2021 TATA SAFARI 4X2 SUV A Smooth Safari

But there has got to a different between the two. Well, there are several, despite the fact that they share the same powertrain and transmission. The new Safari will be available in 6 and 7 seater options.

The new Tata safari will be powered by the Kryotec 2L turbocharged diesel engine, and will have a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission as well as 6-speed automatic transmission. We got the automatic version for a test drive and this was a six-seater with captain seats.

EXTERIOR

Coming to the exterior, the new Tata Safari has a sleek, yet muscular frame with an equally muscular bonnet. In front you get to see signature grille with the signature tri-arrow chrome motif encased by the humanity line. Just below that is the dual tone bumper. The SUV gets Xenon HID projector headlamps, dual function LED DRLs with turn indicators and front fog lamp with cornering function.

The side profile of this vehicle is unique and interesting. It gets a stepped roof, roof-rails, flared wheel arches, and protective side cladding. The vehicle sits on 18” machined alloy wheels. It comes with a shark fin antenna.

The rear of the vehicle too is good looking with its integrated spoiler, the  signature twin light LED tail lamps and the rear fog lamps. It has a high mounted stop light too. The vehicle will be available in Royale Blue, Orcus White and Daytona Grey colours.  The one we were reviewing was in Royal Blue.

INTERIOR

Once you step inside the vehicle you are treated to signature oyster white interior colour scheme, signature ashwood dashboard, premium oyster white perforated leather seat upholstery and door pad inserts. The Safari also has satin chrome pack soft touch dashboard with anti reflective ‘nappa’ grain top layer. The steering wheel is leather wrapped  and so is the gear shift knob. The knob has a bejewelled kind of surface. The steering wheel with mounted controls comes with tilt and telescopic adjustment. You get a USB and Aux in slots in front.

The new Safari gets a Majestic Skydome, which is basically a best-in-segment panoramic sunroof. The sunroof automatically closes when the ignition is turned off and the vehicle is parked with doors locked. It has an anti-pinch for passenger safety. It also has a rain sensor closure to prevent rainwater from getting into the cabin.

The cabin comes in six and seven seater option. The Automatic version we had was a six-seater with three seating rows. The middle row had captain seats. We got the model with the captain seats.

While the front seats are comfortable with adequate bolsters, thigh support and lumbar support, the driver seat is 6-way powered with adjustable lumbar support.

The front co-passenger does not get this luxury and has manual adjustments. The front arm rest for the driver is broad and comfortable with storage space.

The captain seats are very broad with individual arm rests. The one diagonally behind the driver seat has the option to shift the front seat forward and backward with a lever on the side of the front left seat. Tata Motors calls it the Boss mode. The second row seats which are reclining too gets exclusive AC vents on either side on the B pillars. Then you have pockets on the rear of the front seats for storage. The door panels too hold ample storage space for bottle and knick knacks.  Reading lights, hooks, two USB slots and grab handles make up the rest of the features for the second row passengers.

The third row seat offers comfort for adults with its abundant knee-room and headroom for a stretch, though thigh support is lacking. Getting in and out of the third row is from the space between the two captain seats and not from the side of the captain seat. Since the captain seat is not a tumble down seat, unlike in the seven seater where the second row seat is a bench seat and the same can be tumbled down, here the seat can only be reclined a bit and pushed in front and the space so created is too narrow for anyone to get in, unless one squeezes in.

The third row occupants have access to two USB slots, cup holder, mobile holder, a netted area to keep knick knacks, exclusive AC vents on the C pillars and reading lamps.

It has a rollover screen with a black coating on the glass side that helps with heat dissipation and keeps the cabin cool.

There is plenty of storage space in the vehicle from those in the door panels, front arm rest, in the glove compartment, and on the sides of the third row for bottles, cups, mobile holders, etc.

Other cabin features include ambient mood lighting, fully automatic temperature control, AC vents for all three row passengers, push button start, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers and electrically adjustable and foldable outer mirrors.

No interior is complete without an infotainment system and a colourful instrument cluster. The vehicle gets floating island touch screen infotainment system with 8.8” display, JBL Audio with 9 speakers (4 Speakers+ 4 Tweeters+ 1 Subwoofer) and external Amplifier. It has Android Auto & Apple Car Play Connectivity. The vehicle has an instrument cluster with 7" coloured TFT Display, media, phone & navigation mirroring between Infotainment and Instrument cluster, video playback and view images through USB, Voice Recognition & SMS Readout, Voice Alerts for Driver assistance, Bluetooth Audio Playback, etc. The Intelligent Real Time Assist provides a plethora of functions through an app which you need to download into your smartphone. The SUV also comes with a whole set of voice command features and the button to initiate this is mounted on the steering wheel.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE

The Kryotec 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine produces 168hp and 350 Nm of peak torque. The turbocharger is an advanced electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger (eVGT) for good low end torque and linear power delivery. We got a 6-speed automatic to drive.

The new Tata Safari comes with engine drive modes (Eco, City, Sport) and all these modes are fine tuned to the ESP Terrain Response Modes like Normal, Rough & Wet. These terrain modes can be engaged by turning the rotary knob on the centre console. On either side of this knob are buttons for Hill Descent Control and  engaging your ESP and disengaging it. Though we did not get the time to test out these features, we surely enjoyed the driving in the different modes, the sport mode being the most aggressive and responsive.

The front suspension and hydra bush have been carried over from D8 and have been tuned for Indian conditions. The rear twist blade suspension has been designed by Lotus Engineering of the UK to suit Indian conditions. All this was quite evident in the ride and handling of the six-seater SUV as it glided over potholes and some rough patches very smoothly.

The Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold is a great function. Each time the vehicle is switched off, the EPB gets activated as a default setting and one can lift off from stationery by simply engaging the Drive mode and pressing the throttle. Of course, you need to wear your seat belt also. But you can also manually deactivate this electric parking brake by stepping on the brake pedal and releasing the switch. This EPB is like your hand brake and in the Tata Safari it is electronic.

Just adjacent to the EPB is the Auto Hold button. Now this is a very handy feature. Once  you start the vehicle, you need to activate this function by first pressing the Auto Hold button, You need to wear your seat belt while doing this. The message in tiny letters displays on the instrument panel in white with the words “Auto Hold”. Now as you move the vehicle forward or backward, the letters turn green which means this function is activated. What it does is that while driving in traffic or a hilly tract or anywhere, when you apply brakes, the vehicle holds in that position and does not roll back or forward even if you lift your foot off the brakes. This vehicle has all disc brakes. The vehicle comes with a plethora of safety features that include the likes of ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Corner Stability control, roll over mitigation, tyre pressure monitor system, 6 Airbags, auto-dimming IRVM, child seat ISOFIX anchor points, reverse parking camera, etc.  

The 2021 Tata Safari with a monocoque construction is very unlike its earlier sibling by the same name. This one is sleek, has tons of comfort features as well as technology brilliance.  Whether it is the safety features, or the technology features associated with comfort and utility, this SUV is loaded to the brim with brilliance. Maybe having a 4x2 makes more sense at this stage than bringing in a 4x4 and making it a lot costlier for the star stuck Tata Safari fans.