Tata’s Safari has certainly had many engines but this new 2.2 DiCOR is certainly the one with the most promise.:  There’s not too much different about Tata’s updated SUV on the outside. The grille is slightly different with a thick bar splitting it in half, the bumper is marginally different and there is a smart new wheel cover at the rear, but it still looks good. The smart looks and massive size are part of the Safari’s traditional appeal. Clamber up to the large, comfortable seats and there isn’t much difference in the interiors either. The quality is still poor and the buttons have a flimsy feel. The door handles feel like they will snap if you pull hard and the trim doesn’t fit seamlessly. And while that rear aircon system still looks like an aftermarket unit, the tan colour is a welcome change from the dull grey of the earlier car. The design of the new gearknob looks good too.  This engine was designed with the aim of providing cleaner emissions (it can meet Euro IV standards), better efficiency, performance and refinement. The 2.2-litre motor impresses when you fire it up. Noise and vibration is significantly less, especially at idle. The 2.2 doesn’t have the low-rev responsiveness of the old 3.0-litre or the Scorpio CRDe. The 2.2 engine groans a bit at low revs and there’s a fair amount of reverberation around 1500-1800rpm after which the engine picks up cleanly. But the 2.2 has a much smoother power delivery and a broader torque spread making it nicer to drive. Part of the reason is a sensible set of gear ratios unlike the earlier Safari’s ridiculously tall gearing. Tata has used a variable-vane turbo to take care of good response at low engine speeds and maximum thrust and boost at high speeds. The lag and vibration quickly disappear once the turbo comes into its stride and the Safari 2.2 pulls very strongly. There is a sharp step up in the amount of torque produced at 1500rpm, with almost 30kgm available at this speed, and this makes the Safari feel really light-footed and sprightly despite its 2.2-tonne kerb weight. The car powered its way from 0-100kph in 15.1 seconds. Performance on the highway is very strong, with overtaking a breeze and the Safari possessing enough passing power to startle some saloon car owners. The Safari ran as fast as 156kph. The front brake discs are larger at 302mm, uprated calipers have improved bite and the ABS is better. Under hard braking, the Safari still wiggles but it is not as scary any more. Running both cars back to back, we found a marginal improvement in the city and achieved a figure of 8.7kpl. On the highway the 2.2 gave 13.1kpl, which is similar to the 3.0 litre. The new engine is 80kg lighter and the Safari feels a touch more agile. The steering is light and though the vague feel is still there, the Safari is now more eager to turn into corners. The Safari still rolls like the Titanic but straightline stability is quite good and the Safari certainly feels more stable than the Scorpio. It doesn’t take much to unsettle this top-heavy SUV and you have to keep a tab on the swaying and rocking motion on undulating surfaces. You have to slow down considerably for corners too. The ladder chassis and torsion bar double wishbone suspension are good for off-road use, but not ideal when you want to press on over a winding road. This 4x4 Safari feels at home off-road - lots of clearance, a ‘Shift-on-the-fly’ four-wheel-drive system and a low range allow you to really go off-road with a lot of confidence. Tata has improved the Safari’s ride quality further. For a start, the new car comes with tubeless tyres that transmit fewer shocks from the road and vibration dampers have been used on places like the differential. As a result, the Safari’s ride is less thumpy now. The high 70-profile tyres and tall springs soak up the road very effectively and even on really bad roads, the Safari is king.    Like always, the Safari comes with loads of equipment. The higher VX version gets dual airbags, ABS, reversing camera, DVD screens in the headrests and power everything. You get twin aircon units, seats that flip and fold and on this new version a net to hold onto your luggage. There’s also a new instrument cluster. Another cool touch is the interior lights which dim theatre-style. Throw in the best seats in the business and acres of cabin space and it is hard to find a more comfortable SUV. The 2.2 is a mere Rs.17000 more than the 3-litre motor, which is a small price to pay for an engine that is clearly a generation ahead and that is fantastic value. It may not be perfect, but this is clearly the best Safari ever. |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
Get a grip of the best Wallpapers..
