The Tata Safari and the Harrier are now selling at whopping 3.7 lakh rupee discounts, never-seen-before in the short history of both these SUVs. The new Harrier and Safari are less than 5 years old in the Indian market, and Tata Motors facelifted both SUVs in 2023. What happened then is Tata Motors and its dealers got stuck with a bunch of unsold pre-facelift Harrier and Safari SUVs, from 2023.
A year later down the line, Tata dealers continue to have these unsold SUVs, and we’re just about to enter 2025. Clearly, a hefty discount is the only way that these 2023 model year Safari and Harrier will move out of dealer stockyards. This is exactly what’s happening. So, what you get for 3.7 lakh rupees off is the 2023 model year Tata Safari and Harrier. But should you buy one?
Well, there are no straight answers to this question. First, let’s understand what you need to be concerned about while buying a car that’s been lying at the stockyard for over a year.
- Rubber parts, especially wipers are likely to have borne the brunt. So, the wiper blades will have to be changed.
- A car sitting in the stockyard for a full year will need to have all fluids changed. Engine oil, coolant, power steering and brake fluids will require to be changed.
- These things must be done by the dealership as a part of the pre-delivery inspection but you have to make sure they’re done before taking delivery.
Then, there’s the issue of flooding, and subsequent water damage. A few stockyards – across India – bore the brunt of floods. So, it’s important you make sure that the heavily discounted 2023 Safari or Harrier you purchase has not been ‘flood damaged’. So, make sure that you avoid dealers whose stockyards have seen flooding over the past year or so.
Finally, there’s the resale value. If you’re someone who keeps selling cars in say 2-3 years, which you ideally shouldn’t be, then buying a car that’ll be considered 2 years old (based on its manufacturing date) may not be a good idea. However, if you keep your cars anywhere between 7-10 years, don’t worry about resale. You can go ahead and make full use of the heavy discounts.
Coming to what the Tata Safari and Harrier offer, both SUVs are powered by a 2 liter-4 cylinder Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine with 170 Bhp-350 Nm. Both SUVs get a front wheel drive layout, and 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearboxes. While the Harrier offers a 5 seat layout, the Safari gets a 7 seat, 3 row layout.
Both SUVs are highly regarded for their sturdy builds, and have received 5 star crash test ratings. In terms off features, both SUVs – especially in the top-trims – have everything you’ll need. However, ADAS is available only with the facelifted models.
What next for the Tata Safari and Harrier?
Early next year, Tata Motors will launch an electric variant of the Harrier. After the Harrier, the Safari is also expected to get an electric powertrain. An all wheel drive layout is also likely to be offered on the electric variants of the Harrier and Safari.
Then, there’s the turbo petrol engine that’s said to be in the pipeline, for both the Harrier and Safari. The 4 cylinder turbo petrol engine is expected to make about 150-160 Bhp, and get both manual and automatic gearbox options. The petrol powered Harrier and Safari are expected to be launched by the end of 2025.
