The Safari is a 5-door SUV developed by Tata Motors. This vehicle is the first SUV designed, developed and mass-produced entirely in India. The first time the Safari hit the roads was 15 years ago. Although it didn’t receive many fans for a number of reasons, the Safari’s off-road performance has consistently garnered admiration.

When the Safari was launched back in 1998, it was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine. A few years later, in 2003, the car received some updates such as power steering, better mechanics, upgraded interiors, etc. But the Safari still took a lot of flak for its harsh, underpowered engine. As a response, Tata Motors released a heavily modified Safari in 2005 with a 3.0 liter DiCOR engine. DiCOR stands for Direct injection Common Rail and this engine was, in fact, the first from Tata Motors to have common rail fuel injection technology. As of now, buyers can order their Tata Safari DiCOR only with a 2.2-litre, 138bhp, 4-cylinder diesel engine and a 5-speed manual transmission.

One area where the vehicle has shined since launch day is its off-road capability. Despite mixed verdicts, Tata Safari DiCOR reviews have always been praised in this regard. The SUV has a high ground clearance of 205mm, high approach and departure angles of 31°, a breakover angle of 30° and can ford waters up to a foot deep. One can activate the 4-wheel drive without having to stop the car first thanks to its 4×4 shift on the fly activation system and also climb hills that have an incline of up to 26° (78% gradient). Another important feature that helps this car tackle rough terrain is its limited-slip differential, as it prevents the tires from slipping when the ground offers minimal grip.

Safari has undergone many updates and improvements to make it more attractive to potential customers. The car has a dual air conditioner with a separate blower unit directed towards the roof-mounted middle and last rows. An extremely useful feature is the parking locator. At least once, everyone would have forgotten the exact location of their car in a large parking lot and then run all over the place looking for it. But with Safari, you just press a button on the car remote and the car’s dome light turns on and after 5 seconds turns off. This makes finding the car in a dark area a piece of cake. A puddle lamp mounted under the door illuminates the area where a person would step when getting out of the car so they don’t step into something they wouldn’t want to! Another feature called the ‘Follow Me Home’ light keeps the headlights on for half a minute once the doors are closed so occupants can have their way home from the garage illuminated.

With safety in mind, Tata Motors has backed the Safari with ABS, stronger chassis and body construction, and a reversing camera. Customers can choose from one of seven standard or two-tone colors: Cycus Gray, Arctic Silver, Pearl White, Quartz Black, Arctic White, Quartz Black with Real Earth blend, and Cycus Gray with Arctic Silver blend. The Tata Safari DiCOR price range is from Rs10 lakhs to Rs17 lakhs depending on the variant. Despite stiff competition, this veteran is proving her worth by continuing to perform well due to her comfort, enormous interior space, and long-distance cruising prowess.