New Tata Safari Long Term Review: Why It Makes This Badge Better

Other notable highlights include a nice JBL audio system, configurable ambient lighting (even on the panoramic sunroof), ADAS and more

Driving the big Safari was easy with good visibility while seat coolers also came in handy

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

As a kid I remembered the old Tata Safari ads and how much I wanted to own one but when Tata bought this name back there was a lot of talk about whether the new one is a proper Safari or not. Well, having spent a couple of months with the new updated Safari diesel automatic, I would say this is much better than the old first gen one and is a much more convincing deal. First of all, the new Safari is a premium three row SUV where the price ranges from Rs 15.5 lakh to Rs 27.25 lakh. However, the new one has enough gadgets and the premium appeal to back this pricing. We spent two months with this SUV and took it to the hills and back many times while using it for our normal everyday commute. 

Tata Safari Exterior And Interior Review

First of all, the new Safari is a lot more appealing design and thankfully has enough differentiation over the Harrier. It looks huge and has tremendous presence while the stunning 19-inch alloys further makes it a head-turner- I still admire the design every now and then! Then the way the doors close with a solid thud and the toughness seen also makes it feel like a premium product- as it should be at this price. The interior too has been improved with this top-end version having a dual tone interior which suitably looks and feels expensive.

 

 

Material quality is nice and it stood up to our rigorous use with no signs of wear and tear. The digital logo and the gloss black surfaces do attract fingerprints but the pinstriping on the dash looks upmarket as well. The steering wheel is big and thick but the driving position feels commanding. We used the digital cluster to get the map's view and that was helpful too. The touchscreen as well is pretty slick and did not feel laggy while the 360 degree camera was a big help in parking this beast. Other notable highlights include a nice JBL audio system, configurable ambient lighting (even on the panoramic sunroof), ADAS and more.

 

 

There aren't many physical controls though except for the aircon temperature while most of the functions are based on a touch panel. While the cabin feels premium, some ergonomic issues remain including a needlessly large drive mode selector and not enough space to carm in your phone for wireless charging. Also, for tall drivers, the left knee brushes against the console which means you need to have a laid back driving position to be comfortable. Space is huge and the second row has loads of space with a commanding view while you can adjust the front passenger seat electrically. Access to the third row isnt easy but the third row itself has surprisingly good space. With all three rows, luggage space isn't great and you need to put the third row down.  

 

Tata Safari Driving Experience 

Driving the big Safari was easy with good visibility while seat coolers also came in handy. The AC chilled the cabin pretty well while the single biggest highlight in this car is the inclusion of electric steering. This makes things much easier and the steering is lighter plus more direct. The engine is a familiar 2.0l diesel but mow noise has gone down while only pushing it hard has meant the diesel engine being more audible.

 

The automatic gearbox isn't lazy and feels easy to drive in the city but at the highway, the diesel feels more at home cruising at high speeds with effortless mile munching. One thing, the gear selectric is a bit on the laggy side while U-Turns are also a bit cumbersome due to the size. There are steering paddles but we did not use them as it doesn't need them anyways. The engine has enough punch and loaded with luggage, we saw the Safari being a proper luxury SUV for high speed cruising. Mileage that we got was around 12-13 kmpl which is decent considering an SUV of this size.

 

 

Where the safari shines is the toughness and the way it tackles bad roads with ease, Despite no 4x4 it feels indescribable and that's the USP. Sure, the ride at low speeds is a bit firm due to the large wheels but it has the tough SUV vibe which owners like. ADAS we felt isn't too intrusive and not too sensitive either while working well. The top-end Safari might seem a bit pricey but the looks, sheer appeal and the much improved luxury elements along with the better driving experience makes it a much more convincing proposition. During our two months with the car, everything was flawless and it performed well by combining luxury with a sense of go-anywhere ability. We think a smooth petrol will make the Safari even better but as a diesel SUV, it is a strong buy which you should look at.