BHPian Met_Jazz recently shared this with other enthusiasts: I’ve been a loyal Honda owner for years but now I’ve decided it’s time to explore other brands. At this moment, there’s no urgent need for a new car. However, after completing two back-to-back trips-from Mumbai to Kokan and then Mumbai to Goa, everything changed. My first trip was in my nine-year-old manual Honda Jazz, and I thoroughly enjoyed every kilometer of driving it. I felt content and as though I was living in the moment, I genuinely believed I could keep driving my Jazz indefinitely. But my second trip, in my father-in-law’s Skoda Slavia 1.5 DSG, shifted my entire perspective. It made me realize just how much I’d been missing. The paddle shifters, DSG gearbox, and the powerful engine made a world of difference. Suddenly, my 82 bhp Jazz felt underpowered, and what I once considered acceptable now felt like a significant limitation. To complicate matters, my mother began questioning how I could call myself a car enthusiast and not upgrade my vehicle. Given all these factors, along with the post-GST benefits and substantial price cuts on the Tata Safari Adventure Plus variants, I decided to explore the option in person. I saw an Instagram ad and registered my interest. To my surprise, within a minute, I received a call from Tata, which was a pleasant shock. After a brief conversation, they connected me to the local dealer, who called me just five minutes later. I was impressed by the quick response. I mentioned I’d visit on Sunday, depending on my schedule. When I arrived at the showroom, it was busy as expected, but I could clearly see how far Tata has come from the days of the old Indica, Sumo, and Safari. Unfortunately, the Safari was out for a scheduled test drive, so I opted to test the Harrier instead. While the test vehicle was a bit worn, everything inside was in good working order, which was more important to me. I wasn’t overly concerned with the features at this stage, but simply wanted to experience how the car drives. This particular model was two years old. Once behind the wheel, I took some time to get comfortable. The Harrier feels incredibly spacious-both inside and out. Coming from sedans and hatchbacks, this was a completely different experience. I found the AC to be decent and the audio system acceptable, though I didn’t push it too hard with my family in the car. We headed to the back road in Malad, and I was pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly the car glided. For a diesel, it was remarkably smooth-no vibrations or unwanted noises, despite the exterior looking a bit weathered. I drove for about 4 kilometers, and then my wife took over for another 2 kilometers. I immediately felt an attachment to the way the car drove. I was so impressed that I didn’t even dwell on concerns like the DPF issue; I was just enjoying the drive. Driving it in the city mode first, and then in sport mode, I could really feel the difference. Even on sharp U-turns, the car felt planted and stable. The brakes inspired confidence, and overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the product. I have to give credit to Harish, the salesperson from Puneet Motors in Malad. He was calm, knowledgeable, and answered all my questions without hesitation. He didn’t impose any restrictions on the test drive mileage, which I appreciated. Since the Safari wasn’t available, he took us to the parking area and gave us a thorough walkthrough of the product. I was extremely satisfied with what I saw and what I could expect if I move forward with the purchase. My only concern at this point is the DPF issue. Since my driving is mainly within the city and I don’t cover many kilometers, I’m wondering whether it would be an issue. While I do take long drives from time to time, it’s not on a fixed schedule. Should I be worried about the DPF problem? Additionally, my wife is leaning towards an electric vehicle, but I’m not entirely convinced. Given my long trips to remote locations, I’m concerned about the lack of charging infrastructure in some areas and the possibility of being stranded. That being said, I’m quite taken with the Tata Safari Adventure Plus variant. I love it so much that I’m now debating whether I should even test drive other cars as well, though I will, just to avoid any potential regrets. Let’s see how things unfold. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
