Tata Safari

The Safari is an iconic name in the Indian motoring landscape. This name stands for a go-anywhere attitude, a dominating presence and is almost a byword for comfort. It also invokes a strong sense of nostalgia for a lot of people, given it has been in use since 1998. 

For a very long time, the only thing missing in the Safari was a turbo-petrol engine, which has been launched by Tata along with some new features. This new engine makes the Safari accessable to a completely different type of buyer, and the new feature additions makes it a much more premium offering.

We've recently driven the Safari turbo-petrol and used all the new tech on board, and here is why you should consider the updated Safari. 

Tata Motors have given the Safari a minor update, which has not changed the design much, but you do get a new shade called Nitro Crimson, and this update brought back the Red Dark edition. However, the basic shape and size of the Safari remains unchanged. It continues to be a large SUV, measuring nearly 4.7 metres in length and 1.8 metres in width. 

The front still looks modern with the connected daytime running lights. These lights double up as indicators too, and also feature dynamic turn indicators, as well as welcome/goodbye animation which looks cool. The design of the grille makes it seem visually wider, and we like the use of body-coloured elements on the grille instead of the usual chrome. This ensures that the Safari doesn’t look over the top or gaudy. It looks subtle and classy. 

On the sides, the Safari still looks like a big and muscular SUV, with prominent wheel arches and a bulky look. It sports 18-inch alloy wheels in the top-spec standard variant, but if you opt for the new Red Dark edition, you'll get your Safari with 19-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers. The same 19-inch alloys are also available with the Dark and Stealth editions.

I like how Tata Motors has neatly integrated the radar for the ADAS in the air dam of the bumper. Also, the brushed silver finish for the large faux skid plate lends the front profile some much needed contrast. 

Viewed from the rear, the Safari looks wide. Compared to the Harrier, the graphics on the tail light are different, with an almost frosted effect. Here too, there are dynamic turn indicators and cool animations on lock/unlock. The rear bumper features vertical reflector elements with a black surround and a prominent faux skid plate finished in silver. 

The Safari looks imposing from any angle, and is sure to turn heads. Tata has backed this great design with consistent build quality and interesting paint options. Tata Motors offers Stellar Frost, Lunar Slate, Stardust Ash and Galactic Sapphire colours in all variants. The Adventure variant additionally features a Supernova Copper colour, and the Accomplished variant adds the signature Cosmic Gold and the new Nitro Crimson shade on top. You can also opt for the Tata Safari in the Dark Edition that’s exclusively available in the Oberon Black Shade. There’s a new Tata Safari Stealth Edition too, that’s finished in a mean Matte Stealth Black colour. And the latest Red Dark edition comes with an all-black exterior, similar to the standard Dark edition, but you also get red highlights around the headlamps, alloys, and Safari monikers.

Design and Quality

With Tata Motors’ new approach of creating ‘Personas’ instead of variants — each variant of the Safari has a unique look and feel. The base-spec Smart/Pure variants get simple grey upholstery, the Adventure variants get chocolate brown upholstery, and the top-spec Accomplished variant features a premium white-grey dual tone combination. The Dark and Stealth variants get an all-black cabin theme, and the Red Dark edition gets a black cabin with red seat upholstery, red grab handles, and red stitching/. 

The dashboard design remains the same, which is still slim and luxurious. The accent on the dashboard are sleek, and the central AC vents are wide. A gloss black panel runs underneath the AC vents and houses the touch panel for the climate control and other vehicle functions.

You also get a four-spoke steering wheel which has an illuminated Tata logo. The design is classy, and with the white-grey two-tone wrap looks upmarket too. Apart from the illuminated logo, you also get backlit switches that control music/calls and the instrument cluster. 

In terms of fit and finish, there are no complaints. The way the panels fit together, the consistency in material quality, everything makes this cabin feel premium. The only thing that needs improvement, is the rough plastic on the doors. 

Front Seats

The doors open wide, and climbing into the cabin does not require effort. Do note that it’s best you install side steps if the elders in your family will be using the car. 

The driver’s seat gets a 6-way powered adjustment and features a memory function as well. You can store driving positions for three drivers, making it very convenient if multiple people drive the car. Paired with the tilt-and-telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel, it’s easy to find a good driving position. From the front seat, you get a commanding view of the road ahead. You can spot the edge of the bonnet easily, giving you some extra confidence. 

The seats are spacious, comfortable, and hold you in place well. Tata has opted for firm cushioning, which is spot on if you intend on spending longer hours in the cabin. 

Second Row Seats

I’ve tested both the 6- and 7-seater versions of the Safari. Unless you’re absolutely certain you want the extra seat, I’d recommend picking the 6-seater Safari for the better second row experience. There’s more than enough space on offer here — absolutely no complaints in terms of headroom, kneeroom or legroom. There’s ample underthigh support too. These seats can be reclined and also be moved front and back. This allows you to tailor the amount of space available for the third row occupants. 

The captain seats score high in terms of support, ensuring you’re comfortable on longer journeys. Tata also provides winged headrests, which makes the experience even more relaxing. To top it off, the captain seats also feature ventilation, which is useful on a hot summer day. 

I found the seat back to be relatively flat in the 7-seater Safari. This means that three people can sit rather comfortably here, with minimal overlap in shoulder room. Here too, you can slide and recline the second row to maximise comfort. 

Third Row Seats

One-touch tumble functionality for the second row is available only in the 7-seater version. In the captain seat version, you can either ‘walk’ to the third row from the middle in the captain seat version, or recline and slide the second row seat forward. 

Third row space is surprisingly accommodating for adults, but for long journeys, it is best left to kids. There’s not much foot room under the second row seats, so you have to keep at least one foot out towards the centre. 

Storage and Practicality

As you’d expect from an XL-sized SUV, there’s no dearth of storage spaces in the cabin. All four doors have generously sized door pockets with bottle holders. In fact, the rear doors also feature a separate tray in the door pad that can be used to park your phone. 

Front occupants get a deep storage in the central armrest, a couple of cupholders and a large glovebox to store knick knacks. In the second row, you can use seatback pockets as well as space behind the front armrest console. If you opt for the seven-seater version, there are twin cupholders in the armrest too. Third row occupants have their own cupholders, which is a thoughtful touch. 

Charging Options

There’s a wireless charger upfront, along with a USB type-A and 45W USB type-C port. The second and third row get USB type-A and USB type-C ports as well. 

Boot Space

With all three rows of seats in use, there’s hardly any boot space. You will only be able to fit a couple of backpacks at best. Folding the third row of seats opens up 680 litres of space, and folding the second row too opens up 1550 litres of cargo space (measured up to the roof). 

A small issue is that the third row does not fold flat. There’s a small slope that causes luggage to slide. With the third row folded, you can easily store 3 suitcases (large, medium, and small), and two soft bags with some space left for smaller items. The powered tailgate makes it more convenient to load or unload luggage, but the gesture control doesn't work everytime.

Tata Motors has loaded the Safari to the gills with features, and the recent update has added even more. Basics of keyless entry, push button-start stop, wireless charging, steering-mounted controls, chilled glovebox and front armrest are on offer. But there’s so much more! 

Let’s quickly run through the highlights: 

Dual-zone climate control: Allows you to set separate temperatures for driver and co-driver side. Temperature can be set using the physical switches, from the touchscreen, and voice command. 

14.5-inch Touchscreen: Free-floating touchscreen with a thin bezel looks premium. Comes with a Samsung OLED display which makes it brighter and crisper. Graphics are clear and crisp, and response times are quick. The interface is easy to get used to. Supports Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Can also be used to access various car functions such as climate control, powered tailgate and ambient lighting. It now also comes with Arcade.suite, which allows you to play games or watch content on your preferred OTT apps on this screen when the car is parked.

10.25-inch Instrument Cluster: Has three views: 1 dial view, 2 dial view and digital. The screen is easy to read even in sunlight. Can be controlled using buttons on the steering wheel.

10-speaker JBL Sound System With Dolby Atmos: Good clarity, deep bass. It gets 13 sound profiles by AudioWorX that give you a collection of equaliser settings which you can select based on the kind of music you listen to. With Dolby Atmos, you now get an even better surround sound experience.

360 degree camera: Good resolution. Driver gets a clear view. Indicating left/right activates the respective camera, making lane changes and tight turns a little more convenient. 

Powered Tailgate: The boot can now be opened electrically. You can either press the switch on the boot, use the button on the key or use the app. Alternatively, you can also use the touchscreen and the button on the touch panel. You can also kick under the rear bumper for hands free operation. 

Camera Washers: Both front and rear parking cameras now come with wahsers which are paired with the windshield wipers. This features allows you to clean your camera effortlesslly and is very helpful when you're driving in dusty or off-road patches.

Digital IRVM With Dashcam: Borrowed from the Harrier EV, the digital IRVM uses a camera placed on the shark fin antenna to give you the feed of your rearview. It is helpful when your rear view is blocked, but there are a lot of reflections, which can cause distraction. It also has a camera facing front, and both these camera also double as a dashcam.

Auto Dipping ORVMs: This feature helps while you're reversing into a parking spot. As soon as you put the car in reverse, the ORVMs automatically dip towards the ground so you get a better view of your rear wheels. Once you put the car on neutral or drive, the ORVMs come back to their original position

Other highlight features such as front seat ventilation, rear seat ventilation (6-seater variants), powered co-driver’s seat (with Boss mode), a panoramic sunroof, and ambient lighting are also available.

Standard safety features on the Tata Safari include: 

It also gets a knee airbag, taking the total count to seven, and there are features like a 360-degree camera with a blind view monitor, available in the higher-spec variants. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is also on offer with the higher-spec variants.   

Other features such as traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, rear collision warning and overtaking assist are also available. 

The Tata Safari has been crash tested by GlobalNCAP as well as BharatNCAP. It secured a full five star rating for adult occupant safety as well as child occupant safety from both. Even with the new turbo-petrol engine, the Safari still has a 5-star safety rating.

Powertrain Options And Driving Experience

The Safari gets a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and continues to offer a 2-litre diesel engine as well. There’s no change in the tuning of the diesel engine — it continues to make 170PS and 350Nm as before. It is offered with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission. 

2-litre Diesel

This engine comes to life with a shake and stir. There are some vibrations on a cold start, but it quickly settles into a thrummy idle. The engine isn’t particularly loud inside the cabin, but gets quite audible for those outside. 

There are three drive modes: Eco, City and Sport, along with three terrain modes: Rough, Wet and Normal. 

City Performance

As is the case with most large diesel engine-equipped cars, the clutch is on the heavier side. The travel of the pedal too is longer than you’d want for heavy city commutes. This aside, the Safari manual is actually quite easy to manage in traffic. 

There’s ample torque low down in the rev range, which means you can drive around the city without frequently shifting. Do not expect super quick acceleration, as the engine feels punchy only once the turbo kicks in at ~1800rpm. 

I would heavily recommend considering the automatic instead of the manual. It takes away all the effort involved in driving, and is actually quite relaxing. The gearbox isn’t the quickest, but is smooth. It responds well to part throttle inputs, making city drives easy. 

You can expect the Safari to return 8-10kmpl for city drives. 

Highway Performance

The Safari feels like it was built for long distance highway cruising. It is very comfortable sitting at triple digit speeds all day long if needed, without breaking a sweat. There’s ample torque available to overtake at these speeds too. In case of the automatic, pressing the accelerator fully causes the gearbox to hesitate for a second before downshifting. You could also choose to use the paddle shifters here.

Overall, the drive experience remains engaging. For highway drives, the Safari delivers around 12-14kmpl.

1.5-litre Turbo-petrol

This is the same engine that was introduced with the new Sierra, but here is makes 170 PS and 280 Nm, more than the Sierra, to compensate for the added weight of the Safari. This engine is surprisingly refined, there are barely any vibrations, and while it does not provide a very fun or exciting drive experience, you can easily get a relaxed drive out of it.

City Performance

You have a lot of power and a lot of torque from the get go. But, unlike most turbo-petrol engines, this one does not take you by surprise. The throttle has been tuned in such a way that the power delivery remains linear and there is no sudden surge of power. You can easily drive it around in the city, overtakes are not a hassles, just a slight touch of the pedal will be enough for you to gain the required speed, and since there is no sudden surge of power while accelerating, it is also new driver friendly.

During our drive exprience, the indicated fuel efficiency did not go below or above 8 kmpl, even with different driving styles, and we later found out that this is a glitch that Tata is currently working to fix. However, being a turbo-petrol engine, we don't expect it to offer great fuel efficiency. While driving in the city, under normal driving conditions, you can expect a mileage of around 12-13 kmpl.

Highway Performance

It behaves the same way on the highways as it does in the city. The acceleration remains steady and linear, and it does not throw you back into your seat under hard acceleration. However, it manages to pick up speeds quickly, and you can easily perform overtakes at triple digit speeds. It does not behave like a typical turbo-petrol engine, so you do not get a very sporty drive experience, but the performance here is more than what you need, and you will not be left wanting for more.

Ride And Handling

We drove the 6-speed automatic variant of the new petrol Safari. While it is not as quick or exciting as a DCT, the torque converter automatic does do a good job of changing gears smoothly and on time. It know when to be on what gear and can quickly downshift when you need power to overtake someone. However, the paddle shifter it comes with feel slow, sometime taking almost a second to respond to your inputs, and during our drive, they just stopped working all together.

As far as fuel efficiency is concenered, you can expect around 7-8 kmpl under load and hard acceleration, and around 9-10 kmpl if you're driving in a relaxed manner.

Wheel size has gone up, from 18 inches of the previous version to 19 inches. In this process, one would expect the ride comfort to become worse. But that’s not the case: Tata has tuned the suspension well to be comfortable and cushion harsh impacts. You can feel the surface at times at slow speeds, but there’s not much of the side-to-side rocking movement when going over broken roads. The Safari feels confident and comfortable at triple-digit speeds, making highway trips all the more enjoyable. 

Tata now uses an electric power steering, which has enabled them to provide a better steering response. It is light enough for quick u-turns and parking in tight spaces inside the city. At the same time, the weight felt satisfactory at high speeds. 

Tata offers the 2026 Safari in five broad variants: Smart, Pure X, Adventure X +, Accomplished X +, and Accomplished Ultra. The Dark editions (which you can check out in images here) are available with all the variants, save for the base and top trims. The Stealth edition is limited to the Accomplished + X variant only and the Red Dark edition is available only with the new top-spec Accomplished Ultra variant.

Safari Smart

• Base variant gets all LED lighting setup with bi-LED projector headlights, LED DRLs with turn indicators, and LED tail lights. Gets 17-inch alloy wheels too.

• Covers all functional features like power windows, auto AC, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment and second row AC vents.

• No infotainment system, but gets a 7-inch driver’s display.

• Safety kit highlights include six airbags, rear parking sensors, all four disc brakes, ISOFIX mounts and traction control.

Safari Pure X

• Shark fin antenna is the only addition outside, but the interior looks and feels more premium.

• Adds functional features like driver seat height adjustment, cruise control, push button start/stop, auto folding outside mirrors, and remote central locking.

• Feel good feature additions include a voice-assisted panoramic sunroof, front central armrest, 360-degree camera, and type-C charging port. 

• Packs a 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and four speakers. The driver also gets a 10.25-inch display.

• Rear wiper and washer, rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights are the only additions to the safety kit.

Safari Pure X Dark

• Features 18-inch dark alloy wheels, all-black cabin theme and ‘Dark’ badging.

Safari Adventure X+

• No visual exterior tweaks, save for 18-inch alloy wheels.

• In-cabin experience is richer with leatherette seats and dual tone theme.

• Top feature additions include manual boss mode for the front passenger seat, powered driver seat with welcome and memory function, six speakers, and fast Type-C charging port.

• Features trail modes (Normal, rough and wet) and drive modes (Eco, city, and sports).

• Big additions to the safety kit with Level-2 autonomous driving assistance features, electronic parking brake with auto hold, and rear defogger. 

Safari Adventure X+ Dark

• Brings 19-inch dark alloy wheels, all-black cabin theme and ‘Dark’ badging.

Safari Accomplished X

• Modern exterior with front and rear connected LED lighting and sequential turn indicators.

• Many functional improvements like 3rd row AC with fan speed control, wireless phone charger, smart key entry, and 2nd row winged headrests, sun blinds and central armrest.

• Feel good additions include ventilated front seats, powered tailgate, auto dimming inside rear view mirror, dual zone climate control, and ambient lighting.

• Better entertainment package with 12.3-inch infotainment system, 9-speaker JBL sound system with subwoofer, and Harman tuned audio modes.

• Safety kit only adds a tyre pressure monitoring system to the list.

Safari Accomplished X Dark

• Only adds 19-inch dark alloy wheels, all-black cabin theme and ‘Dark’ badging.

Safari Accomplished X+

• Exterior gets 19-inch dual tone alloy wheels, front fog lamps with cornering function, and rear fog lights. The lighting setup also features welcome and goodbye animations.

• Interior features a terrain response mode selector with display and front armrest with cooled storage.

• Top feature additions include 10-speaker JBL audio system, 4-way powered co-driver seat with electric boss mode, connected car technology, 2nd row ventilated captain seats, and air purifier with display.

• Safety kit brings 7 airbags, front parking sensors, emergency call assist, and hill descent control.

Safari Accomplished X+ Dark

• Only adds 19-inch dark alloy wheels, all-black cabin theme and ‘Dark’ badging.

Safari Accomplished X+ Stealth

• Features an exclusive Matte Stealth Black exterior colour and 19-inch Steal alloy wheels on the outside.

• The cabin features a 'Carbon Noir’ interior theme with sliding armrest.

• Packs additional Level-2 ADAS features and Alexa home to car connectivity.

• Infotainment also gets an Arcade app store, featuring apps like Youtube and Amazon Prime Video.

Accomplished Ultra

• Available only with the new turbo-petrol engine.

• Gets a white and golden cabin theme.

• Comes with a 14.5-inch Samsung OLED touchscreen that supports Arcade App suite and comes with Dolby Atmos.

• Other feature additions include front and rear camera washers, a digital IRVM with built-in dash cam, auto dipping ORVMs, and 65W type-C charging ports.

Accomplished Ultra Dark

• Gets an all black treatment inside-out, 'Dark' badging and 19-inch black alloy wheels.

• Carries forward the same feature set as the standard Ultra variant.

Accomplished Ultra Red Dark

• Gets 19-inch all-black alloy wheels with red brake calipers.

• Comes with red accents all around the exterior.

• Offers an all-black cabin with red seat upholstery, and gets red highlights on the grab handles and stitching.

CarDekho recommends

• The Smart variant is priced super aggressively, and is a good option if you’re on a tight budget, but want a big 7-seater SUV which covers all basics. You will need to get an aftermarket infotainment and sound system, however.

• Adventure X+ offers great value under Rs 20 lakh (for the manual with its balance of functional, feel good and safety features.

• Get the new-spec Accomplished Ultra variant only if you want the new features.

• If you want to stand out, you can opt for any of the Dark or Red Dark editions.

• We made sure that you get a complete detail about the features offered with each variant of the Safari, which you can find here.

The Safari scores big on presence, in-cabin space, and comfort. Tata has done a very good job of offering a nice blend of space, premiumness, and features, and the new feature additions, which feel more like bonuses, make the deal even sweeter. And now, with the presence of the new turbo-petrol engine, the Safari has opened up a new set of buyers of itself. 

Tata’s focus now needs to be on ensuring quality control and a great service experience, which would make the Safari easier to recommend. 

Other Options To Consider

Mahindra XUV7XO

Reasons To Consider

• Better third row space

• Option of an AWD setup

• More features like triple screen setup

Reasons To Ignore

• None

Check out our comparison of the Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari to see which one comes out on top.

MG Hector Plus

Reasons To Consider

• Better second and third row space

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as feature rich

• Low fuel efficiency with petrol

Hyundai Alcazar

Reasons To Consider

• Better chauffer-driven experience

Reasons To Ignore

• Less third-row space