Tata Safari vs Toyota Hilux

We spent a week with the Tata Safari in the updated guise and here are our findings

I'm smitten by pickup trucks and their versatility. So, there's no second guessing what I chose when the Toyota Hilux made it to the line-up of the fourth edition of CarWale's annual off-road day. In fact, it was the only massive pickup amongst SUVs here. To cope with the bulk, it has a 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine producing 200bhp and 500Nm of torque. All this power is routed through a six-speed torque converter automatic to the four-wheel-drive system. The latter gets High (H4) and Low (L4) range paired with electronic 2WD/4WD control. Despite the length, it has good approach (29.22degree) and departure (26.36degree) angles and runs on stock Bridgestone tyres (265/60 R18). Let's see how it performed.

With plenty of body colour options, even a dual-tone as a first in this segment and with many new features, Tata Motors wants to ensure that the new Safari appeals to a wider audience. With its macho appearance, it still can be a symbol of authority while offering a premium and spacious cabin. Moreover, prospective buyers are being offered new technology, and added connectivity, while still being cocooned in safety. The pricing isn’t available yet, but if Tata Motors doesn’t ask for an unreasonable premium, it will be easy for a buyer to confirm his decision for it is quite appealing with the new changes.