Safari Storme: Tata’s challenge to Maruti Ertiga

Pros : Improved exterior & interior and loaded with features

Cons : Costly compared to other utility cars

These days I am stalking all the fresh arrived utility cars and upcoming utility monsters. I am impressed with the newly launched Maruti Ertiga that has got seat arrangement for seven passengers and great features. In addition, Tata Safari Storme is another utility king which is expected to launch by this Diwali. My plan would be to purchase either a MUV or a SUV by this year end. In the pictures, the Safari Storme looks damn seductive product with totally revamped exteriors. The pics of its interiors are also enticing. Though, Maruti Ertiga and Safari Storme fall in different vehicle segments, but you can certainly expect them to compete with each other. Buying Safari Storme can be good if you have high budget and if you are ready to survive with a lesser fuel efficiency, whereas if you buy an Ertiga you would not have to incur a lot of expenditure on purchase and even the maintenance would be comparatively less.

In terms of features, Safari Storme is going to have upper hand over the Ertiga MPV. No doubt Ertiga too has been blessed with all the necessary safety & convenience features, but even then it lacks many advanced features like cruise control, parking sensors and rearview camera.

My budget is around Rs. 11 lakhs and I would be ready to buy Safari if is made available within my budget, else I will have to switch my priorities for Ertiga which is easily available in 10 lakhs. My friend has got the old Safari and he complains of its high maintenance, therefore, it would be appreciable if the company could curtail down Safari Storme’s maintenance cost.