SUV Comparo: Tata Safari Storme Varicor 400 VX vs Mahindra XUV500

Two of the biggest SUV manufacturers in India are Tata Motors and Mahindra. Both have been in the automobile industry for a long time now and both the carmakers have their unique ideas when it comes to making vehicles.

The Tata Safari was a good product for Tata Motors, which showcased that the company has a very capable SUV that meets practicality, with comfort. For Mahindra, the XUV was such a product, since it offered so much more comfort, for a very affordable price.

Since both these vehicles are direct competition towards each other, have four-wheel drive, and both manufacturers have recently updated the vehicles, let's see how the top spec variants compare with each other in terms of pricing, design, engine specification, features, and safety.

Pricing

• Tata Safari Storme Varicor 400 VX 4X4: Rs. 14.59 lakh
• Mahindra XUV500 W10 AWD: Rs. 15.99 lakh

[Note: Both prices are ex-showroom Delhi]

Design

The Safari Storme Varicor VX looks very familiar to the previous generation Safari, apart from the front grille that has been updated a bit. The overall design looks very similar to a Land Rover Discovery Sport when looked at from the side.

The Mahindra XUV500 has seen a significant change compared to the previous model. The front bumpers, grille and bonnet have been redesigned and the fog lamps have been repositioned. Also, the daytime running lights have been restyled as well, giving the XUV500 a refreshed look.

Engine Specification & Gear Box

The Tata Safari Storme Varicor 400 VX comes with a 2.2-litre, turbocharged diesel engine that produces 154bhp and 400Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and returns a mileage of 13.9km/l. The Safari Storme features an electronic shift-on-fly four-wheel drive option.

The Mahindra XUV500 W10 AWD comes with a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine as well, which produces 140bhp and 330Nm of torque. The XUV is available with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. The SUV is all-wheel drive and returns 16km/l.

Features

The Safari Storme features the ConnectNext infotainment system by Harman, rear parking sensors, manual seat height adjustment for the driver, and front and rear cup holders.

The XUV500 features a host of gadgets like a sunroof, electrically adjustable seats, multi functional steering wheel, automatic climate control, reverse camera with guidance, parking sensors, and push button start, and a 2-DIN infotainment system with navigation to name a few.

Safety

Both vehicles, the Safari as well as the XUV500 offer safety equipments like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and airbags. But what really makes the difference in safety is that the XUV500 comes with 6 airbags, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Brake Assist, while the Safari has none of these and only two airbags.

Verdict

So which vehicle should you go for? The Safari Storme is a good buy in terms of price and power. Where the XUV takes the edge is when it comes to features, mileage, and most importantly, safety. The XUV500 is a good value for money vehicle between the two.