Tata Safari XE: What the most affordable variant of the SUV has to offer

The Safari nameplate made a comeback this year. The SUV was launched in February and the booking amount has been set to Rs. 30,000. The SUV is now placed as a luxury vehicle rather than a capable off-roader like the previous Safari. The Safari now starts from Rs. 14.69 lakhs ex-showroom and goes all the way up to Rs. 21.45 lakhs ex-showroom. The price of the SUV has increased by a significant margin. The SUV is offered in 6 variants namely, XE, XM, XT, XT+, XZ, and XZ+.

Here is a video that shows us all things the base XE variant of the Safari has to offer. The variant is aimed towards people who want the Safari nameplate and are on a budget. The video has been uploaded by Motor Planet Official on their YouTube channel.

Also read: Mahindra Scorpio vs Tata Safari in a classic drag race (Video)

The video starts by showing us the keys to the Safari XE. Because it is the base variant, it does not come with any type of remote. Then the host shows us the front profile of the SUV. We can see the turn indicators are placed into the upper strip where you would also find the Daytime Running Lamps. If you opt for the higher variants, the Daytime Running Lamps come with an LED whereas in the base variant they are halogen.

The headlamps are placed in the bumpers which get a halogen projector setup. There is a chrome strip placed below the headlamp. Then there is the fog lamp housing but there are no fog lamps because it is the base variant. The grille gets a tri-arrow design that is finished in chrome.

For the side profile, the first thing you will notice is the 16-inch steel rims whereas the higher variants get 18-inch alloy wheels. The tyre size is 235/70 R16 whereas the higher variants get 235/60 R18 tyres. You can opt for wheel covers as an accessory. The outside rearview mirrors are finished in piano black and they also get LED turn indicators integrated into them. However, the outside rearview mirrors are not electrically foldable and they are also not electrically adjustable.

The door handles are also finished in black plastic instead of chrome. The locks are also manual so you would need to insert the key to open the locks. Tata does offer remote central locking as an accessory. The SUV does get black plastic cladding all over and roof rails that are usable. At the rear, you get LED tail lamps and ‘Safari’ badging. From the rear, you won’t be able to tell if you are looking at the base variant.

You get only two rear parking sensors instead of the traditional four. Also, there is no rear parking camera on offer. The third-row occupants get their own AC vents, blower control and headrests. The second row is a bench seat and it does miss out on an armrest. The upholstery is finished in black and you do get boss mode. You do get all power windows but it misses out on rear speakers and tweeters.

There is no driver seat adjustment and you do miss out on a multi-function steering wheel. However, the steering wheel does offer adjustment for tilt and rake. It misses out on an infotainment system and automatic climate control. There is a central armrest that houses a 12V accessory socket and two USB ports. The dashboard does come with a soft-touch finish and it misses out on vanity mirrors. Overall, the variant is suitable for people who are looking for a 7-seater SUV, are on a strict budget and want Safari’s nameplate.

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