Tata Safari 2021 first drive review

With each new generation of vehicles comes change.  Technology, Design, and Capability.  The Tata Safari has been an iconic brand for India.  Being amongst the first to wear the tag of an SUV build by an Indian manufacturer for the Indian people; the newest avatar aims to carry this badge forward with a sense of modernity and pride.

Having said that, when you look at Tata’s iconic SUV line-up, it boils down to the three S’s, namely the Sierra, Sumo and Safari and in recreating any of these, it is clear that the company has to treat carefully and not only just build a great product, but do it in a manner that encompasses the emotion that is associated with the name. A case in point is the Sierra concept showcased at the Auto Expo. It had all the modern bling yet married the ‘Sierra’ look in with such style that it was undoubtedly the showstopper at the 2020 Auto Expo. The Safari was there too, albeit under the guise of the ‘Gravitas’, which we have been told was eventually just a code name to throw us off and it definitely worked, for when we were told that the Safari is back, the world was still screaming ‘Gravitas’ across forums on social media.

On that note we come to the new Safari. There are two questions everyone has about it, the first being is it a great product and the second being whether it is a ‘Safari’. Two very different things for sure and I will take the easy road and answer the question on the product first.

A well-engineered SUV

A quick walk around the exteriors of the new Tata Safari showcases a more edgy design with a big front grill, chunky tyres, large windows all around, great headlights and a substantial ground clearance.  All of these elements have carried the ethos of the older model; however, it is very pleasant to see that the shut lines on the doors, the finish of the paint and overall quality of parts pass the muster to the discerning eye of the modern customer who is constantly on the look out for great quality.  The build looks robust and the vehicle has a very visible sense of presence even while parked.  It is a head turner for sure and it has that modern futuristic look that we first saw on the Harrier. Sharp, edgy, sleek, the new Safari does sport a few subtle changes to the exterior including the revised grille design and then you have the slightly extended body and the characteristic step roof look and rear quarter glass, however the aura of the Harrier still remains and that isn’t really a bad thing is it? After all, the Harrier is what brings that Land Rover aura into the Tata range and the Safari deserves that too right!

If the exteriors were something to go by, the interiors have carried on with that sense of attention to detail.  The quality of seats, a commanding driving presence, steering wheel controls and an easy to reach infotainment system contribute greatly to the in-cabin ergonomics. The driving position is okay, however tall people might have to take the time to figure out the ideal seat position in order to work around the issue of hitting their knee on the lower part of the dash on occasion. The top model boasts a panoramic sunroof, adding to the bells and whistles the new Safari is loaded with.

With three lines of seating and an option of both a six-seater and seven-seater, there is enough space to get a large family in the vehicle.  The second row of seats have a track allowing them to be moved forward in case the last row needs more leg space.  This attention to in-cabin space ensures that the passengers can travel in comfort for extended periods of time.  Each row also has enough storage, AC vents and power outlets to be able to cater to everyone in the vehicle in a convenient manner. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into the cabin layout and the end result is a very upmarket appeal that is bound to gel with the ‘Safari’ crowd as they are used to being pampered with a plush cabin in a vehicle that is designed to handle the rough stuff with élan.

From a feature and technology standpoint there is a definite focus on targeting the next generation of automotive buyers.  From connected systems permitting greater control over the vehicle, to the introduction of the now mandatory airbags, braking systems, traction control, hill decent and hill hold; these are all in built now to ensure better safety and a higher degree to control over the vehicle.  The infotainment system has been armed with voice commands for a variety of functions in addition to navigation, management of vehicle information and settings.  The paired JBL sound system with 9 speakers in the top model trim adds to the rich features this vehicle comes with. Tata’s iRA connected system is part of the package too.

Being a big vehicle, the Safari handles quite well.  Easily maneuvered in city traffic and well planted on the highway, boasting disc brakes all around, the Tata Safari is a safe drive.  Great ground clearance and a powerful 170 PS engine with peak torque of 350Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm, ensure the new Safari has plenty of grunt and power on tap to tame all the different types of terrain thrown at it. Both the 6-speed automatic and the 6 speed manual gear transmission options are smooth and refined and they perform effortlessly. The terrain control options along with the city and sport modes enhance the capability of the Tata Safari further, however, the lack of a 4×4 or AWD option currently is a something we are hoping is rectified soon.

As far as driving is concerned, don’t expect the Safari to set any quarter mile records or be quick off the mark, however it does have enough grunt, as pointed out before, and you can tell that it is built to cruise all day without breaking a sweat. Speaking of which, the suspension is a definite plus point and you get that plush ride that you would expect from an SUV of this class.

The new Tata Safari has definitely come in with a host of changes in design, offers great interior space, has an awesome road presence, is comfortable and extremely feature rich.  The new generation has a lot to look forward to with this powerful SUV. The icing on the cake is the OMEGARC (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture) that is derived from the legendary Land Rover D8 platform which shows the pedigree that the new Safari comes with as this architecture is at the core of the Harrier as well.

As a product, the new Safari scores big points and our first impression after having taking it for a spin is that it carries an air of premiumness and is a refined machine. But being a great product that ticks all the right boxes isn’t enough to win this round for the badge on the back means that this machine has to live up to being the beast that will allow you to reclaim your life! This brings us to the tougher second question and we will try and do justice in answering this as well.

Is it a Safari?

Recreating an icon is a tough job. Automakers have to reinvent the product, make it all-new, yet manage to keep the emotional quotient the same. The only way to keep that bit of emotion intact is for the product to have an air of familiarity to it. A prime example of this is the Range Rover. The glasshouse to body ratio remains the same, as does the slant of the rear glass. Other prime examples include the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, MINI and back on Indian soil in more recent times is the new Mahindra Thar. All of these products managed to draw inspiration from their predecessors and at the same time up the game in terms of design and style.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is where an auto manufacturer just slammed an iconic name on a new car and hoped it would sell. That car was the Maruti Suzuki Zen. When they put the ‘Zen’ name on what looked like a WagonR with a more aerodynamic nose, guess what happened. Zen enthusiasts shot it down. It was nothing like the original Jelly Bean car and even when Maruti removed the Zen name the damage was done and it ended up as a product that I’m sure Maruti Suzuki would like to forget.

So, coming to the new Tata Safari, the challenge is at multiple layers. Firstly, that it looks and shares a lot with the Harrier and second is the fact that Tata Motors gave it a different name last year (Gravitas) and that now has caused a ton of confusion as can be seen in just about every social media post about the new Safari, and lastly, there is the question of pedigree and ‘Safari’ qualities. Together, these elements have caused people to start their assumptions about the new Safari with an identity crisis.

As far as the Harrier and Gravitas connect is concerned, people need to look past that and truly understand and experience the product. As a product the new Safari scores big points and if you were to have seen this as the new Safari from day one, trust me, you would have been extremely excited. Yes, the naming has thrown people off, but that isn’t reason enough to think that this isn’t the Safari right?

In terms of ‘Safari’ qualities, the new Safari lives up to those and ticks all the right boxes. It is big, plush and feature rich. It boasts of a design that is extremely upmarket and carries the legacy of Tata. It has awesome road presence and is a head turner. There are hints of the older Safari in there too with the stepped roof and airy cabin finish which the older Safari was well known for. The ride quality is also on point with the new version and when you do go through the entire list, the only thing that seems to stand out as a sore point is the fact that there is no 4×4 or AWD offering on the new Safari.

Yes, that is true. The Safari isn’t coming with that go-anywhere tech on board just yet and before you scream yourself hoarse, the key words here are ‘just yet’. The official release from Tata clearly states that the new Safari platform is well equipped to handle technologies like AWD and an all-electric drivetrain. That is the fine print on this people and the chances are high that it will eventually get that AWD tech. Going into the future, if this machine turns electric and gets AWD, then it is the Safari of the future too and that is worth keeping in mind!

The bottom line is that you can argue whether this product is deserving of the Safari name. You can choose to agree or disagree, however as a product it scores big numbers and that is what we believe will eventually get people to believe and realize that this is truly the new Safari and a machine worth having in your garage.