Tata has introduced the Safari Gold edition, an all-new range-topping variant of its flagship SUV, which gets cosmetic enhancements inside and out and some exclusive features. Launched at Rs 21.89 lakh for the manual and Rs 23.18 lakh for the automatic, the Gold Edition will be available in six and seven seat configurations.
1. Frost White and Coffee Bean paint options
This Gold Edition is exclusively available with two paint options –Frost White and Coffee Bean. While the overall paint quality is top-notch, the Coffee Bean shade particularly stands out due to the gold flakes in its paint. As a result of these flakes, this colour appears black, brown or even burgundy under different lighting. The exteriors with either paint option are heavily garnished with gold bits, in line with this edition’s theme.
The front grille is finished in gold and it nicely accentuates the tri-arrow elements. Further, gold panels underline the Daytime Running Lamps and headlamps along with some tasteful executions on the door handles, roof applique, the Tata logos and Safari lettering at the rear. The gold used is matte, and not shiny, which makes it look a lot more palatable in person. Further adding a special touch to the exteriors are Gold badges on the front fenders.
2. Black 18-inch alloys
It gets the same 18-inch alloys as the top-spec Safari, but finished in‘Charcoal Black’, similar to the ones on the Safari Adventure Persona edition.
3. Interior enhancements
The dashboard design or layout is carried over from the standard car. However, the faux wood panel of the regular Safari is replaced by a marble-like panel along with gold highlights bordering the side airvents and speedometer console. The Coffee Bean exterior shade is paired with a black marble-like panel on the dashboard fascia with gold elements, while the Frost White exterior shade features a similar panel in white. Curiously, the latter also features a thick gold band beneath the marble-like panel, which is finished in gloss black in the Coffee Bean version.
4. New features
This Gold Edition comes with more premium water buffalo leather seats, unlike other variants which get leatherette seats. Not only are these seats nice and soft to touch, they also have a quilted pattern with perforation, which ups the cabin’s luxury quotient. A nice attention to detail is their gold stitching, and it also sports Gold embroidered in the head restraints. The only downside to these is their lighter colour, which will be a little difficult to maintain and develop cracks over time, like leather usually does.
A feature exclusive to this Gold Edition are ventilated seats. Front seat ventilation is a welcome addition but what’s unique is that the Safari Gold Edition is the first car to also come with rear seat ventilation. This feature, however, is only available with the middle row captain seats (6-seater) and not the bench seat version (7-seater). Tata must be lauded for equipping the Safari with this feature, which is otherwise reserved for uber luxury cars.
The ventilated leather seats coupled with all the cosmetic upgrades command a premium of Rs 1.40 lakh over a comparable XZ+ variant, on which it is based. So, like the XZ+ variant, the Gold Edition also gets kit like Auto LED headlamps, 18-inch alloys, panoramic sunroof, 8.8-inch touchscreen with 9 JBL speakers, drive modes, cruise control, ESP, six airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assist, hill-descent control and more.
Alongside this variant, some other variants also get new features. The XT variant, and above,get a built-in air purifier, with the XT and XT+ getting a marginal price hike of Rs 7,000. From the XZ variant, we now get wireless smartphone charging, wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay for a marginal premium of Rs 12,000.
5. Mechanically unchanged
This Gold Edition gets the same 170hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine as the standard Safari,with power going to the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Its suspension, steeringand brakes also remain unchanged.So the Gold Edition’s drive experience and performance will be identical to the standard Tata Safari.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
