Tata Crew Cab with Safari engine what-dya-call-it!. Review on Tata Safari DiCOR

Got to test drive a new Tata Safari Crew Cab 4WD vehicle in the jungle. Went to sunset point and mystic points.

Here's a report.

Test drive on the "new" Four-wheel drive crew cab from Tata:The vehicle: Looks - Tata mobile crew cab; but it isn't a Tata mobile 207.It's their new "adventure" model crew cab in the "commercial motor vehicle" segment (they have an independent "car" segment of which Tata Safari is included).The cost: Upwards of 8 lakhsThe interiors: Very plastic Tata mobile-like. But with A/c.Plus points: Four wheel drive engaging "knob" with for 2-wheel, 4-wheel low and 4-wheel high.The test zone:High rainfall evergreen forest with dirt track upto 30 degree elevation on stretch from MSL to 600 m above MSL over 12 km length.Time taken: Roughly 3 hours to and fro.Comparison: This road had been negotiated with a Mahindra Bolero 4WD so that was a standard on which present drive is compared.The drive:The vehicle is heavy. In fact feels very heavy. But the power steering helps. It does not have the starting surge, the thrust, like the Bolero. It simply purrs on. The steering radius is huge. At hairpin bends, I had to reverse unlike the Bolero which took the turns smoothly with space to spare. The sales ex who was with me said the radius is actually small, but this particular piece had some problem.The tyres are tubeless. In one particluar spot, the right rear tyre got sunk in a trench. The 4 wheel high gear didn't help. We had to put a lot of rocks in the pit to finally get it out. Unlike the Bolero, which we found could lift itself out with just the front two tyres in high gear.The wipers are very delicate. We got caught up in some climbers (vines) and the right wiper conked out. Some time later the left wiper followed suit.The a/c is neat. But during the climb we had to put it off as it would take off the power even when in high gear.The a/c knobs were rudimentary Maruti 800 - like. The front a/c vents like the plastic Tata mobile vents. Anybody paying over 8 lakhs would expect something better. Maybe with wood finish.Overall assesment: The power is something of a let down especially after seing their ad comparing the Safari with a roller-coaster. You press the accelerator and leave the clutch and the vehicle just moans on. The interiors are very poor. The vehicle is too bulky. Tubeless tyres are okay for the city, not for the jungle. Would opt for a Bolero anyday.