Introduction

The Tata Safari was the undisputed champion of the SUV segment for the longest time and for a large period, since being launched in 1998; it dominated the Indian roads like no other. The dream run came to an end with the launch of the more premium SUVs like the Endeavour and Fortuner and the very fact that Tata did not update their model for a very long time.

Respite came in form of the Safari Storme in 2012, but it seemed too little too late and the sales tanked, gradually moving-off the radar for people looking to buy a premium SUV. All is not lost though, the brand name still holds value and a cult following for the Safari remains strong.

To me the Safari has always been the bulky wrestler who has entertained us all with his demeanor, but the times have changed. We don’t watch much wrestling any more, it is the era of meaner contact sports like MMA, the opponent is not just big anymore; he is quick, agile and more lethal with his every move. The Safari then ups the ante with yet another facelift and just prior to the actual storm striking western Maharashtra, we stirred up a Dust Bowl with the refreshed Storme.

Looks and Styling

This revised iteration of the Storme has got some cosmetic changes which are very subtle and most people won’t be able to point them out at the first glance. It is when one compares this new model with the previous version, that these updates become evident. The changes in the fascia include a new honeycomb mesh grille and redesigned bumper. The chrome slat with 'STORME' embossed in it still looks bold and accentuates with the new style. The new Storme has borrowed design cues from some Land Rover products. For example, the revamped front grille is in line with Range Rover’s design language, and boy, has it made a considerable difference. In fact, during our shoot a little girl requested, “Excuse me, can I take a picture of your Range Rover?” With a grin and a bit of pride, I told her it’s the new Tata Safari Storme. Though the projector headlamps and clear lens fog lamps are the same, the restyled grille and bumper has changed the look and surprisingly made it look a lot classier.

The silhouette of the car and pattern of the 16-inch alloy wheels remains the same as the previous model, but the side step is new and looks better than the one on the previous model. At the back, there are absolutely no changes. I wish Tata Motors had done something here like the inclusion of a collapsible step or the inclusion of LED tail lamps would have been a good change and in line with the updates that most facelifted cars receive. Nevertheless, the small tweaks, which the manufacturer has brought in, have proved to be successful enough to give the SUV a fresh look without going overboard.

Interior

Climbing up the side step, assisted by the light guides (puddle lamps) in the dark, one is welcomed to the cabin of the Safari Storme with the 'Safari' nomenclature on the door sill plate. The interior is where most of the revisions can be seen. One of the most soothing changes is the new java black interior colour scheme, which looks far more premium than the earlier beige setup. The seat fabric looks superior and gives a good feel along with the arm rests. Both the driver and co-driver seats are still nice and tall, and provide a dominating position. They come with adjustable lumbar support that does provide adequate settings for a comfortable seating position.

The layout of the dashboard is the same as the 2012 model, but now the faux wood finish gets silver accents and in-mold decorated parts. The ergonomics of the Safari Storme were not that great and haven’t got any better. But with the small updates in the interior, they have made things little more convenient than before. The instrument cluster is the same, simple and clear, but still old-school and boring. However, the much-needed change comes in the form of the three-spoke steering wheel, which gives you the feeling of driving a car and not a commercial vehicle. The steering wheel is similar to the one from the Zest and so feels a bit plasticky once gripped, but still far better than the older one. With this new wheel in place, the infotainment system controls have moved from the inconvenient stock behind the wheel.

The redesigned central console loses the nice looking small analog clock and has been replaced with a simple Safari badging. The essential addition is the neatly integrated CONNECTNEXT music system by Harman. The interface of the new system is simple and avoids clutter with only a few important buttons. Though this is not a touch screen system, it is equipped with all the necessary features in a modern system. There is a new speed dependent volume control, which is effective and also lowers down the volume of the system automatically while reversing. The company has incorporated the reverse parking sensors on the same infotainment display screen. The music system comes paired to six speakers which provide a really good output considering the pedigree of the car. And even when music is not on, the cabin is a much quieter place as the carmaker has worked on the NVH insulation levels to a good extent.

The AC vents are the same rectangular ones from the previous model and cool efficiently. The car also gets a roof-mounted rear AC controls and vents in the second row with a cooling coil. The cubby hole below the infotainment system comes handy to keep your phone, and the one below the hand brake - for the wallet. The one in between the seats gets a circular shape and doubles up as a bottle holder as well.

While, owners are going to be delighted with the illumination of the white LED in the cabin lamp, the quality of the grab handles is quite poor. The middle rear seats are nice and comfortable but a reclining option could have made the journey for passengers even more comfy. The last row of seats or the lack of the row/bench type still continues. The present side facing seats still leave behind no head room, but liberate a big deal of space for the luggage when folded up. The overall changes and improvement in quality of materials used in the interior is phenomenal and vital in upping the styling quotient, addition of vital features and boosting the premium feel of the Storme.

Performance

Tata Motors has equipped the updated Safari Storme with new improved version of the 2.2-litre VariCOR diesel mill. With the new 2179cc power plant, the output has been upped from 140bhp to 148bhp (150PS) of power and 320Nm of torque. This power hike might not sound a lot for the elephantine SUV, but does improve the performance a bit. This motor continues with five-speed manual transmission from the older model.

The first three gear ratios are short and good enough to drive in city traffic conditions. The delivery of torque in the low range of 1,700-2,700rpm is good to get the massive vehicle moving smoothly, though above 2,500rpm, the engine becomes noisy. Even so, at 1,500rpm the engine seems calm and provides a smooth acceleration to get the car going. This means, unless you want to push the vehicle hard, the engine delivers an undisturbed and suave driving experience whether in the city or the highway.

However, more power means more fuel consumption right? Or does it! Fortunately, with the advancement in power, Tata Motors have also worked on improving the fuel efficiency. The ARAI certified fuel economy of the Safari Storme is 14.1kmpl which is extremely impressive. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to get close to this figure due to the short stint with the vehicle. But with a fuel tank capacity of 63-litres, a range of about 600kms is almost sufficient for the long trip or regular city usage. For people expecting a lot from this huge tank, this tank range is not really very spectacular, as most diesel hatchbacks of today offer 600km range with a smaller tank.

The company claims the self adjusting clutch with a 260mm diameter concentric slave cylinder has improved the clutch life. It has surely reduced the clutch effort and it feels lighter than the previous model. But, since the transmission is the same, the gear noise is still evident and there is a clunk with every gear change.

Handling

Well, when we are talking about handling of a 2,555kg vehicle, we are talking serious business. And the ride and handling characteristics of the new Safari Storme feel a bit better than the earlier model.

The steering feedback is good as compared to the old car, it is neither too heavy nor too light, but a composed one. The rack and pinion set-up with hydraulic power assistance does the job well. The turn-to-turn lock could have been smaller amounting to lesser turning of the steering wheel. Nonetheless, a turning radius of 5.4m for an SUV with a length of 4,655mm is good and did not give a feeling of getting stuck while taking u-turns. The wheelbase of 2,650 and a ground clearance of 200mm are tall enough to place it at a good height above the ground.

Taking rough patches, broken roads, muck or a speed bump becomes an unchallenging task with combination of the Bridgestone 235/70 R16 tyres, which are also not bad on smooth tarmac. We were laughing and joking while taking bumps, not realising how comfortable the ride was on bad roads. The front suspension is the double wishbone type with coil spring over shock absorber and the rear suspension set-up is coil spring type with five link rigid axle. This is softly sprung making things still a bit floaty, but the ride quality has slightly improved. The vehicle's tyres still squeal in corners but hold up pretty well. Our recommendation for a reality check with the body roll, is to take a criminal for a ride and rough up the ride to automatically make him confess his crime. I'm not saying it is a good exercise, but that is my only justification. The body roll is still bad! But thankfully, the brakes that stop this gigantic vehicle are good. The ventilated disc brakes in the front and disc brakes at the rear provide sufficient braking power. It is only the base LX variant that comes with the drum brake with auto adjuster at the back.

So, the Safari Storme is like the wrestler who is stiff at the start when he gets punched. But then, this wrestler is trained at taking punches. With the huge mass of the Storme, it nose dives on heavy braking, but then, in situations of panic braking, the ABS does kick in quick with EBD, putting the car back into a safe stance, which otherwise gives a feeling to swerve madly due to the violent weight transfer.

Verdict

With this new version of the Safari Storme, Tata Motors has brought in the changes, which are more of vital improvements that were pending at the time of launch in 2012. But haven't these changes come in a bit late when the competition has moved way ahead? True, even with all these changes the Safari Storme is still a step behind with competition with ladder on frame chassis and limited features list. It might not be able to knock down its competitors with all the vigor like an MMA fighter, but it is now a wrestler who has become more dynamic and capable.

However, this does not mean that the Safari is a bad car to own. Tata might not be the best in terms of brand image, but the Safari is different. This is the car that carries a bit of history with it and every time someone finds out about your car, it will make you feel the same pride that I felt when talking to the little girl who mistook my SUV for another premium Tata product.