Many of us have grown up watching brilliant TV commercials for the Tata Safari which suggested us to reclaim our lives. Now, the legend is back. Tata Motors has resurrected the Safari nameplate and it will soon be available for you at the nearest showrooms. The all-new 2021 Tata Safari was first codenamed as the Buzzard and later as the Gravitas. But this 7-seater / 6-seater full-size SUV version of the Harrier is finally badged as the ‘Safari’.
It was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo in India and when launched, it will rival the likes of MG Hector, Jeep Compass and the likes. On India’s 72nd Republic Day and Tata Motors 75th year of operation, the brand has unveiled the all-new Safari SUV in the Indian market. The brand has also announced that Tata Motors will start accepting prelaunch bookings on the all-new Tata Safari from 4th February 2020.
The all-new Tata Safari is based on the OMEGARC (Optimised Modular Efficient Global Advanced – Architecture) derived from the Land Rover D8 platform and the Safari uses the front suspension design from D8 and the Semi-Independent Twist Blade rear suspension developed by Lotus Engineering. The platform uses High Strength Steel (HSS) for safety and a unique double firewall design along with modern monocoque construction. The powertrain is the FCA-derived 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel that pumps out 170 Hp of power and 350 Nm of torque matched to both 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The brand has also tested the Safari in various terrains, climates and altitudes to make sure the build quality of the vehicle is not compromised. The Tata Safari has been built using Jaguar Land Rover developed assembly line and the validation tests of the vehicle have been done in tough terrains such as the Khardungla pass in the Himalayas for cold and dry as well as the Southern states of India where the climate is hot and humid. The engine has also undergone high loads for long periods of time to simulate endurance and the gearbox has been tested for abuse in high revving conditions. The brand also boasts that the Noise Vibration and Harshness levels on the Safari have been improved.
The Safari features the brand’s Impact 2.0 design language and the rear half of the SUV is inspired from the Original Safari. This gives the SUV a strong front fascia without being too aggressive. The Safari features a high bonnet, sculpted bumpers and a wide air dam. The side of the SUV reverberates with the original Safari and comes with muscular wheel arches with 18-inch machine-cut alloy wheels, a stepped roofline and a rear three-quarter glass. The car also comes with a tall rear tailgate and a wraparound tail lamp as well as a twin-tipped exhaust.
On the interiors, the Tata Safari features three rows of seating and Tata claims to have a stadium effect on the cabin where every passenger is able to have a wide view that allowing a more sense of space which is highlighted by the Oyster white seat upholstery and a wing-like insert on the dashboard with an Ashwood finish. The SUV also features semi-digital instrumentation, IRA Connected 8.8-inch infotainment system with JBL speaker system, mood lighting, Majestic Dome panoramic sunroof which claims to be the widest in class. The seats can also be configured for different occasions and the SUV also features a Boss Mode that automatically retracts the front passenger seat with the touch of a button.
The Tata Safari is offered in 6 variants – XE, XM/XMA, XT, XT+, XZ/XZA and XZ+/XZA+. The base XE variant features projector headlamps, LED DRLs with dual function turn indicators, Dual Airbags, All Disc Brakes, Brake Disc Wiping, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Hold Control, Traction Control, Corner Stability Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Perimetric Alarm System and Rear Parking Sensors. Apart from the plethora of safety features offered as standard, the Safari also comes with reclining second-row seats, AC and AC vents in the third row with controls, smartphone charging, etc.
The XM/XMA variant features a 7-inch touchscreen, multi-drive modes, steering mounted controls, Follow Me Home Headlamps, Fog Lamps, Rear Parking Sensor with a display, electric ORVMs and everything offered on the XE. The XT comes with soft-touch dashboard, automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, Height Adjustable Driver Seat with Lumbar Support, push start/stop, IRA connected car technology, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), auto-dimming IRVM, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto etc. The XT+ is offered with all the features from XT and comes with the panoramic sunroof.
The XZ/XZA features Xenon HID Projector Headlamps, Signature Oyster White Interior Color Theme, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel & Gear Shift Knob, Terrain Response modes, 8.8-inch touchscreen with IRA and JBL speakers, 7-inch colour TFT display on the instruments cluster, 6 Airbag, hill descent control, ISOFIX, 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, captain seat option and Majestic Dome panoramic sunroof.