The best feature, which I thought initially was a gimmick, but turned out to be brilliant, is the rear view camera that gets activated when you engage reverse gear. Look up in the rear view mirror and there’s a small LCD screen incorporated in it that gives you a neat wide-angle view of what lies behind. Though it’s available only in the VX version of the Dicor, I felt it was really quite a neat feature to have. Oh, the Safari Dicor is loaded with lots of other goodies too. It’s best you check them all out at the nearest dealership, and keep aside some time for it. Might as well tell you the price now. It’s just shy of Rs 8 lakh for the entry-level LX 2WD version, while the top-end, fully-loaded 4x4 VX is just a little above Rs 13 lakh, both prices ex-showroom Mumbai.
The new dash layout and the switchgear are definitely great improvements and have given the Safari a new lease of life. Plus, the new visual treatment, keeping most of the body panels intact, has also extended the Safari’s life – an all-new replacement comes up in 2007. It’s surprising how long Tata has taken to give the Safari a much-need facelift – it has been around since 1998. Since the SUV has also been updated to be sold in the export markets, maybe it’s time for a new adventure with the new Safari Dicor. How about the 2005 edition of the London-Cape Town 4x4 Adventure Drive, Tata? I know somebody who would love to sign up.
|
