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Comparisons/ Features » Tata Safari Storme Vs Mahindra Scorpio– Which Is A Better SUV?

Tata Safari Storme Vs Mahindra Scorpio– Which Is A Better SUV?

Tata has officially launched the Tata Safari Storme it showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo held in New Delhi. For sure the car is impressive enough, but will it be able to give the Scorpio a run for its money? Let us find this out with a detailed comparison of Tata Safari Storme VS Mahindra Scorpio .

Exterior Comparison

The Storme is a comprehensively revised Safari with numerous improvements which one cannot overlook. The styling is refreshing and the Safari Storme does have a road presence of its own. Some of the noticeable changes on the exterior are new headlamps with swept back design, chrome strip just above the new grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers, absence of the tailgate mounted spare wheel, a restyled rear with new tail lamps, new dual exhaust etc. All in all Tata has sincerely reworked the Safari and has made it much better.

The Mahindra Scorpio was updated a while back and it still looks very rugged and masculine. The sporty front with a hood scoop does impart a stunning look. Both the cars are quite distinguished in a way that Scorpio is a very sporty machine while the Storme has a touch of elegance.

Tata Safari Storme Dimensions

• Length: 4655 mm
• Height: 1922 mm
• Width: 1965 mm
• Wheelbase: 2650 mm

Mahindra Scorpio Dimensions

• Length: 4430 mm
• Width: 1817 mm
• Height: 1975 mm
• Wheelbase: 2680 mm

As we can see here, the Storm is significantly longer and wider. In terms of wheelbase and overall height, the Scorpio is better.

The interior styling of the Safari Storme is light years better than the Scorpio. It feels so very modern and pleasant on the inside. Feature wise the Storme has a better set of gadgetries at this moment. The list includes Electrically adjustable ORVMs, Ventilated Disk brakes on all wheels , ABS and EBD , Improved steering system , Better frame construction crumple zones for crash protection, Side intrusion beams on all doors , Collapsible steering column , Dual airbags, Inertial switch and engine immobilizer, Keyless entry and power folding outside rear view mirrors, Chrome outside door handles, Best in class space, Wooden panels on interiors, Rear AC Vents, Chrome inside door handles, Dual Exhaust for sporty look, Rear parking assist with display on the inside rear view mirror etc.

The Scorpio being an old model, is not much inspiring on the inside. The central console including the whole dashboard is quite ordinary with nothing to explore. Some of the highlighting features include dual airbags, ABS, Bluetooth enabled for your phone, tyre-tronics for latest updates on tyre pressure and temperature, speed alert, intelli-park, cruise control , rain and light sensors for wipers and headlamps, automatic transmission etc.

2012 Tata Safari Storme Engine Specifications

• 2.2 Litre 16 valve CRDI Diesel engine
• Peak power of 138 BHP @ 4000 RPM
• Peak torque of 320 Nm @ 1700-2700 RPM
• The engine has a variable geometry turbocharger for better performance
• 5 speed manual transmission system with a 4X4 all wheel drive system which can be electronically be shifted on-the-fly even while the SUV is moving
• ARAI certified mileage of 14 KMPL (2WD) and 13.2 KMPL (4WD)
• Power to weight ratio of 65.8 BHP per 1000 kg

Mahindra Scorpio Engine Specifications

• 2.2 Liter mHawk Turbocharged CRDe diesel engine
• Max power of 120 BHP @ 4000 RPM
• Max Torque of 290 Nm @ 1800-2800 RPM
• 5 Speed Manual/ 6 Speed Automatic
• 4 Wheel Drive and 2 Wheel Drive Options
• ARAI certified mileage of 12.05 KMPL
• Power to weight ratio of 45 BHP per 1000 kg.

Comparing the two on the grounds of engine performance, the Storme certainly is better. It offers better overall power and torque and even has a marginally better fuel efficiency. Moreover the on-the-fly switchable all wheel drive system is a highlight and Scorpio does not come with any such system.

Performance & Handling

The new Storme has a switchable drive train and also has improved handling characteristics. The Scorpio isn’t a bad performer but by comparison with Storme, it does feel slightly less confident. If you look at the power to weight ratio of the two, again the Storme is better than the Scorpio.

Price and Value For Money

Tata Safari Storme is priced between Rs. 9.95 lakhs and Rs.13.66 lakhs. The Scorpio is priced between Rs. 7.79 lakhs and Rs. 12.63 lakhs. The Safari Storme on-the-fly all wheel drive system is only available in the top end variant which is priced at 13.66 lakhs. The Scorpio on the other hand is available with 4WD in more than one variants: LX and VLX. Moreover the Scorpio also comes with an automatic transmission in the top end VLX variant.

Conclusion– Tata Safari Storme Vs Mahindra Scorpio

The Safari is no doubt a better car but when it comes to pricing it is a bit on the pricier side. The Scorpio comes with less features but at the same time is available in a number variants to choose from. If one is planning to buy a spacious SUV and does not want to spend much then you do get plenty of options in the Scorpio range. Also you can afford a 4WD drive Scorpio at a relatively less price.

Safari is a feature rich car but there are no entry level variants in the Storme for price conscious buyers. So clearly if you want to own a simple SUV and can compromise on less features, Scorpio is meant for you. But if you do want some good features and the exclusive switchable all wheel drive feature then Storme is the car for you.

Also read- Renault Duster Vs Mahindra Scorpio

Rohit Khurana

Rohit Khurana is the founder and Chief Editor of Car Blog India. He is a Mechanical Engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and runs multiple online publications in New Delhi, India. He has been writing about automobiles since the year 2008. He has over 16 years of experience in automobile content domain. He has a hands-on experience with cars since the year 2005 during his participation in the Formula Student Competition from Delhi College of Engineering.

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• Which is better: Tata Safari Storme Facelift, or Mahindra Scorpio / XUV500? Which is better...

Which is better: Tata Safari Storme Facelift, or Mahindra Scorpio / XUV500?

Written By: CarToq Editor

Published: May 11, 2015, 18:43 IST

Updated: Apr 05, 2019, 00:52 IST

Should you buy Scorpio or XUV500 or wait for Tata Safari Storme facelift?

If you are looking for a full-size SUV with a budget of up to Rs. 15 lakh, there are only three main options available – the Mahindra Scorpio, the XUV500 and the Tata Safari Storme. The Force One is a fourth option, but it hardly sells more than a few vehicles every month.

The Tata Safari Storme has just got a facelift, which should be in showrooms over the next few days. Read: Tata Safari Storme facelift in images . But the question is, is it worth waiting for this facelifted Tata Safari Storme or would you be better buying the Mahindra Scorpio or Mahindra XUV500?

Let’s see how the facelifted Tata Safari Storme compares with these two SUVs, which are its main rivals.

Tata Safari Storme vs Mahindra Scorpio

Why Scorpio: More features, better value for money

Why Storme: More space, slightly more power

In terms of sheer numbers, the Mahindra Scorpio outsells the Tata Safari Storme many times over. In the past six months, Tata has sold only 2,920 Safari Stormes, while Mahindra has sold nearly 10 times that amount at 27,500 Scorpios!

Let’s look at what the strengths of the facelifted Tata Safari Storme first. It has a similar 2.2 litre diesel engine as the Scorpio, but puts out more power at 148 bhp compared to only 120 bhp for the Scorpio. Torque too is at 320 Nm compared to 280 Nm for the Scorpio. Both get five-speed manual transmissions and offer four-wheel drive variants with shift-on-the-fly electric 4×4 operation with low-range gearboxes. The Storme though has far more interior space and more comfortable seats compared to the Mahindra Scorpio, where legroom is still an issue in the middle row especially and the seats are not as wide as the Storme’s seats. The Storme also has power-folding outside mirrors.

However, the facelift has not done much to help the Safari Storme’s case. The new features that the Storme gets includes a revamped infotainment system that moves further up on the centre console. It gets in-built parking sensor display and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the Mahindra Scorpio S10 offers a touch screen double-DIN unit that can also play video and has GPS navigation built in. The new Storme has a revamped steering wheel with steering audio controls, but the Scorpio also has cruise control. Although the AC controls on the Storme have been revamped, it still does not have automatic climate control (the Scorpio S10 has this feature). In addition, the Scorpio also has static bending lamps and a more comprehensive MID. Small things like a fuel efficiency display matter.

Now a look at prices. The Mahindra Scorpio is priced between Rs. 8.75 lakh ex-showroom for the bare bones S2 variant going up to Rs. 13.50 lakh ex-showroom for the fully-loaded S10 four-wheel drive variant. Assuming Tata is keeping the Safari Storme’s pricing unchanged after the facelift, the Storme is priced between Rs. 10.5 lakh and Rs. 14.3 lakh. Not much has changed really from how Safari Storme and Scorpio compared earlier .

Clearly, except for space and a bit of power, the Mahindra Scorpio emerges as a better value for money product.

Tata Safari Storme vs Mahindra XUV500

Why XUV500: More features, better people-carrying ability

Why Storme: Lower price, better off-road credentials

So how does the Tata Safari Storme compare with the Mahindra XUV500 then, which is more expensive than the Mahindra Scorpio? Here again, the sales figures tell the story. The Mahindra XUV500 has sold nearly 16,500 vehicles in the past six months more than five times that of the Storme’s figures.

In terms of engine power, the Storme and the XUV500 are pretty evenly matched, with the XUV500 putting out 140 bhp of power and 330 Nm of torque from a similarly sized 2.2 litre diesel engine. However, the XUV500 gets a six-speed manual transmission, with the top-end getting all-wheel drive capability as well. Yet, the XUV500 is only a soft-roader at best. The Tata Safari Storme has a rugged ladder-frame chassis, better ground clearance and more robust suspension to handle rough roads.

The XUV500 though is better as a people mover with all forward facing rows and decent legroom (the middle-row has more legroom than the Safari Storme). The Storme does not quite win the space battle here, especially since it still offers only two side-facing jump seats in the boot that are not comfortable. And when it comes to features, it is clearly better than the Storme – with GPS navigation, cruise control, six airbags and traction control being some critical features that the Storme does not have.

In terms of pricing though, the XUV500 is a bit more expensive, priced between Rs. 11.2 lakh and Rs. 15.06 lakh. Still, with the additional features, especially safety features, that XUV500 offers for just about Rs. 70,000 more makes it better value than the Tata Safari Storme , in line with our earlier assessment . The difference here though is not as stark as the comparison with the Scorpio.

So who should buy the Storme?

We think the “update” to the Tata Safari Storme is just a storm in a tea cup really. It won’t make much of a difference to overall sales of the vehicle and it won’t be able to overtake either the Scorpio or the XUV500. The only reason to buy the Storme would be if you want an SUV with more space than the Scorpio for rough roads. And, of course, if you hate the looks of either of the Mahindra vehicles.

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• Scorpio vs Scorpio N vs Safari Storme 2019

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Scorpio vs Scorpio N vs Safari Storme 2019 Exterior Images

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The updated Safari Varicor 400 takes on its old rival the Scorpio S10 in the battle of the homegrown stars.

Published On Feb 09, 2016 09:35:00 AM

2,39,139 Views

Tata recently updated its Safari Storme SUV with a new top trim that comes with an uprated motor and some cosmetic changes. To see how this new variant fares in the SUVs race, we pit it against Mahindra's popular Scorpio. 

Performance & refinement

The Safari’s 2.2-litre motor, has been updated and now makes 154bhp and an impressive 40.78kgm of torque. It gets a new six-speed manual gearbox. This has made the Safari faster, it does 0-100kph in 12.84 secs, making it 0.6 seconds faster than the Scorpio. The Safari takes its time to get going due to a big turbo. Post that, there is a step-up in performance and you feel a nice shove in the back as it accelerates out but the engine sounds coarse and gearbox feels rubbery.

The Scorpio’s mHawk engine makes just 118bhp in comparison. Despite this, it is the faster one to respond and picks up quite well from slow speeds. It is also the nicer and easier SUV to drive on crowded city streets.

However, on open roads, it lacks the Safari’s punch and the engine gets vocal when you wring it too hard. And as for the gearbox, the long rubbery shifts takes all the fun out of shifting gears.

Ride & handling

The Safari feels jiggly at slow speeds and rocks from side to side. But the long-travel suspension can gobble up potholes without a fuss and it feels more adept at handling rutted roads than the Scorpio. Overall ride is really good and so is the straightline stability. However, show it a series of bends and the Safari isn’t too happy. The skyscraper-like towering stance and the resulting body roll often gets unnerving as the speeds rise.

The Scorpio feels marginally stiffer than the Safari and you do feel most road undulations at slow speeds. It too, tends to rock from side to side and bobs a fair bit as well. The ride does settle down once you pick up speed and it absorbs road imperfections pretty silently. Its high-speed stability is decent and it feels more agile than the Safari. It rolls less and the top-heavy feeling of the Safari is not felt in the Scorpio. 

The Safari’s updated interior looks much bigger. The dashboard colour scheme looks different and the buttons and knobs seem to be updated. Although there’s no touchscreen infotainment system, it does get functionality like Bluetooth telephony, aux and USB connectivity. The interior just doesn’t have that premium feel sought by car buyers at this price and even quality of materials is just about average.

Mahindra’s interiors feel well built and the quality of parts are much better. The black and grey dashboard looks more premium than the Safari’s and the touchscreen infotainment system works very nicely as well. The dials are quite easy to read and fit and finish is better than on the Tata. It definitely has the better cabin. However, closer inspection reveals some patchy quality; it’s still negligible compared to the Safari. 

Space & practicality

Space on the inside is humongous. The high-set and large front seats are very spacious and comfortable, and the rear bench is massive with lots of room too.

The same can’t be said about the third-row jump seats though; they are not suited for use over long journeys. But folding this row does liberate masses of space for luggage. On the whole, the Safari has the more spacious cabin and it’s decently practical too.

The Scorpio may not have the enormous cabin of the Safari but it does offer sufficient space inside. The front seats are quite comfortable and the rear seat does have sufficient space as well. Just like in the Safari, the third row has jump seats which won’t find much use, but can be folded for luggage space though there’s not as much space here as in the Tata; comfort levels are actually decent.

The more expensive Safari’s engine is available only on the top-spec VX variant which costs Rs 13.26 lakh for the 4X2 and Rs 14.60 lakh for the 4X4 variants. However, there’s no change to the equipment list. It gets electrically retractable mirrors, audio system with Bluetooth, aux and USB, and a CD player. It gets alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, two airbags and ABS also. But there’s no climate control system and for a vehicle this big, we’d have liked a reverse camera too.

The Scorpio S10 is available in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive avatar, priced at Rs 12.63 lakh and Rs 13.76 lakh, respectively. It is more affordable than the Safari. In this top trim, it gets a touchscreen infotainment system with USB, aux-in, USB and Bluetooth telephony. There’s climate control, automatic headlamps, wipers and an automatic start-stop system as well. For safety, it gets two airbags and ABS as standard.

Tata's Safari Storme continues with its traditional strengths of unshakable ride quality and spacious interiors. The extra punch on the engine is a welcome addition and the SUV is faster now but the 2.2-litre unit still takes some time to get over its turbo lag. And given how fast competition is moving along, Tata really must do something about quality levels; the interiors simply lack the premium finish of rivals. Lack of a premium air is something that some may associate even the Mahindra Scorpio with, but all considered, it's still the better SUV. There are rough edges like the less-than-ideal ergonomics and poor low-speed ride. But It's also got a strong and refined engine, it's comfortable and levels of equipment are good for the price. Given that it is more affordable than the Tata, that's all the more reason for it to emerge the winner here. 

Selvin Jose

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Tata Safari Storme vs Mahindra Scorpio

Is the Tata Safari Storme finally good enough to beat its longtime rival, the Mahindra Scorpio ?

For the better part of a decade, the Tata Safari's natural rival has been the Mahindra Scorpio. The Scorpio has clearly always scored the upper hand and for good reason - it has gone from strength to strength with substantial updates, which include three new engines and a suspension overhaul. The Safari, meanwhile, has been on the defensive. Despite its share of revised engines and facelifts, it has consistently lost to the Scorpio in our comparison tests. The only way the Safari could compete was with price and, over the years, it has gone from being significantly more expensive than the Scorpio at its launch, to finally undercutting it. Now, the latest Safari avatar has got all-new mechanicals, fresh interiors and improves on the strengths of the old SUV while addressing a lot of its weaknesses. However, these advances come at a cost. The top-end Storme 4x4 VX costs a whole ₹ 1.89 lakh more than the Scorpio 4x4 VLX mHawk, and this brings us to an age-old question: Is the Safari worth the extra money or does the Scorpio still have the stronger sting?

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Both these SUVs are familiar shapes, but the Scorpio is the more aggressive-looking of the two, especially from the front. Neither of these two are styling masterpieces - the Storme's modern front end is out of sync with the rest of the car while the Scorpio's boxy rear section doesn't look as proportionate as the Storme's muscular rear. Both are old-school, body-on-ladder frame SUVs that have shift-on-the-fly, four-wheel-drive systems with low ratios and a live axle at the rear. The Safari, despite being the heavier of the two by around 245kg, is more suited for off-road work, thanks to the limited slip rear differential that comes standard with the 4x4.

PERFORMANCE

Although the Storme retains the traditional 138bhp, 2.2-litre diesel Safari engine, it now uses variable geometry turbo which improves driveability. The engine feels more eager than before and you can drive this big SUV without the need to change gears constantly. Even with a full load, it doesn't feel underpowered. Compared to the Scorpio though, it doesn't feel as responsive but still pulls quite well from low revs. The motor feels relaxed at three-digit speeds too and the tall fifth gear allows very comfortable cruising. For example, at 100 kph, we find the engine turning over at just 2200rpm. When you want to drive with a sense of urgency, the Storme doesn't feel sluggish either and this is reflected in the decent 0-100kph time of 14.92 seconds. However, despite the considerable improvements, the 2.2 Dicor motor cannot match the Scorpio's more refined 2.2-litre motor for sheer low-speed responsiveness. The Scorpio has a spring in its step and responds well to throttle inputs, even at low speeds, which makes it very easy to drive in the city. Where the Storme's unit starts feeling strained, the Scorpio's engine keeps on revving. Not surprisingly, the Scorpio accelerates quicker, taking 14.88 seconds to reach 100kph from a standstill. Both these SUVs are likely to be used quite a bit on the highway, and neither will disappoint. The Safari Storme is a more relaxed cruiser, but overtaking is easier in the Mahindra thanks to the punchy engine. In terms of refinement, the Scorpio again has an upper hand. The Storme is slightly quieter at idle, but as you accelerate, its motor has some noticeable vibrations around 2500rpm, after which it smoothens out. In comparison, the Scorpio's engine feels more at ease when worked hard. The Scorpio, thanks to its lighter kerb weight and more linear power delivery, manages to be more efficient than the Storme. The Scorpio returned 10.6kpl in the city and 13.6kpl on the highway, while the Safari returned a slightly less 10.1kpl and 13.2kpl for the city and highway cycles respectively.

RIDE AND HANDLING

The new Safari is dynamically far better than the older car, which makes it much nicer to drive. The ride and handling is one of the biggest improvements Tata engineers have made. The SUV is now much more predictable to drive around the corners and it takes a lot more than the odd bump to unsettle it. There's still a fair amount of body roll because of the tall stance and it tends to sway a fair bit through a series of corners. The steering feel, though better than before, still doesn't give the feedback we would like. It feels quite vague with lots of play around the straight-ahead position. However, the Storme is a lot more confidence-inspiring than the Scorpio.

The Storme's ride is now very settled over most surfaces and at low speeds, the pliant suspension absorbs most bumps with aplomb. Even when speeds rise, it stays settled and straight-line stability is impressive. The Scorpio's suspension is tuned towards a softer ride, but it still jiggles around even on smooth roads. It never feels as settled or rides as flatly as the Safari. At higher speeds, the Scorpio has a tendency to bob through dips and doesn't feel as stable as we would have liked. Adding to its handling woes is the light steering, which doesn't weigh up as speeds rise. The Scorpio, despite all its suspension revisions over the years, still doesn't have the dynamic capability to match the Storme. Under heavy braking as well, the Storme feels more reassuring than the Scorpio, whose centre pedal doesn't have the same bite or progressive feel.

Climb into the high-set driver's seat of the Storme and you get a panoramic view outside through the large windscreen, which has always been a Safari hallmark. Blind spots are kept to a minimum, thanks to the slim A-pillars, and there's no tailgate-mounted wheel to block your view out the back. Around the cabin, you'll instantly notice the step-up in quality. The plastics are of a softer touch now, with the matte black centre console a notch up as well. The inside door handles and power window buttons feel much better than the earlier version. The fit and finish is still not perfect though - the glovebox and the dash-top storage lid don't align when shut and the leather seats are not well-stitched either. What there can be no complaints about is the overall feeling of cabin space. The front seats are very large and, though not perfectly contoured, still offer more comfort than the Scorpio's narrower buckets. The front armrests, standard on the VX version, are not adjustable and have to be folded away while driving as they otherwise come in the way of gear-changing. The Storme's middle row is one of the most spacious on four wheels, with a surplus of shoulder, leg- and headroom. The seat is very wide as well, which makes for comfortable three-abreast seating, even on long trips. The Scorpio's middle row, in comparison, feels like it's been shrunk, especially after a long stint in the Safari. This takes us to the Scorpio's weakness - its cabin, which is decidedly smaller and not as inviting as the Storme's. The Scorpio's interiors were never great to begin with, but they felt better screwed together than the previous Safari's. However, the Storme has leapfrogged past and clearly, Mahindra now has a lot of catching up to do, particularly in the area of plastic quality and trim, which has an industrial grey finish to it. The Scorpio's comfy driver's seat does without height adjust or lumbar adjust, but does get armrests that add to comfort, especially on long drives. Sadly, middle-row occupants on the bench seat version will have to make do with limited under-thigh support. If you don't travel three abreast at the back too often, you'd be better off with the optional captain chair seats, as on our test car. You do lose a seat in the middle row in this arrangement, but the trade-off is better comfort. But where the Storme has jump seats in the back, the Scorpio has a forward-facing third row bench. The third row may not be particularly comfortable with its inconvenient access, limited legroom and a 'knees-up' seating posture, but it does lend the Scorpio great flexibility, at least for short urban commutes.

In terms of price, the pendulum has swung back the other way and the base Storme, which costs no less than ₹ 9.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) is back on the pricier side, since there are no entry-level variants available yet. The Scorpio, on the other hand, starts at ₹ 7.80 lakh for the base version, but it's the VLX version that costs ₹ 11.81 lakh which is closer in spec to the Storme.

Despite being a decade in the running, the Scorpio still has a lot of emotional clout. It still looks aggressive, has a sportier edge to it thanks to its compact dimensions and stronger performance, and tends to appeal to a younger audience than the Storme's. The mHawk engine is one of the best around and M&M has honed it over the years to make it impressively refined. However, the dynamics are still flawed and the Scorpio simply doesn't have the space and comfort of the Safari, which has given the Tata SUV a fan following of its own. With the Safari Storme, Tata has addressed a lot of the previous car's weaknesses and that's what's really tilted the balance. The Storme is much nicer to drive now and comes with a certain feel-good factor, especially on the insides - all of which allows it to eclipse the Scorpio.

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Scorpio N vs Safari: Exterior, interior & driving experience compared

The black & brown cabin is a more practical option as compared to the beige or white upholstery in the Safari or XUV700.

BHPian NitSat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Tata Safari owner’s observations about Scorpio N

Hello friends

I accompanied my brother-in-law and fellow BHPian Cool-Shine to check out the newly launched ScorpioN. He is seriously considering Scorpio N.

I own Tata Safari 2021, and these are my observations about the new Scorpio N, purely in comparison with Safari 2021.

We went to NBS showroom at Malad Link road. There were a couple of potential customers ahead of us. But within 10 -15 minutes, a demo car was made available to us. That was a top-end diesel automatic TWD.

The front is humongous. The bonnet is imposing even in comparison with the Safari. M&M, for a change, has not gone overboard with the design elements and that gives a mature look to the car. Somewhat similar to the Fortuner. They had demo cars in white and black shades. I particularly liked the white shade, which has shiny elements, giving a more premium feel to it.

The side profile is similar to the classic Scorpio.

The rear however looks abrupt and plain. The front two third looks much better than the last one third (which looks like a work in progress). I mean Safari looks elegant and proportionate, from whichever angle you look at it. But looks are purely a subjective parameter.

The black and brown cabin is a more practical option as compared to beige or white upholstery in Safari or XUV. Maintenance should be relatively easy. The cabin height is good.

However, I felt the driver bay was a bit cramped as compared to my Safari. A heavily built person may find it inadequate, especially the seat width. However, the knee room is good in front (unlike the Safari where the left knee constantly touches the central console). The dead pedal is adequate. A lot of soft-touch material on the dashboard.

The infotainment system is definitely a lot sleeker, as compared to the archaic one in Safari. Even though we could not check out all the functions in our ten-minute test drive, but the touch response was very good.

Middle-row seats are equally comfortable in both Safari and Scorpio N. Three average size adults can be easily accommodated in the middle row and leg room is more than adequate.

The third row of Scorpio N was universally panned by everyone, but I found that for short journeys, average size adults can definitely travel. However, absolutely no under-thigh support and minimal leg room will make it the least desired place in Scorpio N. The Safari scores over Scorpio N here, because of the sliding second row, making it more user-friendly.

The sliding second row and separate AC Blower make the third row of Safari a way better proposition than Scorpio N. Also beige interiors, panoramic sunroof make the cabin look more airy and refreshing in Safari.

Driving experience

The driving position is commanding. It offers a complete view of the bonnet. Push the Start button, slot it in D mode and wow. The car just blows you out. The instant power delivery brings a smile to your face.

Compared to the hydraulic steering of Safari, the electronic steering feels so easy to drive, especially at low speeds. It makes manoeuvering and turning a lot easier than Safari.

In a strictly ten minutes, 1.5 km test drive, I could not assess some critical details like highway manners, high-speed stability or brake adequacy. I felt the steering was too light in terms of feedback and sincerely hope that it weighs up proportionately at high speeds. The body roll is well contained in a BOF behemoth of this size, at least at lower speeds.

Scorpio N comes with Micro hybrid technology. So when you brake, the engine comes to a standstill and it restarts as soon as you touch the accelerator.

This feature is similar to the Auto hold function in Safari. But the only difference is, in Safari the auto hold puts the car in the idle position, rather than a complete standstill. But in bumper-to-bumper city traffic, repeated start-stop in Scorpio N will put more burden on the engine and will also reduce the FE considerably I feel.

We all know it’s negligible in both Safari and Scorpio N. However, the bench seat of Scorpio N doesn’t have a 50-50 split. Also when folded, it goes vertical, thereby reducing the boot space a bit more. The boot floor becomes uneven leaving a small trough in the floor, after the bench seat is folded. So loading and unloading the heavy bags will be a bit of a task here. In Safari, the third row folds completely flat (well almost). The side opening tailgate is definitely a lot easier as compared to Safari where the tailgate is heavy and the opening button is not easily accessible.

The build quality, the fit and finish of materials and finesse (or rather lack of it) are equally comparable in both cars.

The Scorpio N is the taller car of the two. The higher GC is evident while getting in and out of the car.

Overall Scorpio N is a very promising vehicle. It’s the best option under thirty big ones, for someone looking for a 4WD, comfortable five-seater with luggage or a seven-seater for short family drives.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

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Tata Safari vs Mahindra Scorpio Comparison

The ex-showroom price of the Diesel Mahindra Scorpio in New Delhi starts at ₹ 13.54 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 18.62 Lakh for the fully-loaded Diesel model. On the other hand, Tata Safari price in New Delhi of base variant starts at ₹ 16.19 Lakh and goes up to Rs. ₹ 27.34 Lakh for range topping Diesel model

As for the claimed fuel efficiency, the Mahindra Scorpio base Diesel engine returns 15 KM/L. The Tata Safari base Diesel returns 16 KM/L

In the powertrain department, the Mahindra Scorpio gets 2 Diesel 118, 137 bhp engines, whereas the Tata Safari comes in 168 bhp Diesel engine

@ 9% for 60 months

Available Colors

Pros & Cons

Things We Like

• Solid Road Presence
• Spacious And Comfortable Cabin
• Well-Specced With A Host Of Features
• Big on muscle and also legacy
• The Scorpio gets a very refined diesel mHawk engine
• The Scorpio is rugged and macho in terms of looks

Things We Don't Like

• Heavy Weight Is Quite Noticeable In Traffic
• Automatic Gearbox Could Be More Responsive
• Infotainment System Feels Not The Most Reliable
• The engine is a little noisy
• The automatic transmission is a little sluggish
• The Scorpio does not get many features

Expert Rating

has 5 Difference s

has 7 Difference s

Transmission

has 1 Difference

Wheels & Tyres

has 3 Difference s

Braking System

has 2 Difference s

Fuel Efficiency

Safety & security.

has 20 Difference s

Comfort & Convenience

has 22 Difference s

Instrumentation & Communication

has 8 Difference s

Entertainment

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• Tata Safari Smart vs Mahindra Scorpio Xtreme Comparison

• Tata Safari vs Mahindra Scorpio N

CarWale brings you comparison of Tata Safari and Mahindra Scorpio N. The Tata Safari price is Rs. 16.19 Lakh and Mahindra Scorpio N price is Rs. 13.60 Lakh. The Tata Safari is available in 1956 cc engine with 1 fuel type options: Diesel and Mahindra Scorpio N is available in 1997 cc engine with 1 fuel type options: Petrol. Safari provides the mileage of 16.3 kmpl.

Safari vs Scorpio N Comparison Overview

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Specifications and finance, user reviews, more expert reviews on safari and scorpio n.

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