The beast is back and is roaring in a bid to reclaim the numero uno SUV status this side of Rs 10 lakh. Ever since its launch in 1998, the Tata Safari has been touted as the country’s only true-blue SUV. There was never any doubt about the mammoth’s virtues: brute looks, great off-road presence, huge cabin space. What embarrassed it was its puny engine. Be it the turbo diesel with 90 bhp or the previous Dicor 3.0 pumping out 115 bhp, performance was always below par for the two-tonne monster. The new Safari Dicor 2.2 diesel comes with an engine that churns out 140 bhp.

The Safari always had the looks to give any foreign SUV a run for its money, so Tata has retained the old design and made a few cosmetic changes. The new front grill has, however, robbed the Safari of its menacing look, giving it a tamer corporate visage. But this is not a bad thing as the vehicle’s size still gives it an imposing presence. The 2.2 has been given a new spare wheel case that is elegant and complements the front grill. The off-roader also comes with safety features like anti-lock braking system, twin airbags and tubeless wheels.

The weakest link is the interiors. The beige look is a disappointment, as is the plastic quality that is on the lines of Mahindra’s budget car, Logan. As the Safari costs just over Rs 10 lakh, this does seem to be a letdown. The power windows and light switches look flimsy. The door lock levers and the wood-like central console panel, which is clearly plastic, look like they have been picked up from some east European automobile manufactures’ spare bin. Though the new colour makes the cabin look light and airy, the quality is not so good.

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