Review and Test Drive of Tata Safari Storme

When you first look at the new Safari Storme, you are immediately struck by how, even 14 years after its launch, Tata seems to have made barely any changes to the exterior. Alterations to the nose & rear suggest that it’s not much more than a facelift. However, that misconception gets blown to dust the moment you drive it. Once you’re behind the wheel, you realise just how much of an improvement the new Storme is over the previous Safari. It feels better built, it’s far more refined, it rides really well & the interior too feels a generation ahead.

The most obvious changes are to the front, where the slim, wide grille (capped with a thick chrome strip) undercuts the sharp looking headlights in a nice, stylistic touch. Move to the side however & the Storme looks exactly like the old Safari. New cladding for the doors & wheel arches can’t hide the fact that the glass house is identical, the doors are similar & the A, B & C pillars are the same as well.

At the back, the tailgate mounted spare wheel has now been moved under the floor. The result is a cleaner rear profile with a new set of tail lights.

On the inside, the overall improvement in quality all around is immediately evident & almost nothing of the old car is carried over. The chrome door handles & leather seats add a touch of luxury, as do small details like the chrome on the gearlever & the flock lining in the glovebox.

Just like the previous generation Safari, the Storme has excellent seat comfort and, once you haul yourself in, you are rewarded with a commanding seating position & a delightfully spacious & airy cabin. The front seats are large & very well bolstered, whilst the rear bench is supportive too.

In stark contrast, the third row is far from comfortable or practical. The tiny, foldable jump seats are only useable on short journeys, at best.

On the mechanical front, the Safari Storme uses an updated version of the 138bhp Dicor motor, which Tata now calls VariCor, because of the use of a variable geometry turbo. This 2.2 litre common rail, direct injection motor uses double overhead cams, hydraulic valve adjusters & sixteen valves to breathe better.

The overall level of refinement is much better now with an engine that is quieter throughout its rev range, & a cabin that feels particularly well insulated from the outside.

Tata engineers have managed to shave around 75 kg off the old car thanks to a lighter chassis, but this hulking two tonne SUV is a bit lethargic off the line; a result of its weight & lack of low end torque. You need to keep the engine above 1800rpm, after which the Storme picks up the pace with a fair amount of enthusiasm. The mid range is quite punchy & cruising is quite effortless, which suits the Safari’s role as a long distance cruiser.

The clutch is reasonably light & the gearbox has been improved with shorter throws, but the shift still feels a bit soggy & vague.

The Storme sits on a shortened version of the Aria’s hydroformed X2 chassis & maintains the previous Safari’s 2650mm wheelbase. As a result, the Storme’s chassis is approximately 50 percent stiffer & 35kg lighter than the old Safari’s outdated ladder frame.

The ride comfort is simply fantastic. The Storme coasts over bumps & broken roads like a freight train, flattening out even the largest of potholes. The suspension, also carried over from the Aria, is on the softer side, & hence there’s a fair amount of pitching & heaving over uneven surfaces.

The Storme retains the old Safari’s comprehensive four wheel drive system that includes a low range & a limited slip differential. The system is easily engaged by using a central console mounted dial & this allows the big Tata to tackle medium to difficult sections.

The new Safari Storme comes equipped with features like ABS, remote locking & an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity standard across the range. In fact, the Rs 9.95 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi) that Tata is asking for the base Storme LX may be considerably more than the old LX, but the equipment is on par, if not better than, the old mid level EX.

Unusually, the top end VX versions (Rs 12.5 lakh for the 4x2) no longer get the reversing camera (there’s just parking sensors) or DVD player as they did before.

The Safari Storme, then, comes across as a quantum leap ahead of the previous Safari. It’s well equipped, refined, better built & comprehensively updated. & with prices starting from Rs 9.9 lakh for the base 4x2 model & going to Rs 13.7 lakh for the fully loaded 4x4 option, it’s great value for money. Also, as a long distance cruiser, nothing can quite beat it for the money. The only grouse is that, even after 14 years, Tata hasn’t got around to changing the ageing body completely.

Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 9.95L to Rs 13.66L (Ex-showroom, Delhi)

Engine

Fuel	Diesel
Installation	Front, longitudinal
Type	4-cyl, in-line, 2179cc, common-rail, turbo diesel
Bore/stroke	85.0/96.0mm
Power	140bhp at 4000rpm
Torque	32.63kgm at 1700-2700rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

5-speed manual

Dimensions

Length	4650mm
Width	1965mm
Height	1922mm
Wheel base	2650mm
Ground clearance	200mm

Chassis & Body

Tyres

235/70-R16

Suspension

Front	Independent, double wishbone, coil springs
Rear	non-independent, 5-link with coil springs

Brakes

Front	Ventilated discs
Rear	discs

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