February 2024 - Tata Safari Diesel Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Updated (Feb 16, 2024): This update of the 2024 Tata Safari diesel variants explained article includes the Feb 2024 prices. Our buying recommendation in this article is based on the value for money and ownership experience.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of 2024 Tata Safari Diesel?

The pros or advantages of Tata Safari 2024 diesel are:

• Fantastic styling and road presence; on the road, it certainly looks more expensive than it is, especially with the connected front and rear lights
• Respectable mileage numbers for a D-segment diesel SUV
• Ventilated 2nd row captain seats is a unique feature for any car under Rs. 75.0 lakh (ex-showroom)
• Automatic transmission is available in all variants except the lower 4 and Adventure trim
• ADAS features available in lower Adventure Plus A variant with manual transmission also
• Base variant now gets a good number of must-have features as standard while the Smart (O) even offers top-model like styling with a decent value for money
• Safari’s features now match or beat the segment standards

The 2024 Tata Safari diesel has the following shortcomings or problems:

• No petrol engine option
• None of the variants manages to earn our top recommendation and most variants either offer poor value for money, poor feature distribution or both
• No 4-wheel drive option (Also Read: Tata Motors Only Major SUV Car Maker Without 4 Wheel Drive — Non An Opinion)
• Manual transmission variants don’t get adaptive cruise control (Honda offer this feature with the City and Elevate; so, we know that it’s not a technology hurdle)
• While they look cool, 19-inch alloy wheels are a bit too much and will adversely affect the fuel efficiency because of higher rotating mass
• ADAS features are only available with automatic transmission — Addressed by Tata in October 2023 update
• A rare car with ADAS but no adaptive cruise control feature — Addressed by Tata in October 2023 update

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car EMI Calculator

What Is The Price Of Tata Safari 2024 Variants?

The Safari 2024 is available in 10 main variants with ex-showroom prices ranging from Rs. 16.19 lakh for the Smart diesel-manual trim and going up to Rs. 26.99 lakh for the Accomplished Plus diesel-automatic variant.

The automatic transmission is available in Pure Plus and higher variants for an additional price of Rs. 1.30 - 1.40 lakh. Among these, the Adventure variant is the only one that doesn’t get the option of an automatic transmission. This premium for the automatic transmission is still quite high but not absurdly high, at least in the higher variants, which also offer you adaptive cruise control with the automatic transmission. This feature is not available with the manual transmission even in the top model.

2024 Tata Safari Diesel Smart - Base Model Features & Review

The base Smart (O) variant of the Tata Safari diesel-manual costs Rs. 16.19 lakh (ex-showroom) and gets the following features as standard:

For the price and segment of the Safari, the base variant is missing a few must-have features like:

• Music system
• TPMS
• Power mirrors (absolute must-have considering the width of the car)
• Front and 2nd row armrests
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Rear camera
• Rear defogger
• Remote central locking
• Steering-mounted controls

Surprisingly, it offers alloy wheels even in the base trim. The Smart (O) priced only Rs. 50,000 more, offers a lot more style features like connected front and rear lights in addition to the functional features. So, they are capturing the style angle quite well and getting you to pay for it. With this move, anyone who buys the Safari (except for Smart and Pure variants) will play a role in making the car look good on the road and help promote it for potential buyers.

Considering that it comes at the cost of a severely lacking in functional and safety features is not a sound judgement and not inline with the Tata Group values.

As for the buying recommendations, the Smart trim is certainly not worth buying. Skip it.

New Tata Safari Diesel Smart vs Smart (O) Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Smart (O) variant also only offers diesel-manual powertrain option and costs Rs. 16.69 lakh, which is Rs. 50,000 higher than the base model.

The Smart (O) variant adds the following notable features:

It still doesn't offer following must-have features we expect from an SUV with an ex-showroom price of almost Rs. 17.0 lakh:

• Music system
• 2nd row armrest
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Rear camera
• Rear defogger
• Remote central locking
• Steering-mounted controls

While this trim too is missing a few must-have features, it’s worth buying if you’re on a budget. Even if you’re not budget conscious, you should consider choosing this one as the higher trims offer horrible value for money. You’ll have to stretch all the way up to the top model (~Rs. 9.0 lakh more) to get a similar value for money rating.

New Tata Safari 2024 Diesel Smart vs Pure Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Pure variant costs Rs. 1.0 lakh more than the Smart (O) and Rs. 1.50 lakh more than the base model. It carries an ex-showroom price of Rs. 17.69 lakh.

In the Pure variant, you don’t get all the extra features of the Smart (O) like connected front and rear lights and others but it adds other features.

Compared to the Smart base model of the Safari, the Pure variant adds the following notable features:

Since it doesn’t get the (O) features, it doesn’t get must-have features like power mirrors, front centre armrest and TPMS. It also doesn’t get:

• Cruise control
• Rear window curtains
• Front and 2nd row armrests
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Rear defogger
• Remote central locking

As mentioned earlier in the article, the Safari Pure variant offers pathetic value for money and is not recommended.

New Tata Safari Diesel Pure vs Pure (O) Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Pure (O) variant of the Safari also only gets the manual transmission and costs Rs. 18.19 lakh, which is Rs. 50,000 more than the Pure trim.

The Pure (O) variant adds the following notable features over the Pure trim:

It still doesn't offer following must-have features we expect from an SUV with an estimated ex-showroom price of Rs. 18.50 lakh:

• Cruise control
• Rear window curtains
• 2nd row armrest
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Rear defogger

As mentioned earlier in the article, the Safari Pure (O) variant offers pathetic value for money and is not recommended.

New Tata Safari Pure (O) vs Pure Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Pure Plus trim gets the option of manual as well as automatic transmission. With the manual transmission, it costs Rs. 19.39 lakh, which is Rs. 1.20 lakh more than the Pure (O) variant. The Pure Plus automatic costs another Rs. 1.30 lakh and carries an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 20.69 lakh. This is the only Safari 2024 variant, which offers automatic transmission for Rs. 1.30 lakh more than the manual. Others charge Rs. 1.40 lakh more.

The 2024 Safari Pure Plus adds the following notable features over the Pure (O):

Considering the asking price, you may miss the following must-have features in the Pure Plus variant:

• Panoramic sunroof
• 2nd row armrest
• Rear defogger
• Rear window curtains

For reasons mentioned earlier in the article, the Safari Pure Plus variant offers pathetic value for money and is not recommended.

Tata Safari Pure Plus vs Pure Plus S Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Pure Plus S variant of the Safari costs Rs. 20.30 lakh with the manual transmission and Rs. 21.79 lakh with the automatic. The Safari Pure Plus S manual and automatic prices are Rs. 1.0 and Rs. 1.10 lakh, respectively, higher than the lower Pure Plus trim.

The Pure Plus S adds the following notable features over the Pure Plus:

While the Pure Plus S addresses one of our concerns with the Pure Plus trim, the sunroof, but it still doesn’t get the following must-have features:

• 2nd row armrest
• Rear defogger
• Rear window curtains

Strictly from a value for money perspective, the Pure Plus S is worth considering. The panoramic sunroof is the saving grace here as it has a high perceived value. If you’re looking for a balanced feature set, then you’ll have to stretch your budget further.

New Tata Safari Diesel Pure Plus vs Adventure Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Safari Adventure variant loses the option of automatic transmission and costs Rs. 20.99 lakh, which is Rs. 1.60 lakh more than the regular Pure Plus trim. Since it doesn’t get the sunroof and other features of the Pure Plus S, we’re comparing it with the Pure Plus Without S variant.

The Adventure adds the following notable features over the Pure Plus (non-sunroof) trim:

Only after reaching the Adventure variant, we can say that it gets almost all must-have features. But we’ve also climbed up the price ladder and with an ex-showroom price of Rs. 20.99 lakh, we start expecting features like:

• ADAS
• Front parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Ventilated seats

Considering that the cheaper Sonet offers these features, we expect the Safari costing almost 50% more than the Sonet should offer them.

As mentioned earlier in the article, the Safari Adventure variant offers pathetic value for money and is not recommended.

Tata Safari Facelift Diesel Adventure vs Adventure Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Adventure Plus once again brings the option of automatic transmission back. It costs Rs. 22.49 lakh with the manual transmission, which is Rs. 1.50 lakh more than the Adventure trim. The Safari Adventure automatic costs another Rs. 1.40 lakh and carries an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 23.89 lakh.

The Adventure Plus variant add the following notable features over the vanilla Adventure variant of the Safari:

Here too, you may miss features like ADAS considering that the Safari Adventure Plus is 2 segments larger and about 65% pricier than the Sonet petrol-automatic.

You should either consider compromising on features and choose Pure Plus S for better value or stretch your budget some more and choose the Adventure Plus A trim. The Safari Adventure Plus is not recommended.

Tata Safari Diesel Adventure Plus vs Adventure Plus A Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Adventure Plus A variant of the Safari 2024 costs Rs. 1.0 lakh more than the Adventure Plus. With the manual transmission it has an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 23.49 lakh while the automatic transmission carries a tag of Rs. 24.89 lakh — Rs. 1.40 lakh more than the manual.

The Safari Adventure Plus A variant adds the following notable features over the Adventure Plus:

Finally, we have a variant of the Safari, which feels complete and that feeling of completeness costs a pretty penny.

Because of the high-value ADAS features, the Adventure Plus A manages to offer a decent value for money and a less-embarrassing 73% value score. This one too is only worth considering and we can’t outright offer it our buying recommendation.

Tata Safari Diesel Adventure Plus vs Accomplished Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Accomplished trim also has manual and automatic transmission variant options. It costs Rs. 23.99 lakh with the manual and Rs. 25.39 lakh with the automatic. These prices are Rs. 1.50 lakh more than the lower Adventure Plus trim. Since this trim doesn’t get ADAS features, we’re comparing it with the non-ADAS Adventure Plus trim.

The Accomplished variant adds the following features over the Safari Adventure Plus:

In this variant, you get most of the top-model features but without the ADAS. This is a perfect option for buyers who don't yet trust the ADAS features or don’t care about them but want the luxurious appointments inside and out.

The Accomplished variant also offers a similar value for money as the Adventure Plus A but it will offer a drastically different ownership experience. While the Adventure Plus A trim focuses on ADAS features, the Accomplished brings luxurious features to the mix. It’s worth considering for these features.

Tata Safari Diesel Accomplished vs Accomplished Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The top-spec Accomplished Plus variant costs Rs. 25.49 lakh with the manual and Rs. 26.89 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are Rs. 1.50 lakh higher than the Accomplished variant.

For another Rs. 10,000, you can have it with the captain seat in the 2nd row. Considering that this option also brings with it 2nd row seat ventilation feature, the 6-seater should be a better option for most buyers. Unless you absolutely need the bench seats in the 2nd row, the captain seats layout is the way to go.

The Accomplished Plus top model gets the following notable additional features over the Accomplished trim:

This is the only Safari variant, which gets all the luxurious appointments and the latest ADAS tech. It’s unfortunate that you have to go all the way to the top to get a decent value-for-money variant and even then we don’t get a variant, which we can openly recommend to most Safari buyers.

On the value front, it only justifies about 80% of the additional cost over the base model with the additional features — same as the Smart (O) variant.

The Accomplished Plus is the top model of the 2024 Safari facelift and it offers a no-compromise ownership experience. Still on the value front, the ~80% cost justification is not enough to earn our buying recommendation. While it may come as a shock to you that none of the Safari variants earned our top recommendation, we’re not too surprised. The Nexon variants too failed to do that because of their haphazard feature distribution and poor value for money.

Which Variant Of The Tata Safari 2024 Diesel Should You Buy?

Let’s keep it simple. If you’re on a budget and value conscious, buy the Smart (O).

If you can stretch a little, the Pure Plus S is a decent option; but it’s decent at best.

Next, you can choose between Adventure Plus A and Accomplished depending on your taste. For luxury, go with Accomplished. For tech, choose the Adventure Plus A.

If you want everything and don’t mind the costs, the Accomplished Plus is the trim for you.

Please note that none of the higher variants manage to justify the incremental cost over the base model with the additional features. Hyundai and Kia surprisingly manage to deliver high-value mid and top variants and a balanced feature distribution too. We hope that someday, Tata cars will also have a balanced feature set and a few value variants exceeding 100% in our proprietary VFM algorithm.

Just like the Safari manual variants, the Pure Plus S, Adventure Plus A, Accomplished and Accomplished Plus are the variants to buy. You can choose one from these based on your budget and feature preferences. Please do your bank account some favour and skip the variants not mentioned in this para. You can, however, choose the dark editions of these variants for a bit of style and exclusivity.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The 2024 Tata Safari Diesel?

The Safari is a D1-segment SUV with 3-row of seating. It offers optional captain seats in the second row with the higher variants. Hector Plus, Scorpio N and the 3-row XUV700 are its prime rivals offering a similar seating configuration and a diesel engine option. However, among these, the XUV700 doesn’t have a captain seat option.

The Hector Plus also has a 2.0L diesel engine, which makes the same power and torque output with similar mileage figures too, with the manual transmission. So, the Safari beats it with the option of an automatic transmission.

The Tata Safari’s other prime rivals are the Mahindra XUV700 and Scorpio N, which get a 2.2L turbo diesel engine. They make more power and offer higher torque too. While we don’t know the efficiency numbers of the XUV700 and Scorpio N diesel, for a D1-segment diesel SUV, it has considerably better performance. In terms of fuel efficiency, the fact that Mahindra haven’t revealed the figures suggests that they are probably much lower than those of the Hector Plus and Safari.

*Estimated

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how much any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The Tata Safari?

The Tata Safari is shorter than the Hector Plus and XUV700 and about as long as the Scorpio N. Just like the mileage figures, Mahindra haven’t revealed the ground clearance and boot space numbers either. They are most likely less than stellar for this segment but until we get official figures, we can’t comment on them. With the information we have right now, it looks like the Safari has the credentials to offer an imposing road presence.

*Based on old Safari

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

What Are The Colour Options Of The 2024 Tata Safari Diesel?

The Safari diesel is available in the following 7 exterior colour options:

• Gold
• White
• Dark grey
• Blue
• Copper brown
• Light grey
• Black

To find out which colour option is available with what variant, you can visit the following link:

Tata Safari 2024 — All Variant-wise Exterior Colour Options

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

You can read more about vehicle segmentation at the following link:

Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples