Tata Motors was successful to pull the plug on the BS4 Safari and Hexa SUVs in the country last year when the BS6 emission norms came into the effect. The brand is likely to launch the BS6 Hexa later this year. But the new Safari will be launched this month. However, it has been unveiled in the country. The all-new Safari, which is based on the five-seater Tata Harrier is different from its BS4 counterpart in every sense. Tata Hexa, on the other hand, was a car ahead of its time. It came with almost all the bells and whistles as the new Safari. However, there are subtle differences between the two SUVs. Here we have listed the differences between the new Tata Safari and a used Tata Hexa. This will further help you understand which one is worth your penny?
New Tata Safari vs Used Tata Hexa: Variants and Price
2021 Tata Safari falls in the price range of Rs 14.69 lakhs - Rs 21.45 lakhs (ex-showroom). The SUV is offered in 6 manual variants - XE, XM, XT, XT+, XZ, & XZ+ and 3 automatic variants - XMA, XZA, & XZA+. The Adventure Persona edition of Safari is offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes. Talking about Tata Hexa, it was priced between Rs 11.99 lakhs - Rs 17.50 lakhs (ex-showroom). The SUV was offered in 3 manual variants - XE, XM+, & XT 4x4 and 2 automatic variants - XMA & XTA.
In terms of dimensions, the new Tata Safari stands at 4661mm in length, 1894mm in width, and 1786mm in height while Tata Hexa measures 4788mm in length, 1900mm in width, and 1785mm in height. Tata Hexa has a longer wheelbase than Tata Safari which should translate into more space for the occupants.
New Tata Safari vs Used Tata Hexa: Features
Tata Hexa was the second car that was based on Tata’s Impact 1.0 design language after Tiago while the new Safari is based on Impact 2.0 design philosophy. The interior of the Hexa is one of its biggest highlights as it offers all the bells and whistles as the new Tata Safari. The major change here is the infotainment system. When Hexa was launched in 2017, it came with a 5-inch infotainment unit. From 2019 onwards, the SUV got upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen ConnectNext infotainment system by Harman integrated with Android Auto. If we look at Tata Safari, it offers an 8.8-inch floating island infotainment unit compatible with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. The new Safari also comes with an IRA connectivity suite with a voice assistant with connected car technology. This particular feature was not present in the Tata Hexa.
Besides these, the 2021 Safari gets features like a 7-inch TFT display for the instrument panel, 9 JBL speakers, a 6-way powered driver seat with adjustable lumbar support, captain seats, luxurious third-row seats, third-row AC vents, ambient mood lighting, tilt & telescopic adjustable steering wheel, fully automatic temperature control with HVAC, rain-sensing wipers, push-button start, electrical ORVMs, cooled storage box and glove box. On the other hand, Tata Hexa featured a twin-pod instrument panel with a chrome ring, rain-sensing wipers, smart USB charger, flexible seat configuration, 10 speaker JBL system, advanced driver information system, Tata smart manual and Tata Motors service connect among others.
New Tata Safari vs Used Tata Hexa: Safety features
Both the SUVs get features like 6-airbags, ESP, hill hold assists, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, and traction control system. Besides these, the new Safari comes equipped with additional features such as a perimetric alarm system, front fog lamp with cornering function, child seat ISOFIX anchor points, auto-dimming IRVM, TPMS, and all-disc brakes.
New Tata Safari vs Used Tata Hexa: Engine Specifications
The new Tata Safari houses a 2.0-litre Kryotech turbocharged diesel engine that generates 170 bhp power and 350 Nm torque. Transmission duties are taken care of by a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The used Tata Hexa, on the other hand, is propelled by a 2.2-litre Varicor CRDI diesel engine that dishes out 153 bhp power and 400 Nm torque. The engine is further mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox along with a 6-speed automatic gearbox as an option. The 6-speed manual gearbox is offered with an all-wheel-drive in the top-end XT trim while the two-wheel-drive is available with mid-spec XMA and top-end XTA trim. As for the new Safari, it does not come with an all-four-wheel drive system.
Verdict:
The new Tata Safari is based on Harrier. But when we compare it with Tata Hexa, we could figure out that the new SUV comes with a smaller wheelbase which means there is less cabin space. Talking about the price, 2021 Safari has been priced aggressively in comparison to Hexa. The reason being that the Safari is feature-rich and comes with a more powerful engine. Also, the now-discontinued Hexa was based on Tata’s Impact 1.0 design language while the all-new Safari follows the Impact 2.0 design philosophy. Tata Hexa was a car ahead of its time. It was equipped with most of the features that are present in the 2021 Safari. Although it has been discontinued in the market, you can still purchase it from the used-car market.
