Tata Safari DICoR review - Ride, handling and verdict |
Ride and Handling
SUVs aren't really meant to handle, are they? I dont think so, apparently Tata doesn't think so either. Sad, but the good news is that Tata, unlike Mahindra realizes that the major advantage of an SUV is its ability to absorb undulations. This, the Safari does very well; it is able to cope very well with most potholes but the forte of the Safari's ride lies in its ability to absorb bumps at higher speeds. This can really take the strain out of any highway drive. The ride of the safari may seem quite bumpy while off-roading at low speeds, but that isn't exactly what the safari was meant to do; although the advertisement may have you believe otherwise.
The safari uses independent double wishbone with torsion bar up front and coil spring suspension with 5 link at the rear, which work well; even when the car is not full of people. Shod with 235/70 R16 radials, grip is adequate on the tarmac, but the tires are definitely not meant for any kind of serious off-road adventures. The ride also has a bit of a hard edge due to the now reduced profile. The chassis continues to be the tried and tested steel body on ladder frame type, which is quite stiff but the safari has a very heavy snout, which can prove quite a handful around corners. We strictly advice you not to try too many antics on the safari because it has wide tires, ABS and so on; the ABS isn't as effective as you think and the suspension which is tuned to give you a great ride coupled with an extended nose will have you landing in the nearest bush in a hurry.
The safari comes with my favorite feature, shift on the fly which means that you can shift between 2WD and 4WD without any hitch, no need to change gears, reduce speed or any such non-sense; Just roll a little knob behind the steering and you have instant four-wheel drive! Once you flick this switch, drive goes to all four wheels, which means more grip. Although owners usually engage 4WD only on the dirt/loose surfaces, I suggest that at least for the fun of it, switch it on when you're going through a winding road. I'm sure those squealing 235 profile tires will have you begging for more.
Verdict
The safari is an excellent car, it always had image and road prescence going for it, it has a spacious cabin, which can comfortably seat 5 (2 more bit uncomfortably) and loads of luggage. What it lacked most was a powerful engine, TVS-Delphi took care of that. It is also one of the most feature packed cars with its DVD player and so on. In this car, you can keep cruising all day long without much feeling too tired, build quality is also steadily improving, but still suffers from a few rough edges. If one is looking for a comfortable SUV that is able to do the highway and town circuit quite well and also not get stuck at the visit to the farmhouse, look no further.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Huge amount of space, specially with last row folded |
Quality of dashboard plastics, Spartan |
| High tech engine management for good response and economy |
traditionally constant RPM engine has very small rev-range and suffers from late response |
| Excellent ride, able to handle the rough very well |
Not a true blue offroader, ABS inadequate |
| Positive feel to gearbox |
Clutch is heavy and gear throw is long |
| Efficient A/C with vents extra vents for rear passengers |
Car feels very front heavy around corners and subject to lots of roll |
| Adjustable height seats and seatbelts |
Immobilize can be bit irritating at times, ignition key hole in a awkward position |
|
