2021 Tata Safari: Same Price, Other Options

Tata has finally launched the latest iteration of its flagship model, the Safari. It comes with a few distinctive features and design elements over the Harrier (that it’s based on). The three-row Safari is available in both 6-seater and 7-seater layouts and is powered by a 170PS/350Nm 2.0-litre diesel engine. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a torque converter automatic. 

However, it is the Safari’s pricing that draws one’s attention. The asking price ranges from Rs 14.69 lakh to Rs 21.45 lakh (ex-showroom), pitting it against not just its direct competitors (read the MG Hector Plus and Mahindra XUV500) but select 5-seater premium compact SUVs and mid-sized sedans as well.

MG Hector Plus

Rs 13.34 lakh to Rs 19.22 lakh

The three-row SUV based on the MG Hector is more affordable than the Safari by a lakh. Like the Safari, the Hector Plus too offers 6-seater and 7-seater configurations. The SUV’s 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system is the biggest in the segment, featuring several connected car features such as remote-engine start/stop and cabin pre-cool. The Hector Plus also gets a powered tailgate, full LED lighting up front, and front ventilated seats -- features that both the Safari and XUV500 miss out on. Under the hood, the Hector Plus utilises the same FCA-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine as that of the Safari but misses out on an automatic gearbox option.

Mahindra XUV500

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Rs 13.83 lakh to Rs 19.56 lakh

Being the oldest model here, the XUV500 misses out on some premium features like auto headlamps and auto wipers. It still manages to match its competition by offering the essentials such as smartphone-connectivity, auto climate control, and cruise control. At 155 PS, its 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine may not be the most powerful but is certainly torquier than its rivals (360Nm). Like the Safari, The XUV500 gets an optional 6-speed AT, along with the standard 6-speed manual.

MPV

Toyota Innova Crysta

Rs 16.26 lakh to Rs 24.33 lakh

If practicality is your priority, then the Innova is a better choice. It not only gets three rows but also two engine options. The recent facelift has seen the Innova get more premium features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and front parking sensors. Safety is taken care of by seven airbags (the Safari has six). Extra features available include connected car technology, geofencing, and real-time vehicle tracking. Over the years, the Innova Crysta has built its reputation around reliability and is certainly an alternative worth considering.

5-seater SUVs

Hyundai Creta

Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 17.53 lakh

While its base variants are more affordable than those of the Safari, the top-end (manual and automatic) variants of the turbo petrol and diesel-powered Creta put it in the same league as the Safari’s base and mid-spec variants. The feature-heavy 5-seater SUV is indeed a strong contender in its segment. Certain features to the Creta that the Safari misses out on include ventilated front seats, an air purifier, and a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Creta doesn’t directly compete with the Safari, but that may change soon, considering there may be a 7-seater version in the works.

Kia Seltos

Rs 9.89 lakh to Rs 17.45 lakh

The Seltos was Kia’s debut model in India. Much like the Creta, prices of the Seltos’s top-spec variants are similar to those of the Safari’s lower-spec variants. Kia’s compact SUV is packed to the brim with features, with a few of them over those of the Safari. These include an air purifier, a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system (the Safari gets an 8.8-inch one), and a camera-based blind-spot-monitoring system. Opting for the Seltos makes sense if you’re looking for a 5-seater SUV that offers a mix of comfort and convenience.

Jeep Compass

Rs 16.99 lakh to Rs 28.29 lakh

Having undergone a facelift recently, the Compass now packs premium features such as connected car tech, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and a massive 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. That said, you will have to shell out a premium over the Safari if you’re aiming for the Compass’s top-end variants.

Premium Sedan

Hyundai Elantra 

Rs 17.83 lakh to Rs 21.10 lakh

Suppose the extra row of seats and a bigger car’s road presence aren’t your priorities. In that case, the Elantra could be your preferred alternative. The premium mid-size sedan sits within the same price range and gets features such as ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, electric sunroof, and an 8-speaker Infinity sound system. The Elantra comes with both petrol and diesel engine options.

*All prices ex-showroom India