Tata Safari Storme V400 Long Term Review
Long Term Test No. 116
Car Tested: Tata Safari Storme Varicor 400
Kms Done: 5907 kms
Test Started at: 14,723 kms
Test Concluded at: 20,630 kms
Mileage: 9.50 km/l, 11.20 km/l (best), 7.99 km/l (worst)
Fuel Consumed: 621.78-litres
Fuel Cost: Rs. 36,399/-
Rs. per km: Rs. 6.16/-
The Tata Safari Storme is an addiction and the V400 engine is a powerful dose
The Tata Safari has been our workhorse since a long time. First, the pre-facelift model joined our fleet followed by the facelifted (4×2) version and finally the Varicor 400 (4×4) powered beast. I have spent the most time with the Safari and still I can’t describe how addictive this desi SUV is. Usually what happens at our office is that a long term car joins the MotorBeam fleet and we publish all the reports before it leaves. Now it has been almost a month that the Safari has gone and every time I sit to write the report, I wonder how to pen down my thoughts. Anyways, let’s get it going.
Just look at the powerful stance of the Safari and its typical SUV proportions
I have noticed that with every new version of the Safari, the SUV is getting some improvements on the drivability and reliability front while the design and styling aspects remain more or less the same. The Safari Storme was a big step up from its predecessor, the Dicor. Again, no major design changes but a much more practical and reliable Safari to drive. The ride and handling department got major improvements including a tauter suspension, much better turning radius and most importantly better build quality with relatively less rattling issues. Now these updates made the Safari a practical SUV to drive in the city.
The interiors lack many features but the quality has been slightly improved
The Tata Safari Storme is practical and spacious but gets a short features list
In 2015, the Storme facelift was introduced that had no cosmetic changes except for the revised grille. The interior too didn’t get major changes except for the black upholstery, new steering wheel and Harman audio system. However, it had a ton of mechanical improvements that went unnoticed by many. It came with a self-adjusting clutch that is butter light to operate and offers improved life. It came with a new timing belt with 1.5 lakh km warranty. The engine was re-tuned to offer max torque at lower RPMs resulting in better fuel efficiency and improved drivability.
When compared to the Fortuner, the Safari look similar in size
Tata also made huge cuts in service costs of the facelifted Safari Storme. Rear axle oil, auxiliary drive belt and engine vacuum hose no longer require any replacement for the lifetime of the vehicle. Also, power steering oil, engine oil and wheel alignment service intervals have been increased by 30 percent. The new fuel filter also comes with better life. So all in all you get a much more reliable Safari these days which is super easy to maintain and more practical to drive on a daily basis. Sadly, Tata didn’t highlight and promote these improvements enough in the market for the buyers to change their preconceived notions about the Safari being unreliable and heavy on the pocket. Our desi junta only knows that the Storme facelift comes with a new grille and steering wheel while the additions on the V400 version include a fender badge and more torque. That’s not it guys!
The Safari is a good mix of comfort and off-road ability
The Storme Varicor 400 can easily smoke most of the compact SUVs that are much lighter
The 320 Nm engine had adequate performance on tap and it never felt underpowered. The Varicor 400 takes the performance to the next level though. There is no dearth of torque, the mid-range is so strong that you can easily perform a burnout or a power drift on a loose surface. The way it pulls this hefty SUV is amazing, the oil burner just doesn’t give up until the redline. However, I noticed a tad more turbo lag under 2000 RPM compared to the regular engine.
Remember the aerial shots of the Audi R8? This is how it happened
What I really missed with the 320 Nm engine was the additional 6th gear for better cruising on the highways. This has now been addressed with the V400 and the additional gear is a boon to munch miles on the highways. However, I feel the new gearbox is relatively notchy than the 5-speed unit. This is the same 6-speed manual gearbox used in the Hexa, which has a similar notchy feel to it. Also, the gear ratios are a bit absurd. The first gear is short and sedate but as soon as you shift to second you get a kick while third onwards the gearing is long. You need to get the hang of it to smoothen out the shifts.
The beast is always ready to shift houses with massive luggage capacity
The Safari doesn’t feel underpowered in spite of being quite a heavy weight SUV
What makes me fall in love with the Safari is the road presence, driving position and the suspension setup. You sit high up like a maharaja with a fantastic view around, you don’t feel claustrophobic when stuck in traffic. The intimidating size doesn’t let those Olas and Ubers (the most impatient drivers) cut your lane and even the toll booth guys think twice before asking for toll with that powerful presence. You can just glide over the biggest potholes as the rugged suspension can take anything in its stride. The Safari is also the king of off-road in its segment since it’s the only one having limited slip differential for those extreme terrains.
The service costs have been cut drastically from the pre-facelift model
Tata Safari Storme Service Costs
1. Service Schedule – 10,000 kms/6 months (whichever is earlier)
2. Cost of Service per 1,00,000 Km – Rs. 65,000/-
3. Cost of Spares –
* Engine Oil Per Service – Rs. 2467/-
* Brake Oil – Rs. 230/-
* Oil Filter – Rs. 234/-
* Fuel Filter – Rs. 2132/-
* Brake Pads (Front) – Rs. 3386/-
* Rear Brake Lining – Rs. 4496/-
* Front Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 5179/-
* Rear Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 6703/-
* Headlamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 8839/-
* Tail Lamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 1629/-
The Safari isn’t a bad SUV at all for daily usage in cities like Mumbai
Yes, there are some important bits missing in today’s day and age like a reverse camera, cruise control, dead pedal, multi-information display and front facing third row seats. These additions in the facelifted Safari would have made it a much more convenient SUV. However, the Safari isn’t all about convenience, it’s the mechanical and raw driving feel that most of the SUVs lack these days. I feel the V400 will be the last iteration of the Safari saga before the Q501 monocoque successor comes in the next couple of years and joins the new age SUV crowd.
The additional 6th gear makes it a relaxed mile muncher now on the highways
What’s Cool
* Fantastic performance of the V400 engine, heck it’s even more powerful than the Endeavour 2.2!
* Additional 6th gear makes it a comfortable cruiser on the highways
* Supreme ride comfort and high-speed stability
* King of the road commanding position and intimidating presence on the road
What’s Not So Cool
* 6-speed unit feels a bit notchy
* Tata should have provided more features to differentiate from the regular Storme
A rare sight this, two Safari brothers standing next to each other
Testers’ Note:
Hopefully the Safari successor retains some of its characteristics
Further Reading –
2016 Tata Safari Storme Long Term Review – Initial Report
Tata Safari Storme Long Term Review – Initial Report
Tata Safari Storme Long Term Review – Final Report
2016 Tata Safari Storme Varicor 400 Test Drive Review
2015 Tata Safari Storme Facelift Test Drive Review
Tata Safari Storme – Tour de Gujarat [Travelogue]