macbook air m2
dell inspiron 15
airpods pro 2
razer barracuda x
keys to my safari
ck one
macbook adapter with cables
iphone 13pro with case by rezoni
parker vector, paperkraft notepad + 1 more notepad from flipkart
chemist at play chapstick
formularx face cream
dadu's titan watch
bandaids from italy (bought by friend)
lenskart readers
gyro ball
savlon n95, the priceless possession
hilfiger wallet + generic cardholder from amazon
Hi people! I hope y'all are doing great!
Nine months with my Galactic Sapphire Tata Safari Smart Diesel, the base variant, the one most people skip past the most, and I think it’s time for a proper write-up. This is going to be honest and detailed.
Quick Stats
Purchased: July 21, 2025
Variant: Smart Diesel (Base)
On road: ~16.5 lacs (incl BH number, 60k worth accessories, extended warranty)
Current ODO: ~7,000 km
The Story So Far
The search started back in June 2025 when I was looking for my first brand-new car. First on the list was the Skoda Kylaq Signature at around ₹12 lakhs, decent drive, but I needed something bigger, so I extended the budget. Next up was the Volkswagen Virtus Highline TSI Manual, genuinely great car, great value, and honestly I still think it is the best sedan in India under ₹15 lakhs right now. I was almost sold on it. Then I stopped by Mahindra to check out the Scorpio N Z2. Good car to drive, but at the end of the day it felt like too basic. It was just a car with 4 wheels. No soft-touch surfaces, halogen lamps, steel rims, seven seats, and a cabin that was purely functional. I was actually considering it for the fun of modifying it up to a top-variant feel using Mahindra genuine accessories. Then I walked into the Tata showroom, and that is where the game changed. At the same price point I was getting soft-touch interiors, a classy cabin, touch AC controls, a colour I actually loved (I am heavily biased towards blue) and a beautiful road presence with amazing high speed stability (thanks to the land rover D8 platform). This was above everything else I had seen. And here we are, nine months down.
We have a Tata Hexa in the family at 1.7 lakh kilometres. Comparing the two, the Safari feels meaningfully more refined, which says a lot about how far Tata has come as a manufacturer.
The FCA diesel engine paired with the 6-speed manual is a genuinely enjoyable combination. The torque delivery is effortless. I have never once thought that I feel a lack of power. Gear ratios are well calibrated, and if you have a soft right foot, the mileage rewards you handsomely. Sometimes too good to be true. Attaching a pic of my last trip. 19.6 km/l on a Jaipur–Chandigarh highway run with 5 passengers and a completely loaded boot. 489 km at a 68 km/h average. The diesel just doesn’t quit. I also tested it tank to tank and came out with an almost same number, -1km/l than shown.
Road presence is massive for the money. Cabin noise is acceptable, not luxury-SUV quiet (to quote the obv). There is one small gremlin though: a faint rattle from somewhere in the rear cabin, present since day one, origin still unknown. Doesn’t bother me too much, but worth mentioning.
She is not driven daily, as my workplace is at walking distance. It is barely driven at short distances. However, from what I've observed. it'll give you 14kmpl easily in city.
The Good
- Insane value at ₹16.5L — genuinely too much car for the money.
- Noticeably more refined than the old Hexa
- Diesel torque feels strong and responsive at all speeds, never feels underpowered
- The engine note actually has character, genuinely sounds good
- 6-speed MT with well-spaced ratios; mileage on the highway is excellent
- Projector headlamps with a solid throw, on the base model!
- All four disc brakes on the base variant, super rare at this price
- 6 airbags standard
- Alloys on base, which is unheard of
- Added the Blaupunkt infotainment + 4 JBL speakers from Tata genuine accessories (~₹45K). The display is crisp, honestly looks on par my friend’s Safari Adventure Dark Edition, and the reverse camera is excellent
The Not-So-Good
- No remote key on the base. You get a basic splendor-style key. For a car this size, with alloys and projectors and disc brakes, this is genuinely embarrassing. Got it installed from a third party, recommended by the dealership itself.
- No fog lamp provision. Installing aftermarket ones requires cutting wires, which voids warranty. An official provision should have been given
- No cruise control - a miss, especially on highway runs but cant complain because of the price.
- Zero infotainment and zero speakers out of the box (fixable with official accessories, but still)
- Manual ORVMs - a cost-cut that stands out
- Lack of spare wheel (fixable but noteworthy)
- Lack of TPMS (which i am planning on fixing by installing the JK tyre TPMS, around 2.5k)
What’s Next
Once the tyres are due for a change, I’m planning to upgrade to the 19-inch alloys from the top-spec Safari. They look a level up and I think the car deserves them. I dont think anything else needs a change.
Final Thoughts
At ₹16.5 lakhs, this is genuinely too much car for the money. The Smart variant makes compromises, but every single one of them is fixable, understandable, and acceptable at this price. What you get in return is a full-size SUV with disc brakes, alloys, projectors, and six airbags. I would buy it again without a second thought.
Happy to answer anything I may have missed - ownership experience, mileage, accessories, comparisons, daily driving, highway runs, whatever. Ask away!
Thanks!