3 BIG Changes Coming To The Tata Safari: Details

The Tata Safari is currently the flagship model from the Indian manufacturer. The SUV has been in the market for the last four years. After the launch of the Harrier, Tata decided to resurrect the iconic Safari name with their new seven-seater SUV, and it worked in their favor. It is one of the most popular SUVs in Tata’s lineup. It received a facelift in 2023, and it looks like more changes are awaiting this three-row SUV. Here are three big changes that we will be seeing in the Tata Safari soon.

Petrol Engine

The first big change is the engine. Ever since its launch, the current-generation Safari has only been available with a diesel engine. In fact, it uses the same engine as the Harrier. The Safari is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, available with both manual and automatic transmission options.

This has been a drawback for the Safari, as most of its competitors, like the Mahindra XUV700 and MG Hector Plus, offer both petrol and diesel engine options. With rising competition, Tata has finally decided to introduce a petrol engine in the Safari. They have been working on a petrol engine for quite some time, and test mules have been spotted on several occasions.

The Safari is expected to be powered by a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, T-GDI petrol engine that generates around 170 PS and 280 Nm of peak torque. The SUV is expected to be offered with both manual and DCA gearbox options. The same engine will be available in the Harrier as well. The new engine is likely to fall under Tata’s Hyperion series, which we first saw in the Curvv.

Electric Powertrain

The next big change will be the introduction of an electric powertrain. By now, we know that Tata is working on a range of electric vehicles, and the Safari EV is one of them. The SUV will be launched in the Indian market after the debut of the Harrier EV. The Safari EV will be based on the ICE version but with a heavily modified platform to accommodate EV-specific changes.

We expect two battery pack options for the Safari EV. Tata might offer medium-range and long-range variants, as they do with most of their EV lineup. It will then become the most expensive electric SUV from Tata after its launch. It might also be the most powerful electric SUV in its segment. The electric SUV is expected to generate power similar to the upcoming Harrier EV, which is estimated to produce 350 PS and 500 Nm of peak torque.

AWD (All-Wheel Drive)

The third big change is AWD. The ICE version of the Safari currently comes with front-wheel drive (FWD) only. However, when Tata launches the electric version, they will modify the platform to support AWD. The Harrier EV, which is expected to launch soon, will offer this feature, and the same is likely to be available in the Safari EV as well. Safari will also be the second EV from Tata to offer the AWD feature.