Tata Safari DiCOR 2.2VTT-To Di(COR) For?

Comfort apart, the interior quality is left much to be desired of. We were expecting a lot from Tata but seems like our hopes have met a muted death. The plastics inside feel cheap and ergonomics have gone for a toss. The gear lever obstructs when operating the sound system and the air-con dials. The fake-wood finish looks horrid as does the dash-mounted clock. And also the other buttons and knobs. The minimalistic look of the instrument cluster and also the lighting lends it a boring look. Sorry, but the overall finish is not very alluring. The air-con chills effectively but if you happen to be tall, your head will hit the roof mounted vents for the rear passengers. The equipment list is bang on buck and you get LCD screens at the rear to feast your eyes on whatever you want to watch. The Safari 2.2 also gets ABS and airbags to enhance the safety aspect. But there is not much to speak of towards the interior. It looks almost the same as the old one.

But then, you would not want to buy this car to drool over the interior or fascinate about the performance. What you would want to buy this car for is sheer presence and image, which the Safari delivers on very well indeed. I was astounded to see that this car, one that has been around for more years than it takes a person to reach puberty, still draws attention and turns heads in admiration. Some achievement that! And if you think "that's it, I am sold on this car" then hang on, for I have some more good news coming your way. The Safari is a blue-blooded, true, genuine, pukka, credible off-roader.

Whatever we dived into, the Safari dismissed with aplomb. Slush, rocks, inclines, everything that this part of the country can offer was thrown at this mean machine and all the Safari did was said "hmmm, this is more like it. Bring it on!". Damn, I am impressed. Just one chink in the armour, again! We really did not fancy the small, fiddly knob (which is more akin the headlamp beam adjustment switch) and would have liked a macho rotary knob or better still, an Endeavour-like small shift-lever to match the butch appearance of the Safari. Hell, we are never really satisfied with anything, are we?

But holy almightly, she did satisfy on one thing - she makes doughnuts. And how! Mind-boggling! The engine growling, those tubeless tyres squealing hard, you hanging on to the hard and heavy steering wheel for dear life and laughing out loudly inside. Ah... bliss! And after you are done being a ten-year-old, you open the door and climb out. You stand with authority. And then you observe the Safari. Closely. That dust covered, hopelessly dirty Safari looks smart, mature and a bit more appealing with that huge bar running accross the grille and the handsome spare-wheel cover.

So what if the quality isn't touching the moon. So what if the car is not refined. So what if there are vibration issues still. So what if it will give you a spinal-cord issue with its pedal-placement. So what if it is the same age as your granny. It still is capable of making you grin from ear to ear. It still has that presence which makes a lot of heads turn. It still has that pampering ride quality. And above all, it does a brodie, in style! Fun. This Safari can be good fun.