Loved the new Tata Safari but still finalised another Indian SUV

Once on the highway, it’s a smooth cruiser but not as smooth as the Mahindra XUV700.

BHPian sapien recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Did one final test drive of the latest Safari diesel AT before finalizing the only other Indian option in the segment.

Here are some quick observations

• Looks properly big from the outside, in terms of appearance, can manage to be in the same league as Fortuner if not the Legender.
• The interiors are a right balance of modern and timeless. Just the steering is overdone. Tatas are just getting better at interiors with each passing day. In terms of features, it’s super loaded, except for those ADAS lane functions which are likely to be enabled with a software update. Who would have thought cars would get OTA updates just a decade back?
• The drive felt uninspiring, quite a lot of engine noise when at idle, on the move it’s mild but noticeable. The pick up is good but not great, if you’re incremental with the accelerator input, it has a nice linear pull. It kind of nudges you to sit back and relax.
• Noise insulation is good, keep’s outside noises outside, other than that engine thrum. The vibrations are not much, but they are present in the background. Sound system is outstanding, probably the best in the segment.
• Once on the highway, it’s a smooth cruiser, and the new steering is very well-tuned, sporty on the highway but lighter in the city. It’s not XUV700 smooth though.
• Fuel efficiency is ~12 with a combination of city and highway driving, which is decent for such a huge vehicle! My petrol Tiago gives 14-15 on the same route.
• In terms of ride, it feels like a king, you are sitting on something really large and goes over rough patches without worrying too much. For the same reason, it doesn’t feel nimble and requires effort to change directions, feels ungainly! The Jeep Compass is still a benchmark in the ride and handling department. The XUV700 falls right in between, neither too sporty [Compass] nor too plush [Hector].

I really had my heart set on this one, but the mind prevailed.

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