Tata Safari Storme 2012-2015 EX

Safari Storme 2012-2015 EX Review

Tata Safari Storme, the most awaited car of the year has finally been launched by Tata Motors in India. It was nothing short of a revolution when, back in 1998, our very own Tata Motors had given India the first SUV that was completely designed, developed and manufactured in the country itself. That day, the Indian crowds had received an SUV that was a total stunner. Muscular build, plush interiors and mighty mill described this flagship sports utility from the stables of Tata and made it absolutely invincible. Today, it has been 14 years since that launch and the picture hasn't changed much.Safari was a revolution then, and Safari is a revolution now. With Storme out in the open, nobody can deny that the favorite SUV of India has gotten, if anything, even better than what it earlier was. The new Tata Safari Storme has been brought in with a fleet of 4 variants titled as LX, EX, VX and VX Four Wheel Drive . Besides the very exciting range of prices set for the Storme, it is the Aria inspired chassis, highly improved comforts and quality, and the new corporate looks that announce the upcoming surge in craze for this new Tata SUV. Of the four versions released for this latest entrant, the Tata Safari Storme EX is the mid-range model.

Exteriors

Tata Safari has always scored high when it comes to sporty looks, and Storme EX being a successor of the same, no doubt, also excels in that area. This time, going for a more sophisticated feel, the beefy part of the shell has been cut down a bit for Storme. While this might be appreciated by some for its more classy appeal, expectations of many have been shattered on not getting the muscular Safari that they had been longing for. Although this new version is quite similar to the older ones, there are a number of modifications that give it an individual identity of its own.Starting with the front, we see a new honeycomb grille topped with a thick band of chrome and flanked by large and stylish projector headlamps which gives a distinct classy touch to the outfit. Under that, the Storme EX sports a revamped bumper and a smartly designed fog lamp cluster with chrome inserts to complement the overall theme. The rear end, in the mean time, has received chrome in the form of chrome coated twin exhausts which give it a typical sporty feel, but what takes away the original sportiness of Safari is the shift of the spare wheel from the tail gate to the area under the floor. And this is the one change that is not being appreciated a lot about this new car. In place of the manly spare wheel appearance, the rear end is now adorned in a more urbane style with a thick chrome band running across the middle, a high-mounted spoiler and a new windshield. To boost the side profile appeal of Storme EX, Tata designers have added a new alloy wheels under the massive arches along with some bold curves and side body cladding.With all these amazing features to flaunt, the Tata Safari Storme EX carries a structure that is 4655mm in length, 1965mm in width and 1922 in height with a fairly good ground clearance of 200mm and a large wheelbase of 2650mm. Overall, providing a much roomier seating chamber and shorter turn radius of 5.4m which is synonymous to enhanced passenger comfort and easy traffic maneuvering. To top it all, Tata Safari Storme EX is available with a palette of 7 vibrant shades including Urban Bronze, Sardinia Rrd, Pearl White, Pearl Champagne, Astern Black, Arctic White and Arctic silver.

Interiors

The larger and wider structure of this latest sports entry has resulted in a seating chamber that is richer on the space supply as compared to the existing models and can seat a group of 7 quite comfortably. Showing a stark resemblance with Tata Aria, the new Safari Storme EX insides get a renewed wooden finish along with a much improved quality of plastics and a more lavish seating arrangement. To accentuate this premium feel, an elegantly restyled dashboard and central console together with a contemporary beige theme have been provided by the makers of Storme. Plus, the occasional dash of chrome in the chamber serves to enhance the upmarket appeal.

Engine and Performance

While all those superficial modifications were on the go, the mechanicals under the hood have been kept pretty much the same for Storme EX. This new version is also driven by the same 2.2-litre, 16-valve, DOHC, VTT VariCor diesel engine that powers its predecessors but with a number of clever twists and tweaks that have resulted in an increased mileage of 14kmpl. With that notable mileage rating and a fuel tank of a 55 litre capacity, the Storme can easily traverse a distance of 770 km at a single fill. The power and torque output, however, remain fixed at the same values of 138bhp at 4000rpm and 320Nm at 1700rpm. Mated with a five-speed manual transmission gearbox, this diesel mill has also received some serious alterations in its calibration that has made the engine more superior and frugal. As for the suspension, the front gets an independent double wishbone type suspension system with coil spring over shock absorber . The rear end, on the other hand, comes with a 5-link suspension with coil springs. 

Safety Features

Built to take on any possible terrain of the world, however rough or harsh it might be, the Storme EX has been bestowed with every feature required to challenge whatever is thrown at it. But that makes the safety of its occupants a major concern for its manufacturers. In order to ensure that the Storme proves to be a safe ride even in the most difficult of terrains, Tata Motors have loaded the SUV with a host of advanced safety mechanisms that include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) that, coupled with Ventilated Disk Brakes, make a fabulous braking system . Besides that, the insides have been supplied with Dual SRS airbags and a crumple zone, and the gadgetry now holds an inertia-sensing switch for cutting off the fuel supply in case of an accident while turning the hazard light on and unlocking all the doors.

Comfort Features

Apart from the extremely spacious and comfy leather seats, there are many other characteristics that enhance the comfort feature of the new Tata Safari Storme EX. Starting with the newly installed entertainment console that allows the occupants to easily use the high-tech music system which now comes equipped with aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity too. Where air-conditioning is concerned, the dual AC comes paired up with roof-mounted ducts that make the ride all the more pleasant and fun. Plus, to assist the driver in parking, the car carries an electrical parking assist mechanism.

Pros 

Lavish interiors loaded with advanced comfort features, improved mileage and better suspension and safety system

Cons

The muscular Safari traits are sorely missed in the exteriors