Ever since the news of the launch of the all-new Safari broke, the excitement in the air is inexplicable. This is especially true for those who were hardcore Safari lovers, which gained Safari a cult-following. Having showcased in the Auto Expo 2020 in the concept guise, we did not expect it to be launched so soon. But Tata decided to give the Safari moniker to the 7-seater version of the Harrier, initially to be called the Gravitas. Tata may have named it Gravitas earlier, but the stepped-up roof did scream of a certain Safari, in terms of the body styling. But now that the Safari is here in flesh, let us look at what it offers.
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Tata Safari – Exteriors and Interiors
Starting from the front, the design will remain almost identical to the Harrier with LED DRLs on the bonnet and a headlamp cluster on the bumper. The main difference will be on the sides. A stepped-up roof and extra length to accommodate the third row of seating make it look distinctively Safari. The wheel arches are prominent adding to the SUV-ish appeal. The rear LED tail lamps and imposing tailgate does give it a strong look.
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The interior is where we will find a few changes. The already feature-rich and plush looking interior of the Harrier will be even more updated with Safari. There will be a rich Oyster White theme with an Ash Wood dashboard to accentuate the interior of the Safari. We do expect standard modern features like Digital Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Digital Instrument Cluster, Steering Mounted Controls, large Sunroof, plush interior and much more. We will see much more once it reaches the showrooms.
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Tata Safari – Engine and Transmission
Tata Safari will become the flagship SUV from Tata in India. It will get the 2.0-litre 170hp Kryotec diesel engine from the Harrier. This engine will come with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Being a hardcore SUV, the question arises if it will get a 4×4 system to give it off-roading capabilities as well. The OMEGARC platform that Safari is based on, does allow to incorporate a 4×4 system. According to the customer demand and feedback, if Tata wants to equip the SUV with a 4×4 system, it will not be difficult to do. Even the provision of hybridization or complete electrification is available with this architecture. This makes the platform very flexible for equipping the products based on it, with many technologies in the future.
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Tata Safari – Prices and Competition
With the launch of the Safari just around the corner, we will find out the exact prices also. But we expect prices to range anywhere between Rs 14 lakh to Rs 22 lakh, ex-showroom. Also, the competition will include the likes of the upcoming Creta-based 7-seater and upcoming Mahindra XUV300, along with the recently launched MG Hector Plus. This segment is sure to be extremely competitive after the launches of the aforementioned models.
