New Delhi: For a long time, the Indian auto trend has been favouring SUVs of all sizes and types. With the owners favouring refinement in SUVs, it makes
more and more sense to put a petrol engine in the big cars. Plus, the regulations against diesel engines add to buyers shifting towards petrol cars.
For the Tata Safari, there are many points that make it logical for the brand to bring a petrol engine to it. Launched in 2021, the Safari is quite a big and spacious seven-seater. Recently, we drove the Safari with the 1.5-litre Hyperion turbo petrol engine and here are some of our findings.
Things we liked about the Safari petrol
3) Driving dynamics
In terms of driving dynamics, the Safari is quite prompt and feels good to be seated rather higher from the ground. The steering is super responsive, and the brakes are alert, which in such a big car is always a silent plus point. It is decent and stable at high speeds.
2) Premium and sporty interior
Tata Safari interior feels premium and sporty
Inside, the Safari is quite sporty, and there is a feeling of premiumness as well. In the Dark red version we drove, it came with the Carnelian Red theme leatherette seats, and ambient mood lighting that changes with drive modes, making the cabin feel premium. You also get a 14.5-inch Samsung Neo QLED “Theatre Maax” infotainment screen, paired with Dolby Atmos sound and JBL speakers, offering immersive entertainment and advanced tech features. The touchscreen has good response and resolution.
1) Spacious and ample amount of storage space
As a seven-seater, cars do tend to be slightly cramped either at the back or in the middle row or the boot space is compromised. Not with the Safari because you do have enough room in the second and third rows, and the boot space is decent even with the third row. There are even good enough spots for phones and keys to be kept.
Things we didn’t like about the Harrier petrol
2) Engine feels struggling
The Hyperion 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine in the Tata Safari feels a little struggling
The first thing about the 1.5-litre Hyperion engine is that, despite being tuned higher than the Sierra, with which it debuted, the torque is less than the diesel. The horsepower remains the same, but at 280 Nm of torque, it loses out on 75 Nm of torque from the diesel, and that is evident. The engine is noisy when being pushed, and it does struggle a little to climb the numbers. There’s a turbo lag and it takes a while for the car to respond to the throttle press.
Ergonomic Quirks in Interior Controls
I am personally not the biggest fan of the haptic touch HVAC, as it has troubled me in the past. The buttons feel cramped together at times and are distracting to use. Plus, the piano-black surface looks posh but eventually will show a lot of scratches as well.
