier to live with while even the refinement/ride is better. This diesel engine still likes to make its presence felt but it's much more contained now.

The engine performed well and shifting the gear lever to manual mode enables it to be quicker for those overtakes. Speaking of which, the handling, for such a big SUV, is quite good and feels stable at high speeds or even taking corners is not a bother. It is still a massive SUV and has body roll but compared to some of the other big SUVs, the Safari feels composed. I am not even bringing the earlier Safari into the matter as the driving experience is on another league. We also got around 9kmpl in the city which is decent for such a large SUV. In terms of off-road ability, we did not take the Safari to any such place because it is not a hardcore off-roader but the Land Rover platform along with the terrain response modes does give it an edge over other SUVs of its class. It is fairly capable and enough for most, we say.

Overall the new Safari is a vastly better car over the earlier Safari in every aspect. However more than that the styling, rugged charm, interior space, new features along with the lighter steering/automatic gearbox makes this an all-rounder. It is a rugged premium SUV that is also practical which makes it a more appealing alternative not just to other three-row cars/SUVs of its class but to much more expensive three-row ladder-frame SUVs. Tata has hit the bulls eye this time.

Pros - Looks, Presence, Interior, Space, Ride quality, Toughness

Cons - Small Touchscreen, No Petrol engine offered