Safari Red Dark Edition | Red Is The New Black

Tata loves its special editions. All the way from the Adventure edition to the Kaziranga to the Jet and the Gold editions, there is always something on offer if you want to stand out from the crowd. And now there’s a new one in town. Based on the Dark edition that we already know, this one promises to stand out from the myriad of special editions in the way that it looks and with the things that it brings to the table. Let’s talk about what's new.

More Than Meets The Eye

That genuinely is the case with this Red Dark Edition because at first glance, it might seem like a regular Safari Dark edition. But step closer and you’ll notice the small details that set it apart. Everything has been blacked out this time around, including the “Tata” badge. And then there is the red insert on the tri-arrow grille, calipers finished in red and the badging on the fenders that also get the red treatment. 

The Safari was already a looker with styling elements that make you sit and take notice. And while the Dark edition added to its appeal by making it look meaner and sportier, the Red Dark further gives the package a stylish contrasting look, thanks to the splashes of red. Although, while on the go, you won’t really be able to differentiate it from the standard Dark edition easily until you get a peek inside.

Flaunt It If You Got It

While the changes might not be so obvious from the outside, it won’t take you long to identify the Red Dark Edition from the inside. The first thing that you’re bound to notice is of course the generous use of red on the seat upholstery along with the diamond-shaped quilting which is very premium to touch and feel. 

You get splashes of red on the door handles and central console. Complementing these are the red ambient lighting in the door handles and the sunroof, the latter of which looks really neat. But we do wish that some love was shown on the dashboard as well, because it still continues with the same Steel Black shade found on the Dark editions. While some might like the red and black contrasting interior theme, it’s not for those looking for subtlety. 

But where the dash has been shown some love are the new screens with the infotainment system being upgraded to 10.25 inches and the driver’s cockpit being upped to a seven-inch fully digital display. Now mind you, these aren’t exclusive to the Red Dark edition as both of these are also offered with the standard MY23 Safari. 

All Talk No Show?

This new screen is one of the highlights of the car for sure and there is a lot more functionality on offer. The resolution is crisp and the screen’s responsiveness is better than the older one. You get options to customise the screen using widgets, and although those are currently limited, more options may be added in the future like TPMS and drive information. There’s a lot more information available on the display like the air quality index for instance. You can also control the aircon through the screen although there are separate buttons for it and those are rather easy to use in comparison.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are easy to connect and the sound system is fabulous. But one thing that lets the experience down is the absence of a volume knob. To change the sound levels you actually have to tap the speaker button on the screen and then manually set the volume, which can be inconvenient for a passenger, especially when on the move.

But it does act up randomly in the sense that the response is delayed and the screen lags sometimes when switching between Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and the system's inbuilt interface. Also, on startup, the screen does act like a moody teenager that doesn’t want to get out of bed, but there's no need to fret as these can be rectified via a simple software update.

The 360-degree camera is a boon to have, making maneuvering the vehicle in tight spaces a lot easier, given that this isn’t a small car by any means. The quality of the feed is pretty decent and you can also play with the multiple views including front, back and side. Further aiding its functionality are the different modes which include both 2D and 3D displays of the vehicle and they work as expected as well.

The new seven-inch digital driver’s display is a welcome addition too. There are three layout options, which you can configure according to your preference via the controls on the steering: digital view, dial view and a minimal view. This cockpit also boasts multiple functionality and relays information like the instantaneous power and torque outputs, trip info, tyre pressure monitoring and you can even see the G-forces that you’re pulling.

Factoring in all the pros and cons, overall, in all honesty, both displays were a much needed upgrade, considering what some of the competition has to offer (hints at MG Hector and Mahindra XUV700).

Given the fact that the Red Dark Safari is offered in the top-spec XZ+, XZA+, and XZA+ (O) trims, it is loaded to the brim. There are the aforementioned screens of course, and then the six-way powered driver seat with memory function and four-way powered passenger seat with Boss mode. The latter allows you to move the passenger seat without having to ask a favour from anyone, but it can quickly become a gimmick for the rear seat passengers. Convenient or not? You decide.

Here’s a full list of features that the Safari Red Dark packs:

ADAS

Yes, the Safari now comes with ADAS functionality in both the MY23 and Red Dark Safari, which can be accessed via the new screen. There isn’t a full suite, but still, a total of 10 features are on offer, including: 

• Forward and rear collision warning

• Blind spot detection

• Autonomous emergency braking

• Lane departure warning

Amongst these, the autonomous braking is a very handy feature to have which automatically brakes for you if the system detects a potential collision in front of the vehicle. One thing that’s worth a mention is whenever you indicate while moving to either of the sides, the blind spot cameras are activated and display the feed of that specific side and warn you if there is a vehicle in proximity. 

You can choose the functions to either just alert you via an audio aid, or set it to interfere if the visual aid does not bring you to action on time. These systems can be turned off entirely, but you’ll have to do it every time you restart the vehicle as the system automatically resets to default. 

But it has to be said, there are two big misses here - adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, the latter of which actually helps you maintain your current lane by interfering if you weave off the path, unlike majority of the current features that just pop an alert on the digital screen and don’t actually maneuver the car back to the lane.

All in all, it does miss some of the most attractive ADAS features, which feels like an especially big miss considering how impressive a highway road trip machine the Safari is. That being said, the features it does have function exactly how you’d want them to .

Drive

Tata hasn’t changed anything beneath the bonnet of the Safari Red Dark. The same 170PS/350Nm 2-litre turbo-diesel mill continues to propel the SUV. The only difference this time around is that it is now in line with the new BSVI phase 2 emission norms. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and automatic, which continue to rotate the front wheels of the SUV.

Performance wise, just as before, the engine has ample initial pickup and performance to make city commuting effortless. Overtakes are simple and happen without using too much throttle. Even on the highways, getting past traffic doesn't require much effort and the Safari cruises with ease at triple digit speeds. However, the performance, though ample for the city, won't feel sporty. 

You get the three driving modes: Eco, City and Sport. Toggling between these alters throttle response and gear shift logic to an extent where it holds the gear at higher RPMs a lot more in the Sport mode. This is when you realise that it seems to fall short on refinement and doesn’t sound as polished for something that costs nearly Rs 30 lakh on-road, especially when you square in the competition into the picture.

As for its riding manners, the Safari doesn’t disappoint and keeps the occupants comfortable in almost all instances. Small potholes and undulations don’t hinder the vehicle’s march at all, however, over big bumps, you might feel a bit of side to side movement, but it doesn’t become uncomfortable.

Verdict

So does the new Safari Red Dark make sense? Okay, let’s rewind this a bit. First, The dark edition’s core badassery, which made it so special in the first place, has been enhanced, thanks to the red black theme on the inside, which does make you feel special. Add to that the infotainment upgrades, the new ADAS features and you’ve got a seriously compelling package on offer.

Yeah, sure the red interior is evidently for those with wilder tastes and the execution in itself is tasteful. But it's safe to say that the enduring icon is now the richest feeling, most feature-loaded it’s ever been. It’s also the most expensive it has ever been with the Red Dark’s prices ranging between Rs 22.62 lakh and Rs 25.02 lakh (ex-showroom). In comparison, the standard Safari tops out at Rs 24.57 lakh (ex-showroom). So if shelling out that extra bit of cash (Rs 45,000) is something you don’t mind, then the Safari Red Dark definitely makes sense, especially if you want to stand out from the crowd.