Ex-XUV500 owners buys a 2023 Tata Safari; first impressions, minor bugs

Despite initial concerns, the light-colored interior has held up well to the wear and tear of two young children till now.

BHPian spaceunicorn recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got the car after paint protection work.

Had around 250kms on the car. These are my observations (comparing mostly to my outgoing XUV500).

Comfortable seating: The driver and co-driver seats provide a good view of the road, even with the seat height set at a medium level. The car is wide compared to the Xuv500 - but the 360-degree camera is an asset to park this one.

Durable interior: Despite initial concerns, the light-colored interior has held up well to the wear and tear of two young children till now.

Firm seats: The leatherette seats are initially firmer than the overly cushioned fabric seats in the XUV500, but they may soften over time.

Enforced seatbelt use: The seatbelt alarm is activated for all seats due to the presence of airbags, ensuring that all occupants are buckled up.

Left knee discomfort: The driver's left knee can occasionally bump against the dashboard, which was not an issue in the XUV500. Adjusting the seating position may help alleviate this problem.

Third-row AC bug: The third-row AC blower is turned on by default when the car starts. Attempting to switch it off from the central console and then back on results in a "Settings cannot be updated" error. To re-activate the third-row AC (once you have switched it off from the centre console), a passenger must physically enter the third row and use the rotary knob there. Or restart the car. This illogical restriction should be addressed through a software update.

Boot opening: The boot can be opened using three methods: a touchscreen button, a key button, or a leg gesture. The touchscreen button is the most reliable, while the key button only works if the car is locked, and the key is outside the car. The leg gesture method is unpredictable and at times fails to recognize the user's movements.

Touch-only AC controls: AC blower adjustments are exclusively made through touchscreen controls on the dashboard. While this provides a modern aesthetic, it may hinder ease of use while driving, for those accustomed to physical buttons.

Adequate power: The Citi mode provides sufficient power for everyday driving, while the Sports mode offers a noticeable boost in performance. The Eco mode effectively increases fuel consumption.

Initial fuel economy: During initial drives within the city, the car achieved an average fuel economy of 11.8 kmpl - mostly city mode. Eco and Sports are used occasionally. Moderate to heavy traffic.

Seat Alignment - The front seat in XUV 500 is more centered towards the right side (which means more space between the drive and the central console. However, Safari has the steering (and so the seat) aligned to the left side (which means there is a visible gap between the driver and the door). This is quite evident while you try to keep your hand on the door handrest while driving - You may not find it comfortable to put your arm on the armrest on the door. This may be one of the reasons why the knee hits the central console. May be dependent on the person as well (I am 5'7" and a bit heavy).

Feature not yet available: I Have not yet got the irS app activated. The lane control (Steering automatically adjusting for lane) will be available in the next update.

Music System - NO words - but it's superb!

Lighting - The mood lights dance with the music. Gets a feeling like you are in a pub or club

Panoramic Sunroof - Both the blind and roof are controlled by one switch. You need to be careful not to push hard, which may open the sunroof as well, not only the blind. Great features are - The Sunroof automatically closes when it detects rain when the car is locked.

Boot Space - The seats are not flat - which means, you may find less space compared to Harrier.

Middle row floor not flat - There is a bump on the middle row floor (XUV500 never had that).

ADAS - We tried auto braking, adaptive cruise control, etc. All worked fine and as expected. The car braked quite well using Adas.

Will update more - as I am planning for a long drive this weekend.

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