If you were alive in 1998, chances are you remember the original Tata Safari — a big, boxy Indian SUV that made you feel like you could conquer both Ladakh and the local vegetable market in the same day. Fast forward to 2025, and we now have the third-generation facelift Safari, looking sharper, smarter, and ready to pull you out of situations you really shouldn’t have been in to begin with.
The one I’ve got here is the Adventure X+ variant — the one Tata made for “adventurous lifestyle customers,” which basically means people who spend weekends Googling “easy treks near me” but still want ventilated seats for the drive home.
Looks: Muscle with MBA
Martin Uhlarik (the guy who also designed the Nexon and Harrier) clearly went for the “tough yet sophisticated” vibe. The new parametric grille looks like it was precision-cut by a jeweller with a vengeance. You’ve got connected LED DRLs that double up as turn indicators, and trail-sense automatic bi-LED projector headlamps that feel like they’re staring into your soul (and automatically dimming so they don’t blind your neighbour’s scooter).
Our review unit came in Supernova Copper — a colour that says, “I’m earthy and adventurous,” but also “please don’t scratch me, I’m expensive.”
And yes, there’s the famous Safari mascot on the doors and a subtle lion family motif on the tailgate — lioness plus two cubs. It’s cute… until you remember that real lions don’t come with 205mm ground clearance and Bridgestone Ecopia tyres.
Inside: Living Room on Wheels
Step in and you’re greeted by brown leatherette upholstery, enough soft-touch materials to make you forget you’re in a diesel SUV, and a panoramic sunroof so big it’s basically a Netflix screen for the sky.
The Ergo Lux driver’s seat is 6-way power adjustable, with lumbar support, memory functions, and a “welcome” mode that slides back when you open the door. It’s like being greeted by a butler who also doubles as a rally driver.
In true Tata style, practicality hasn’t been ignored — you get 420 litres of boot space with the third row folded, or 827 litres if you flatten the second row too. That’s enough to carry half your relatives to Goa… or all your relatives’ luggage while they come in a different car.
Tech & Toys
The Adventure X+ is loaded with gadgets. The 10.24-inch Harman touchscreen supports wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 250+ voice commands (because apparently 249 wasn’t enough), and navigation. There’s also a fully digital instrument cluster that makes you feel like you’re piloting a spaceship… just one that tops out at 167 horsepower.
Safety is where the Safari goes full Terminator — Level 2 ADAS with 12 features including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition. Pair that with six airbags, Hill Descent Control, Roll Over Mitigation, and the fact that both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP gave it a full 5 stars, and you have an SUV that’s basically wearing a bulletproof vest.
Engine & Drive: Diesel Done Right
Under the hood is the 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel — or as Fiat, Jeep, Opel, Cadillac, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, and Suzuki like to call it: “our engine, thanks Tata for the royalties.”
It’s got 167 HP and 350 Nm of torque, enough to pull a small hill, or at least overtake an autorickshaw with dignity. The 6-speed automatic (with Land Rover’s shift-by-wire system) is smooth and relaxed, though if you want max control, the manual is still an option.
There are three drive modes — Eco, City, and Sport — and three terrain modes — Normal, Rough, and Wet. Translation:
- Eco: For when you’ve seen your fuel bill.
- City: For when the traffic police are watching.
- Sport: For when you want the engine to clear its throat.
Ride quality is excellent, thanks to a suspension setup that’s basically an engineer’s love letter to Land Rover. On highways, it’s planted; off-road, it’s confident; in mall parking lots, it’s… still huge, so good luck with that.
Verdict: Big Cat Energy
The Tata Safari Adventure X+ is not pretending to be a hardcore rock-crawler, but it also isn’t just a soft-road poser. It’s a well-built, well-equipped, thoroughly modern Indian SUV that still has the soul of the 1998 original — just with better tech, better comfort, and a much better chance of impressing your Instagram followers.
For ₹20 lakh, you get style, space, safety, and the kind of road presence that makes hatchback drivers pull over just to let you pass. Whether you’re ferrying kids to school, doing a Delhi-to-Spiti road trip, or just cruising to your favourite dhaba, the Safari feels like the right kind of companion — adventurous when you want it, relaxed when you don’t.
Final Rating:
Looks – ★★★★☆ (Bold but tasteful)
Comfort – ★★★★★ (Panoramic sunroof = happiness)
Performance – ★★★★☆ (Diesel torque is addictive)
Value – ★★★★★ (So much SUV for the money)
Annoying Relatives Who’ll Ask for a Lift – Infinity/5
