Safari Storme vs. Scorpio

Tata Motors unveiled the Safari Storme at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The Safari Storme is the facelifted version of the present Safari with changes to the exterior, interior and some engine refinement. Let’s check out how the Safari Storme stacks up against its arch rival, the Mahindra Scorpio.

Driving and Handling

The Safari Storme will be powered by a 2.2-litre VTT engine that puts out 138 bhp of power while the Scorpio is powered by a 2.2-litre mHawk engine that puts out 120 bhp of power. Hence, as per paper specifications, performance wise, the Safari Storme will have an edge over the Scorpio.

Photo: Radically different front end on the Safari Storme

The Safari Storme is built on the Tata Aria platform. Expect significant reduction in body roll and improvement in the ride quality as well. The Safari Storme also gets all round disc brakes not found in the Scorpio. The Scorpio is known for its refined engine and pretty good performance that offers sufficient torque for city runabouts. On highways too, the Scorpio offers decent cruising ability, but lacks stability.

Photo: Even the XUV500 has not dented the popularity of the Mahindra Scorpio

Both the Safari and Scorpio are proven off-road vehicles. The new Safari Storme can be expected to further improve Safari’s off-roading potential, given that it has got underpinnings from the Aria and a refined engine, while the four-wheel drive variant retains the old Borg Warner 4×4 system, which also has a low-ratio gearbox for extreme off-road conditions.

Overall, the Safari Storme seems to have made the right improvements that could make driving and handling better. However, we hold our judgment till we lay our hands on it.

Space and Comfort

With regard to space and comfort, the Safari Storme has an edge over the Scorpio. The Safari Storme has comfortable seats for both the front and the middle row. The third row jump seats are best suited for children.

Coming to the Scorpio, it does offer space, but not as much as the Safari Storme does. The front row seats in the Scorpio are quite comfortable but the middle row seat has limited legroom and headroom. The rear seat is best suited for kids.

Summing up, the Safari Storme comes with large interior space and can happily fit five large adults. The Scorpio has limited space and best suited for average size adults.

Looks

The Safari Storme has subtle design cues borrowed from the Range Rover, owned by Tata Motors. The prominent front and rear chrome strips are stand out additions to the Safari facelift. The headlamps and taillamps are radically different from the ones featured in the present model. The spare wheel is now tucked under the body and hence the Safari Storme looks tame and less brawny than before. The interiors of the Safari Storme gets new faux wood inserts, slightly modified door handles and minor changes such as deeper cubby holes. The fit and finish has been improved though panel gaps are evident in some areas. The facelift breathes fresh air into this old working horse from Tata’s stable.

The Scorpio is a rugged looking SUV whose design was last updated in 2009 with a new grille, headlamps and bumper. Though the Scorpio looks a bit dated in its design, it still lives up to the macho SUV looks expected from a buyer in this segment. Interiors of the Scorpio have a ‘built to last’ feeling though the panel gap, plastic quality and fit and finish still have room for improvement.

Summing up, the Safari Storme looks more contemporary and elegant than the Scorpio. However, SUV enthusiasts may likely prefer the looks of the muscular Scorpio to the toned down Safari Storme.

Features

The Scorpio VLX (top-end model) has features such as micro hybrid technology, tyre pressure monitoring system, intelli-park, rain & light sensors, 2-DIN audio system with Bluetooth, CD/MP3 player, USB & SD card compatibility, cruise control & audio control on steering wheel, alloy wheels and optional 4WD and Airbags.

The Safari Storme, on the other hand, is expected to come with new features, though there is no official information about them at the moment. However, the Safari Storme will most likely have all the features offered in the present VX model such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking system, DVD player and ‘follow me’ headlamps.

Price, mileage and VFM

The Safari Storme will likely be priced in the range of Rs. 11 lakh – 13 lakh. At present, the Scorpio is priced in the range of Rs. 7.53 lakh – 12.30 lakh. The 4×4 variants start at Rs. 9.28 lakh. The Scorpio and Safari have been arch rivals for many years and have always been priced close to each other. The Safari Storme will hopefully carry forward this strategy and offer maximum features at a competitive price.

In terms of mileage, the Scorpio has an ARAI-certified mileage of 12.9 kmpl. The Safari Storme is expected to offer around 13.93 kmpl. On paper, the Safari Storme appears to have an edge over the Scorpio in terms of fuel economy.

Whether the Safari Storme will be a ‘value for money’ proposition or not will be known in February when it reaches dealers.

Verdict

The Safari Storme is a significant improvement over its predecessor, which is a good thing. If you are looking for a ‘less aggressive’ spacious and comfortable SUV, the Safari Storme is a better choice for you over the Scorpio. However, if you want an easy to drive, brawny SUV, the Scorpio is a proven vehicle.